×
You've used up your 3 free articles for this month. Subscribe today.
Declining Prison Populations Leave Towns with Empty Jails, Debt
by David M. Reutter
Several Texas towns are bemoaning their bad business decision to enter into the for-profit incarceration industry as the bottom began dropping out of that market 5 or 6 years ago. Over a two-decade boom in prison building, rural communities in Texas and other states were able …
Several Texas towns are bemoaning their bad business decision to enter into the for-profit incarceration industry as the bottom began dropping out of that market 5 or 6 years ago. Over a two-decade boom in prison building, rural communities in Texas and other states were able …
Full article and associated cases available to subscribers.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
More from this issue:
- How Many Inmate Deaths is too Many?, by Dave Maass
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Sex Offenders Who Fail to Register May Receive Life Sentence Under California’s “Three Strikes” Law
- Five Prisoner Deaths in Eighteen Months at Small Ohio Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- New York Promised Help for Mentally Ill Prisoners – But Still Sticks Many in Solitary, by Christie Thompson
- Widespread Sexual Abuse Alleged at Alabama Women’s Prison
- Idaho: Federal Court Unseals Pleadings, Holds CCA in Contempt for Violating Settlement Agreement
- Third Circuit Finds Just Cause or Excuse Defense Not Applicable in Prison Assault Case, by Derek Gilna
- Special Sex Offender Release Conditions Vacated by Tenth Circuit, by Derek Gilna
- Hunger Striking Illinois Jail Prisoner Dies, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Prison Burials Surprisingly Well Done
- Former Federal Prisoner Claims to be Most Litigious Person
- IFRP Payment Schedule May Not be Delegated to BOP by Sentencing Judge, by Derek Gilna
- Georgia: Civil Rights Law Firm Demands Return of Fines Illegally Collected by State Court Judge, by Ryan Primerano
- Eighth Circuit Denies Civilly Confined Minnesota Patients 1983 Action, by Derek Gilna
- Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Nevada Prisoner’s First Amendment Retaliation Claims
- Former Georgia DOC Official Charged for Embezzling Public Funds, by Christopher Zoukis
- Effective Counsel Required in Kansas Civil Commitment Proceedings
- CDCR to Block Contraband Cell Phone Signals at all Facilities
- California: Court May Not Award Increased Presentence Conduct Credits to Categorically Disqualified Prisoners
- D.C. District Court Reaffirms Access to Counsel for Guantanamo Detainees, by Derek Gilna
- Declining Prison Populations Leave Towns with Empty Jails, Debt, by David Reutter
- Private Detention Facility Forced into Bankruptcy, Sold at Auction
- PLN Files Federal Lawsuit Over Censorship at Virginia Jail
- Brain Imaging Research Conducted on Prisoners, by Greg Dober
- Massachusetts: Overcrowding Forces Changes in Correctional Facilities, by David Reutter
- Death Row Prisoners in Two States File Suit over Hip Replacements, by David Reutter
- Oregon DOJ Intentionally Destroyed Records; Target of Abusive Criminal Investigation Settles Suit for $1 Million
- Montana Agrees to Change Policies for Treatment of Mentally Ill Juveniles in Adult Prison, by David Reutter
- News in Brief
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Rising Deaths in Los Angeles County Jail Linked to Longer Stays, Sept. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Drug Overdose, Statistics/Trends, Suicides, Reduction of Prison Population.
- What 911 Calls Reveal About Jail Operations, Sept. 1, 2026. Systemic Medical Neglect, Statistics/Trends, Failure to Protect (General), Staffing, Staff Training.
- California Grand Jury Report on Deaths at Riverside County Jails, Sept. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Prison Reform, Statistics/Trends, Public Records.
- Court-Ordered Report on Jail Voting in Massachusetts Finds Low-Rate, Sept. 1, 2026. Elections, Advocacy, Statistics/Trends, Public Records, Voting Rights.
- Michigan DOC Legal Payouts Top $7 Million in FY 2025, Less than One Percent of $2.15 Billion Operating Budget, Sept. 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Damages, Settlements.
- Florida Kills Two Prisoners on Same Day, Both Elderly, Sept. 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Death Penalty, Death Row, Lethal Injection Method of Execution.
- “Safe Inside” Review Paid for by DOJ Found Prisons Grew Much Deadlier in Five Year-Period, Aug. 1, 2026. Work Conditions/Safety, Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Staffing, Assaults on Staff.
- Three Detainees Die in Four Days at the Tarrant County Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Wrongful Death, Compassionate Release.
- Prison Policy Initiative Updates Its “Money of Mass Incarceration” Report, Aug. 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Forfeiture, Effects of Mass Incarceration, Ability to Pay.
- Detainee Deaths Went Unreported at Dallas County Jail, July 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Databases, Public Records.

