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Trapped
California wastes tens of millions of dollars a year keeping people in prison long after they’ve been rehabilitated – denying parole for arbitrary reasons and destroying lives in the process.
by Sam Levin, East Bay Express
Part One: Cruel and Indefinite Punishment
Demian Johnson knows he has to be extremely ...
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More from this issue:
- Colorado Town to Pay $775,000 for Relying on Bogus Snitch, by Derek Gilna
- Trapped, by Sam Levin
- Pennsylvania DOC Ordered to Evaluate Mumia Abu-Jamal for Hep C Treatment, by Derek Gilna
- Florida’s Civil Commitment Center a “Living Death Sentence”, by David Reutter
- Still No Answers
- Federal Halfway House Contractor Files Unsuccessful Suit Against Bureau of Prisons, by Christopher Zoukis
- $7,500 Settlement in Pennsylvania Prisoner’s “Nuisance Suit”
- Riot at Private Prison in Arizona Prompts Review, Reforms and Change in Contractor, by Derek Gilna
- New York Counties, Corizon Reach $1.85 Million Settlement in Detainee’s Death
- Some Lawsuits Resolved Against New Mexico Prison Doctor, Others Still Pending, by Christopher Zoukis
- Fifth Circuit Holds Supervised Release Condition Restricting Dating Improper
- ICE Bans Crayons in Family Detention Center Visiting Area
- Orange Crush: The Rise of Tactical Teams in Prison, by Brian Dolinar
- Massachusetts Sheriff Offers Prisoner Labor to Build Trump’s Border Wall
- Louisiana City Declines to Open Jail Funded by Offender Fees
- South Carolina Court Finds DOC Erred in Treating Cases as No-Parole Offenses
- Studies on Financing of Judicial Campaigns Indicate Need for Reform, by Derek Gilna
- Summary Judgment Reversed in Puerto Rican Arrestee’s Wrongful Death Suit
- Prisoners Not Required to Take Unspecified Steps to Exhaust Administrative Remedies
- California Governor Grants 112 Pardons, One Commutation
- Third Circuit Holds Prisons Not Required to Treat Impotence or Infertility
- PLN Exclusive! Wisconsin DOC Audit Reveals Contract Violations by Community Corrections Provider, by Derek Gilna
- Three Reports Provide Data on Prisoners Held in “Restrictive Housing”, by Derek Gilna
- Michigan DOC Audit Reveals $3.4 Million in Overcharges by Aramark; Problems Persist Under New Contractor, by Derek Gilna
- $175,000 in Damages, Attorney Fees Against Sentinel Offender Services
- Maine DA Sued for Malicious Prosecution
- New York State Closes 14 Prisons Amid Decline in Crime Rates, by Christopher Zoukis
- Study: 95 Percent of Elected Prosecutors are White, by Joe Watson
- Kentucky Prisoners Entitled to Review of Audio Recordings at Disciplinary Hearing
- Arizona: Police Lieutenant Gets Special Treatment During DUI Jail Sentence
- One Oregon Prisoner + Sex with Two Jailers = 86 Months in Prison , by Mark Wilson
- Death Penalty Opponents File Suit to Thwart California’s Prop. 66
- Seventh Circuit Reinstates Illinois Jail Prisoner’s Failure-to-Protect Suit
- Washington: Teen’s Death in Tribal Jail Sparks Lawsuit, Contract Scrutiny
- Florida County Votes against New Jail on Former EPA Superfund Site, Opts to Stay in Flood Zone , by Panagioti Tsolkas
- A Story of Racial Bias, the Absence of Mercy, and a Death in Prison
- Justice Department Inspectors Find Problems with BOP Reentry Programs, by Derek Gilna
- Hawaii: Prison Subcontractor under Scrutiny
- Negative Report Foreshadows End of G4S Juvenile Operations in UK, by Derek Gilna
- Texas: “San Antonio Four” Exonerated after Two Decades
- Five Wrongfully Convicted North Carolina Men Receive Almost $8 Million, by David Reutter
- Legacy of Mass Incarceration: Parental Incarceration Impacts One in Fourteen Children , by Christopher Zoukis
- Fourth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of FTCA Failure-to-Protect Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- Australia Uses Recidivism-Based Performance Contract at Private Prison
- Prisoner Deaths, Labor Conflicts Precipitate Loss of CA County Corizon Contract , by Derek Gilna
- Michigan: Class-action Suit Alleges Systematic Deficiencies in Prison Dental Care
- Pennsylvania: $99,000 Settlement for 22 Years in Solitary Confinement, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- News in Brief
More from Sam Levin:
- Trapped, Feb. 8, 2017
- Unfair Punishment, Aug. 12, 2014
More from these topics:
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Nebraska Considers Curbing Double-Bunking in Restrictive Housing, Aug. 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Overcrowding, Bedding.
- Watchdog Calls Out D.C. for Dragging Feet on Construction of New Jail, Aug. 1, 2025. Totality of Conditions, Overcrowding, Ventilation, Exercise, Exposure to Cold, Jail Specific, Lighting, Noise, Vermin, Exposure to Heat, Security Systems.
- Costs of U.S. Incarceration to Families Pegged at Nearly $350 Billion a Year, Aug. 1, 2025. Cost of Prison Systems.
- Percentage Of Prisoners Serving Life Without Parole Is Up Despite Overall Decrease in Prison Population, July 15, 2025. Parole, Life without Parole (LWOP), Implementing the Total Sentence.
- Tennessee Board of Parole Spanked for Failing to Make Recommendation to Governor on Prisoner’s Clemency Application, July 15, 2025. Parole Board Misconduct, Pardons/Clemency, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release, Release Decisions.
- $1.6 Million Class-Action Settlement for Virginia Prisoners Subjected to Delayed Release, July 15, 2025. Release and Reentry, Overdetention.
- Ongoing Detainee Deaths Push Rikers Island into Federal Court Receivership, July 15, 2025. Totality of Conditions, Failure to Protect (General), Fire Hazards, Overcrowding, Eighth Amendment, Staffing, Environmental Law, Plumbing, Sewage, Jail Specific.
- Solving the Carceral Understaffing Crisis: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why, July 15, 2025. Work Conditions/Safety, Overcrowding, Staffing, Exposure to Cold, Exposure to Heat.
- Fourth Circuit Announces Counterman v. Colorado Is New Rule of Constitutional Law That Applies Retroactively to Cases on Collateral Review and Grants Authorization to File Successive § 2255 Motion, July 1, 2025. Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Habeas Corpus, Threats.