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California’s Inspector General Cites Abuses at High Desert State Prison
A special report by Robert A. Barton, Inspector General of the State of California, released in December 2015, highlighted numerous problems at the High Desert State Prison in Susanville. The California Senate Committee on Rules had requested the report to study allegations of excessive use of force against prisoners, the …
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More from this issue:
- Alabama Forced to Confront Criminal Justice Reform, by David Reutter
- Low Pay, Long Hours Fuel Increasing State Prison Staffing Problems, by Derek Gilna
- PLN Exclusive: Illinois Prisoner Exonerated, Released after Ten Years, by Derek Gilna
- How Prison Phone Calls Became a Tax on the Poor
- ACLU Report: Women Uniquely Harmed by Solitary Confinement, by Matthew Clarke
- UK Supreme Court Rules Against Unlawful Use of Solitary Confinement, by Christopher Zoukis
- Disputed PLRA Administrative Exhaustion Issues Properly Resolved in Bench Trial
- $8,000 Settlement for Medical Maltreatment by BOP; Court Finds Experts Not Required, by Derek Gilna
- Corrections Agencies Use Obamacare to Pay for Prisoners’ Medical Care, by Christopher Zoukis
- L.A. County Audit Recommends More Contract Oversight for Probation Department, by Derek Gilna
- Delaware Supreme Court Suspends Prosecutor for Misconduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- $15 Million Award for Prisoner Rendered Paraplegic Due to Medical Malpractice Affirmed, by David Reutter
- Florida’s Private Prison Movement Alive and Well, by David Reutter
- Audits Expose Irregularities in Iowa Prison System Spending, by Derek Gilna
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Ex-prisoner’s § 1983 Action Regarding Computer Disk, by Derek Gilna
- Lawsuit Claims Florida Teen Raped, Beaten in Prison Initiation Ritual
- Fourth Circuit Upholds Denial of Summary Judgment to Guards in Excessive Force Suit
- BOP Pays $70,000 to Settle Lawsuit by Sexually Abused Transgender Prisoner, by Derek Gilna
- $30,000 Settlement for New York Prisoner Assaulted by Guard
- California Supreme Court Rules in Prisoner’s Favor in Compassionate Release Denial, by Gary Hunter
- Nonviolent Michigan Offenders Can Seek Expungement Under New Law, by David Reutter
- Prisoner Rights Advocates Disappointed with Pace of Obama Clemency Initiative, by Derek Gilna
- Former U.S. Attorney General’s Legacy: Too Little, Too Late, by Derek Gilna
- Medically Unacceptable Biopsy States Eighth Amendment Claim
- Prisoners in Chicago Learn Skills, Improve Neighborhoods by Demolishing Vacant Homes, by Gary Hunter
- Report Documents U.S. Recidivism Rates for Federal Prisoners, by Christopher Zoukis
- California Jail’s Psychotropic Medication Policy Leads to Lawsuit, Settlement, by David Reutter
- Idaho Prison Population Drops, Out-of-State Prisoners Re-turned, by Christopher Zoukis
- Delaware Prisoners Sue DOC Alleging Sexual Assaults by Prison Doctor, by Christopher Zoukis
- Seventh Circuit: Former Parolee May Sue Over Delayed Release from Parole
- Hawaii Prisons Experience Security Failures, Other Troubling Incidents, by David Reutter
- Second Circuit: Truth of Arrest Remains Despite Connecticut “Erasure” Law, by Mark Wilson
- Second Circuit: Administrative Remedies Unavailable for Beating at Holding Facility
- BOP Recognizes Humanist Religion after Prisoner Files Suit, by Derek Gilna
- A “Quantum Leap” Isn’t Far Enough for the Prison Phone Industry, by Carrie Wilkinson
- Suit Filed Over New Hampshire DOC’s Restrictive Mail Policy
- Warden’s Decision to Quarantine Handicapped Person in Unaccommodated Cell Actionable; $200,000 Settlement
- Tennessee Sheriff’s Denial of Public Records Merits Attorney Fee Award
- Why is California Thumbing its Nose at a Federal Court?, by Caleb Mason
- New York: $35,000 Awarded for Three-week Illegal Confinement, by Mark Wilson
- Fourth Circuit Finds 20 Years in Solitary an Atypical and Significant Hardship, by David Reutter
- California’s Inspector General Cites Abuses at High Desert State Prison, by Derek Gilna
- $1,000 Jury Award in Texas Prisoner’s Excessive Use of Force Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit: Witnesses Cannot Refuse to Testify at Civil Trial
- Supreme Court Reverses SORNA Notification Requirement when Sex Offenders Move Overseas, by Derek Gilna
- Lawsuit Filed Over Death of Pepper-sprayed, Mentally Ill California Prisoner, by Gary Hunter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- News in Brief
More from Derek Gilna:
- Federal Judge in Louisiana Issues Sweeping Opinion Finding Numerous Eighth Amendment, ADA and RA Violations at Angola, April 1, 2022
- Human Rights Defense Center Prevails in Censorship Lawsuit Against Napa County Jail, California, Sept. 1, 2021
- California State Auditor’s Report Faults Counties for Waste and Poor Oversight of State Funds Used in “Public Safety Realignment”, Sept. 1, 2021
- The Fight Over Cellphones in Prisons Rages On, Sept. 1, 2021
- District Court Extends Armstrong Order to Five Additional California Prisons, Sept. 1, 2021
- HRDC Settles Censorship Lawsuit with Johnson County, Kansas Jail for $50,000 and Policy Changes, Aug. 1, 2021
- Virginia Prosecutors to Dismiss 400 Drug Convictions Tied to Disgraced Cop, July 15, 2021
- Discredited New York Police Detective’s False Testimony Causes the Dismissal of Close to 100 Drug Convictions, June 15, 2021
- D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences Firearms Examination Unit Under Fire, April 15, 2021
- Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, April 1, 2021
More from these topics:
- Help Wanted: 31,000 Prison Guard Jobs Open Nationwide, Sept. 1, 2025. Conditions of Confinement, Failure to Protect (General), Staffing, Exercise, Lockdowns, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Guards/Staff, Staff Training.
- Now Under Federal Receivership, New York City’s Rikers Island Jails Still Have No Plan to Improve, No Firm Date to Close, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Records, Eighth Amendment.
- Fifth Circuit Greenlights Federal Takeover of Mississippi Jail, Aug. 1, 2025. Sexual Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Eighth Amendment, Staffing, Stun Guns/Tasers.
- After Judge’s Letter, at Least 22 Former FCI Dublin Prisoners Granted Compassionate Release, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Release and Reentry, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Compassionate Release.
- Tenth Circuit Ruling Paves Way for $2.7 Million Settlement for Intellectually Disabled Jail Detainee Raped by Sheriff, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Jail Misconduct, Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Alabama DOC Attorneys Reprimanded for Filing AI-Written Briefs in Prisoner’s Suit, Aug. 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Attorney Misconduct.
- DOJ Inspects BOP Food Service Operations, Finds Troubling Issues at Multiple Facilities, Aug. 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Food, Staffing.
- Ninth Circuit: Continuing-Violations Doctrine Applies for PLRA Administrative Exhaustion Purposes, Aug. 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Administrative Exhaustion (PLRA), Grievances, Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA).
- Nebraska Considers Curbing Double-Bunking in Restrictive Housing, Aug. 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Overcrowding, Bedding.
- Former Oregon Prison Guard Sergeant Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Imprisoned Women, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Guard Brutality/Beatings.

