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Excited Delirium Syndrome: Medical Condition or Cover-Up?
Debate is quietly raging within the medical and law enforcement communities about a diagnosis first identified more than 160 years ago which more recently has become associated with the deaths of people in police custody, many of whom were involved in physical altercations with officers or shocked with Tasers …
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More from this issue:
- Jailhouse Medicine - A Private Contractor Flourishes Despite Controversy Over Prisoner Deaths
- Massachusetts: Lawsuit Filed to Stop Dog Searches of Prison Visitors, by Joe Watson
- Excited Delirium Syndrome: Medical Condition or Cover-Up?, by David Reutter
- New Mexico: Sharon Jones’s Strep Death Among Shocking Prison Tragedies in Lawsuits
- South Carolina Sheriff Resigns, Pleads Guilty to DUI
- Medical Marijuana Use by Arizona Probationer Cannot Support Violation
- Federal Lawsuit Claims Negligence Caused Pennsylvania Prisoner’s Heroin Overdose Death, by Christopher Zoukis
- Irish High Court Bars Extradition of Terror Suspect to U.S., Citing Inhumanity of Solitary Confinement, by Derek Gilna
- $2.5 Million Settlement in North Carolina Prisoner’s Dehydration Death
- Court’s Gag Order in Michigan Jail Corruption Case Reversed
- Failure to Timely Assert Affirmative Defense in Responsive Pleading Constitutes Waiver
- Report Finds Shortcomings at Santa Clara County, California Jail, by Derek Gilna
- Tennessee Prisoner Awarded $60,000 for Guards’ Use of Excessive Force
- $3.5 Million for South Carolina Prisoner’s Death Due to Deliberate Indifference
- Deaf Prisoners Win Important Settlements in Kentucky and Maryland, by Derek Gilna
- Architects’ Ethics Panel to Consider Boycott of Execution Chambers and Prison Design, by David Reutter
- Pepper-spraying Sleeping Prisoner Unconstitutional, but Case Loses at Trial, by David Reutter
- “Fatal Neglect” Report Faults ICE Health Care for Deaths of Detained Immigrants, by Derek Gilna
- Ninth Circuit: Freezing Prisoner’s Funds Requires Pre-deprivation Process, by Mark Wilson
- Second Circuit Allows Muslim Prisoners’ Bivens Claims to Proceed, by Derek Gilna
- DOJ Settlement to Improve Conditions at Mississippi Juvenile Facility
- Colson Task Force Report Highlights BOP Issues, Makes Recommendations, by Derek Gilna
- Book Review: "Illegal to Legal: Business Success for (ex)Criminals, by R.L. Pelshaw", by Christopher Zoukis
- Lawsuit Claiming CMUs Lack Due Process on Appeal to D.C. Circuit, by Derek Gilna
- Delayed Washington Competency Evaluations and Treatment Violate Due Process, by Mark Wilson
- Sacramento County Settles Former Jail Prisoner’s Lawsuits for $3,800, by Matthew Clarke
- Privately-operated Texas Prison Rebounds, by Matthew Clarke
- Transparent Jumpsuit for Prison Transport May Violate Eighth Amendment
- Ninth Circuit: Improper ICE Detainer Constitutes Article III Injury, by Mark Wilson
- The Will of the People: Ex-prisoners Voted into Public Office, by Joe Watson
- California: Strip Searches of Prison Visitors No Longer Allowed
- Exonerated New York Prisoner Recovers $21.9 Million in Damages
- California Supreme Court Voids Ex Post Facto Sex Offender Residency Restrictions, by Derek Gilna
- Texas: $400,000 Settlement Award to Mentally Ill Jail Prisoner
- Lawsuits Challenge Release Debit Cards; Courts Rule Against Arbitration, by Derek Gilna
- Prison’s Censorship of Newsweek Upheld
- Sixth Circuit Allows Revival of Untimely Habeas Appeal Using Rule 60(b), by Matthew Clarke
- $550,000 Jury Award for Failure to Treat Prisoner’s Broken Jaw
- Kentucky Restores Voting Rights for Former Prisoners, then Reverses Course
- Defense Verdict in Kentucky Prisoner’s Death; Appellate Court Reverses, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Terre Haute Prisoner’s FTCA Suit, by Derek Gilna
- $2.5 Million Award for Wrongfully Convicted Former Michigan Prisoner
- Ninth Circuit Rules Judge “Abused Discretion” in Imposing Abstinence as Supervised Release Condition, by Derek Gilna
- $360,000 Verdict Against Indiana Sheriff for Denying Prompt Court Hearings
- Deaths of Prisoners in Indiana, California and Arkansas Linked to Flu Virus, by Joe Watson
- Texas Disciplinary Appeals Board Upholds Disbarment of State Prosecutor
- $11.3 Million Jury Award for Former Colorado Jail Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Lifetime Registration of Low-level Sex Offenders found Excessive, Unconstitutional in New Hampshire
- New Federal Law that Brands Sex Offenders’ Passports Faces Court Challenge, by Derek Gilna
- Use of Nutraloaf on the Decline in U.S. Prisons, by Christopher Zoukis
- Prisoners Hang Themselves in Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Jails at a Rate that Dwarfs Other County Lockups, by Michael Lacey
- U.S. Supreme Court Reverses Idaho Supreme Court, Asserts “Federal Supremacy”, by Derek Gilna
- Texas Parole Records Mistake Could Cost Taxpayers Millions, by Gary Hunter
- 2015 Annual Anti-Private Prison Awards Announced
- Settlement in California Jail Suit Includes $4.8 Million in Attorney Fees, Costs, by Derek Gilna
- California Lifers Paroled in Record Numbers, by Christopher Zoukis
- D.C. Circuit Court Partially Stays FCC Order Capping Prison and Jail Phone Rates
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- 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:
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Sept. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Obstruction of Justice.
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Four Massachusetts Guards Face Charges for Assault on Prisoners During Brawl, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings.
- New Commission to Investigate Death and Abuse of 230 Black Children at Segregated Maryland Reformatory, Sept. 1, 2026. Racial Discrimination, Prison Labor, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons.
- Last of 11 Guards Sentenced in Death of New York Prisoner, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), False Statements/Perjury, Obstruction of Justice.
- $500,000 for Mentally Ill Detainee Beaten by Guard at Ohio Jail, Sept. 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, Summary Judgment, Settlements, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Monell Liability.
- Troubled Illinois Lockup Sees Guard Abuses, Prisoners on Hunger Strike, Sept. 1, 2026. Hunger Strikes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- At Least Three Guards Charged for Assaulting Two Massachusetts Prisoners, Aug. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Assaults on Staff, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Death of Seattle Detainee—Jailed Despite Not Being “Grounded in Reality”—Costs King County $3.5 Million Settlement, Aug. 1, 2026. Restraints, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Monell Liability.
- $10.19 Million Paid for Retired California Prison Guard’s Death in Colorado Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Stun Guns/Tasers, Failure to Train/Supervise, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Deliberate Indifference.

