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$750,000 Settlement in New Mexico “Controlled Seating” Lawsuit
On September 2013, a proposed settlement was filed in a lawsuit over forcibly seating prisoners “nuts-to-butts” for hours at a time at a New Mexico state prison – a practice also known as “controlled seating.” The settlement provides $750,000 to be divided among the class members after incentive payments …
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More from this issue:
- Greenwashing Washington State’s Prison System in a River of Sewage, by Rick Anderson
- Inside the Shadowy Business of Prison Phone Calls, by Eric Markowitz
- Tennessee Prisoners Suing Private Prisons Not Required to File in Local Venue, by David Reutter
- News in Brief
- CA: Persons on Community Supervision Eligible to Seek Transfer to Another State, by Lonnie Burton
- Final Class-Action Settlement Pending in “Kids for Cash” Scandal
- Prisoners Released When Jails Can’t Feed Them, by Mark Wilson
- Investigation Forces Arizona Clemency Board Chairman to Resign, by Joe Watson
- Kentucky Jail Prisoners Make Mattresses, by David Reutter
- Notorious Psych Ward at Miami-Dade Jail Finally Shuttered, by David Reutter
- Ninth Circuit Finds Graham v. Florida Retroactive; 254-Year Sentence Unconstitutional, by Mark Wilson
- Does Political Spending by Private Prison Firms in Oklahoma Influence Prison Reform?, by Joe Watson
- Nebraska Law Unconstitutionally Forfeits Good Time for Refusal to Submit DNA Sample, by David Reutter
- Three Strikes Litigant Required to Show Ongoing “Imminent Danger” to Proceed on Appeal, by Lonnie Burton
- Failure to State Rationale in Denying Appointment of Counsel was Abuse of Discretion
- Vermont: Retaliatory Furlough Denial Reviewable on Rule 75 Motion, by Mark Wilson
- Ninth Circuit Finds that ICE Detention After Indictment Counts Against Sentence, by Derek Gilna
- Supreme Court Strikes Down Ban on Short Beard for Muslim Prisoner, by Derek Gilna
- Alaska High Court Reaffirms Negligence Standard to Protect Prisoners from Harm, by David Reutter
- Controversy Surrounds Shackling of Dying and Comatose Prisoners in UK, by Matthew Clarke
- Who Owns Private Prison Stock?, by Alex Friedmann
- Tenth Circuit: Ignoring Prisoner’s Severe Pain Precludes Qualified Immunity, by Mark Wilson
- Supreme Court Rules Qualified Immunity Shields Prison Officials from Suicide Claim, by Derek Gilna
- Report Finds Two-Thirds of Private Prison Contracts Include “Lockup Quotas”, by Joe Watson
- $1.15 Million for Florida Pretrial Detainee’s Death, by David Reutter
- Virginia Must Improve Prison Medical Care Under Proposed Class-action Settlement, by David Reutter
- Jury Awards $12,000 to Connecticut Prisoner for Unsanitary Mattress, by David Reutter
- UN Commission Approves Mandela Rules on Treatment of Prisoners, by David Fathi
- North Carolina Prisoner, Victim of Sexual Assault, Awarded One Dollar in Damages
- Two Names Added to Monument Memorializing Slain Prosecutors, by Matthew Clarke
- Pell Grants for Prisoners: New Bill Restores Hope of Reinstating College Programs, by Christopher Zoukis
- Peer-Review Reports Must be Disclosed in Philadelphia Jail Conditions Suit, by David Reutter
- Supreme Court Voids ACCA’s Residual Clause in Landmark Decision, by Derek Gilna
- San Diego Deputies Faulted for Jail Death, by Christopher Zoukis
- Nebraska Returns Ex-Offenders to Prison after Sentence Miscalculation Scandal, by Matthew Clarke
- $3,000 Jury Award to Arizona Prisoner Denied Prostate Care, by David Reutter
- Second Circuit Unseals Jail Conditions Settlement Compliance Reports; Public Has First Amendment Right of Access, by Mark Wilson
- Alabama Courts Must Review Substance of Claim Despite Pleading’s Title, by David Reutter
- $750,000 Settlement in New Mexico “Controlled Seating” Lawsuit, by Matthew Clarke
- West Virginia City Settles Suit over Jail Prisoner’s Death for $460,000, by Matthew Clarke
- Minnesota DOC Sued Over Failure to Provide New Hepatitis C Treatment Protocol, by Greg Dober
- UK Prison Cook Awarded $160,000 for Back Injury, by Derek Gilna
- Michigan: $8 Million Settlement after Prisoner’s Baby Born with Brain Damage, by Shepherd Litsey
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Persistent, Ongoing Environmental Violations at Washington’s Walla Walla Prison, by Panagioti Tsolkas
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Dissenter Excoriates SCOTUS for Denying Certiorari in Challenge to Constitutionality of Nitrogen Hypoxia Execution, Feb. 1, 2026
- D.C. Federal Court Holds Blocking Prison Reform Advocate’s Access to Federal Prisoners May Violate First Amendment and Due Process, Feb. 1, 2026
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Estate Cannot Sue Jailers Who Followed Medical Personnel Advice That Led to Detainee’s Death, Feb. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Reinstates Lawsuit Over Failure to Properly Classify Violent Prisoners at Kentucky Jail, Feb. 1, 2026
- Eleventh Circuit Holds Alabama County May Be Liable for Policy of Providing Inadequate Jail Medical Care, Feb. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit Reverses Summary Dismissal of Claim Over Prisoner’s Suicide in Oklahoma Jail, Feb. 1, 2026
- Deportation of Kenyan Priest Working as Texas Prison Guard Highlights TDCJ’s Dependence on Immigrant Staff, Feb. 1, 2026
- Ninth Circuit Reinstates Wheelchair-Bound Washington State Prisoner’s Suit Over Failure to Accommodate Disabilities During Transport, Feb. 1, 2026
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Announces Adoption of Transferred Intent Self-Defense, Jan. 1, 2026
- Eleventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Six Female Alabama Jail Detainees’ Sexual Assault Suit, Jan. 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Punished for Bleeding: How Periods in Prison Become a Trap, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Gender Discrimination -- Women, Strip Searches, Hygiene Supplies, Discrimination (Transgender).
- Differing Judicial Outcomes for the New York Guards Who Killed Robert Brooks, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Pending Appeal/Sentencing.
- The New York Prison System’s Culture of Cruelty and Impunity, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- Amnesty International Report Claims Torture and Enforced Disappearances at “Alligator Alcatraz”, Jan. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Totality of Conditions, Detention - Generally, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Confinement in Segregated Housing.
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity to Michigan Warden Whose Guards Gave Prisoner Plastic Bag Used in Suicide, Dec. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Qualified Immunity, Failure to Train/Supervise, Suicides, Deliberate Indifference.
- Hawaii Prison Warden Reinstated After Being Fired in 2014 for Sexual Harassment, Dec. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Supervisor-Staff Harassment, Guard Misconduct, Racial Discrimination, Employee Litigation.
- One Guard Pleads Guilty, Another Receives Light Sentence in New York Prisoner’s Killing, Dec. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Obstruction of Justice, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- New Jersey Breaks Ground on New $330 Million Women’s Prison After Raid at Old Facility, Dec. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Prosecutor/Attorney General Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Prison Rape Elimination Act.
- Guards at an Infamous Mississippi Jail Mocked a Disabled Detainee, Dec. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Disabled Prisoners, Stun Guns/Tasers, Punishment.
- Brooklyn Jail Guard Convicted for Shooting and Car Chase, Dec. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Shootings, Guards/Staff, Wrongful Use of Force, Authority and Jurisdiction.

