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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:
- 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
- Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
- California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
- Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
- Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
- Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
- New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Atlanta Jail Boasts Improvements Since Consent Decree, Reports from Monitor and ACLU Are More Critical, May 1, 2026. Staffing, Sanitation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Consent Decrees, Bail/Pretrial Release.
- Taser Use Doubled After Grand Jury Report on Pennsylvania Prisoner’s Death, May 1, 2026. Failure to Treat, Stun Guns/Tasers, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Staff Training.
- Six Maryland Guards Convicted in Prisoner’s Beating, Cover-up; § 1983 Suit Filed, May 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Obstruction of Justice, Wrongful Use of Force, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of.
- Judge Denies New York Prison Chief’s Motion to be Dismissed from Case Related to Robert Brooks’ Murder, May 1, 2026. Work Strikes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Train/Supervise, Police--Excessive Force, Deliberate Indifference.
- $10.3 Million Paid for Teen’s Death at Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility, April 1, 2026. Restraints, Qualified Immunity, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Wrongful Use of Force.
- Sixth Circuit Revives Michigan Prisoner’s Challenge to Guard Tackle That Broke His Foot, March 1, 2026. Evidentiary Ruling (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Summary Judgment, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
- 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).
- $404,000 Verdict for Ohio Prisoner Brutalized by Trio of Guards, Kept in Solitary for Two Years, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Retaliatory Segregation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement.
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of Qualified Immunity for Michigan Jailer Accused of Retaliatory Assault, Jan. 1, 2026. Retaliation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.

