More from this issue:

1. Opening the Door, by Jean Casella and Aviva Stahl
2. American University Removes Statue of Imprisoned Native American Activist, by Derek Gilna
3. Mississippi Closes Troubled Former Youth Prison
4. Denver Man, Accused of Rape Due to Mishandled DNA, Has Lawsuit Dismissed, by Derek Gilna
5. Prisoner Rights Event Prompts Florida Prison System Lockdown, by Derek Gilna
6. California Prison Officials Shift Responsibility for Work Injuries to Prisoners, by Derek Gilna
7. Oregon Parole Board Must Define Applicable Statutory Terms
8. Oregon Prisoner’s Conversion Claim Against Guard Reinstated
9. Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey Latest States to Pass Mugshot Extortion Laws
10. Third Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment on SHU Strip Search Claims
11. Prison Mailbox Rule Applies to Alabama Sentence Reconsideration Motions
12. Oregon Prosecutors and Cops Bully Parole Board into Improperly Rescinding Parole; Court Orders Release
13. Extensive Contraband Found During Shakedowns at Mississippi Prisons
14. Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke’s Jail Under Fire for Deaths, Civil Rights Abuses, by Christopher Zoukis
15. HOPE and SCF Probation Programs Criticized in Study, by Derek Gilna
16. Utah Supreme Court Reverses Termination of Prisoner’s Parental Rights
17. Plastic Spoon Not a “Dangerous Weapon” Under Oregon Law
18. BJS Studies Show Number of Prisoners, Probationers Continues to Drop Slightly, by Derek Gilna
19. DOJ Publishes Ten-step Program for Halfway House Reforms
20. Missouri Prisoner’s IRA May be Seized for Incarceration Costs
21. Oregon Prison Officials Must Provide Post-release Disability Care
22. Abuses at Louisiana Jail Investigated, Ten Deputies Plead Guilty, by David Reutter
23. HRDC/PLN Obtain Landmark Nationwide Censorship Settlement with Private Prison Company, by Derek Gilna
24. Fifth Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Texas Grooming Policy RLUIPA Claim
25. Ninth Circuit Reinstates Wiccan Prisoner’s Consent Decree
26. Seventh Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment in Retaliatory Discipline Case
27. $6.5 Million Jury Award in Oklahoma Jail Rape Lawsuit, by Matthew Clarke
28. Almost 270 Die in Pre-trial Detention in Canadian Jails in Last Five Years, by Derek Gilna
29. TN Prison Counselor Suspended for Posting Insults on Facebook, by Joe Watson
30. Ninth Circuit: Courtroom Deputy Entitled to Qualified, Not Absolute, Immunity
31. Numerous Lawsuits Filed Against Corizon Nationwide; Company Loses Contracts, by Matthew Clarke
32. Federal Court Approves Landmark BOP ADX Mental Health Settlement, by Derek Gilna
33. Exonerated Man Receives $6 Million in Malicious Prosecution Settlement, by Christopher Zoukis
34. FCC Chairman Called Out on Conflict of Interest Concerning Prison Phone Company, by Carrie Wilkinson
35. No Private Prisons in King County, Washington
36. Private Prison Companies’ Plan to License “Baby Jails” Fails in Texas Legislature, by Bob Libal
37. Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Automatic Disenfranchisement for all Felony Convictions, by Matthew Clarke
38. Stolen Credit Cards Laundered Through Global Tel*Link in Ohio Prisons, by Christopher Zoukis
39. Indiana Court Cannot Reduce 45-Day Filing Fee Time Limit
40. With General Inch in Charge, We Can Expect Further Militarization of the Prison System, by Brian Dolinar
41. Ohio State Criminal Convictions Threatened by Evidence Technician’s Misconduct, by Derek Gilna
42. Deaths at North Carolina Jail Due to Lack of Medical, Mental Health Care
43. Federal Judge Claims Three-year-olds Can Understand Immigration Law, by Christopher Zoukis
44. Leader of Fraudulent Scheme Targeting Prisoners Convicted, Sent to Prison, by Christopher Zoukis
45. Pretrial Diversion: Pay Not to Stay (in Jail), by Christopher Zoukis
46. Brennan Center Asks: “How Many Americans Are Unnecessarily Incarcerated?”, by Derek Gilna
47. Surgeon General’s Report: Substance Abuse Continues to Grow in America, by Derek Gilna
48. California Damage Suit Improperly Treated as Habeas Petition
49. New York Parole Board Repeatedly Held in Contempt; One Case Reversed on Appeal
50. Los Angeles County Jail Faces Lawsuit Over Censorship of PLN
51. Re-entry Program for Federal Prisoners on Supervised Release Has Low Participation
52. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
53. News in Brief

More from these topics:

• 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. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Failure to Address/Advise Defendant.
• SCOTUS Sides with Federal Prisoner in Habeas Review Case, March 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Predicate Acts/Offenses.
• SCOTUS Announces Federal Prisoners May Seek Certiorari Review of Authorization Denials Under § 2255(h) and Are Not Subject to § 2244(b)(1)’s Bar on Previously Presented Claims, Feb. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Authority and Jurisdiction.
• California Court of Appeal: Trial Courts Have Inherent Authority to Correct Unauthorized Sentences at Any Time Without Habeas Petition, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Authorized, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Effect of Vacatur.
• First Circuit Announces Modification of Juvenile’s Life-­Without-­Parole Sentence to Parole-­Eligible Life Term Constitutes “New Judgment” Under AEDPA, Exempting Second-­in-­Time Habeas Petition From Gatekeeping Requirements, Jan. 1, 2026. Parole, Habeas Corpus, Life without Parole (LWOP), AEDPA, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders.
• Supreme Court of Maryland Announces Division of Correction Must Immediately Apply Time-Served Credit Against Valid Sentences When Convictions Are Vacated and May Not Toll Execution Pending Reprosecution; New Sentences Arising From New Convictions Take, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Overdetention, Effect of Vacatur, Credits, Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences.
• Alabama Supreme Court Denies DOC’s Improper Venue Objection, Jan. 1, 2026. Defenses, Good Time, Habeas Corpus, Failure to Object, Authority and Jurisdiction.
• DOJ Leaves Louisiana Over-Detention Suit on Life Support, Two Others Granted Class-Action Status, Dec. 1, 2025. Class Certification, Habeas Corpus, Overdetention, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Unlawful Detention.
• Maine Superior Court Order to Reform Public Defender System Paused on Appeal, Dec. 1, 2025. Indigent Defense, Injunctions, Habeas Corpus, Sixth Amendment, Counsel - Constructive denial of.
• First Circuit: District Court Abused Discretion by Sua Sponte Raising Statute of Limitations Defense to Habeas Petition After Respondents Had Intelligently “Waived” It by Being Aware of Availability but Failing to Assert It, Nov. 15, 2025. Defenses, Limitations, Habeas Corpus, Double jeopardy, Knowingly and Intelligently.