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Study Finds More Private Prisons Result in Judges Imposing Slightly Longer Sentences
by Matt Clarke
In a report published on March 24, 2019, researchers from Columbia University and UCLA found that “the opening of a private prison increases the length of sentences relative to what the crime’s and defendant’s characteristics predict.” Private prisons did not increase the chances of …
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Former Prisoner Becomes California Coffee Entrepreneur, by Scott Grammer
- Motions to Dismiss by Corizon and Wexford Denied in Lawsuit Over Florida Prisoner’s Double Leg Amputation, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Reinstates Texas Prisoner’s Excessive Force Claims, by Matthew Clarke
- Michigan: Settlement in Class-Action Suit by Prisoners with Hearing Disabilities, by Douglas Ankney
- Montana Parolee Sues CoreCivic Over Prison Assault, Brain Injury, by Matthew Clarke
- Sheriff, Undersheriff and Deputies Resign Over Safety Issues at Oklahoma Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Texas Prisoner Sues Former Guards for Planting Screwdrivers in His Cell, by Matthew Clarke
- $3 Million Settlement Where Prison Doctor Failed to Treat Disabled Illinois Prisoner, by Scott Grammer
- Florida: No Qualified Immunity for Jail Medical Staff in Prisoner’s Death, by David M. Reutter
- Texas Prisoner’s Lawsuit Over Reaction to Prison Blankets Moves Forward, by Matthew Clarke
- Federal Government Pays Nation of Islam to Teach BOP Prisoners
- Florida Prisons and Jails Retaliate Against Prisoners Who File Lawsuits by Countersuing for Costs of Incarceration, by Dale Chappell
- Study Finds More Private Prisons Result in Judges Imposing Slightly Longer Sentences, by Matthew Clarke
- New Jersey Federal Court Approves $1.5 Million Jail Strip-Search Settlement, by Dale Chappell
- Minnesota Prisoners Win Access to New Hepatitis C Medications
- Maine: Prosecutorial Misconduct in False Rape Case Results in $2.1 Million in Damages, by Chad Marks
- Michigan Prisoner Dies from Cocaine Overdose, Sergeant and Paramedics Charged, $3.75 Million Settlement, by Scott Grammer
- Texas Bans All Clergy from Death Chamber after Supreme Court Stays Execution, by Matthew Clarke
- Arrestee Dies in a Jail with No Medical Staff; Eleventh Circuit Reverses Dismissal, by Edward Lyon
- Scammers Deprive Prisoners with Legitimate Substance Abuse Problems of BOP Drug Treatment, by Douglas Ankney
- New Bill Restricts Use of Solitary Confinement in New Mexico, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Interim Attorney Fees Awarded in Kentucky Good Time Lawsuit, by David M. Reutter
- More States on Track to Restore Voting Rights to Felons, but Not Without Hurdles, by Dale Chappell
- Mentally Ill Texas Woman “Ignored to Death” After Five Months in Jail, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania Prisoners’ Cigarette Stashes to Go Up in Smoke, by Douglas Ankney
- Monterey County, California Pays $365,000 for Jail Prisoner’s Death, by Douglas Ankney
- Former Louisiana Warden Nate Cain, Son of Infamous Burl Cain, Pleads Guilty, by David M. Reutter
- Minnesota Sheriff Hit with Attorney Fees Award in Civil Rights Case, by Derek Gilna
- End of Gubernatorial Terms Bring Pardons, Commutations, by David M. Reutter
- Federal Judge Holds Bivens Not Applicable to Prison Workplace Discrimination Claims, by Dale Chappell
- Michigan: $40,000 Settlement for Parole Violation Sanctions Absent Due Process, by David M. Reutter
- Eighth Circuit Reinstates Iowa Prisoner’s Retaliation Claims, by Matthew Clarke
- Mississippi Prison Industry Program Faltering, CEO Fired, by David M. Reutter
- Nevada: Jail Death Due to Excessive Force Leads to $175,000 in Settlements, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Issues Ruling on Arizona DOC Stipulated Settlement, by David M. Reutter
- California: Denial of Bed During Jail Disturbances Not a Constitutional Violation, by David M. Reutter
- $115,000 Settlement after Nebraska Prison Nurses Ignore Prisoner’s Heart Attack, by Edward Lyon
- Tennessee: Federal Court Grants Class-Action Status in Shareholder Suit Against CoreCivic, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Holds Transgender Prisoner Not Entitled to Sex Reassignment Surgery, by Matthew Clarke
- Native American Prisoners Win Lawsuit Over Right to Wear Long Hair, by Matthew Clarke
- “Game of Kings” Has Large Following, Long History Behind Bars, by Matthew Clarke
- 17 Indicted in SC Prison Smuggling Ring, by Scott Grammer
- D.C. Court Awards $501 Million in Suit Against North Korea for Torture-Death of Prisoner, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of South Carolina Prisoner’s Suit Over Safekeeper Status, by David M. Reutter
- Some Prisons Are Using Virtual Reality for Reentry and Other Programs, by Matthew Clarke
- New Study Finds Mass Incarceration Impacts Over Half of U.S. Families, by Steve Horn
- South Carolina Fails to Evacuate Prisoners Threatened by Hurricane, by Matthew Clarke
- New York Sheriff Loses Lawsuit, Must Report Serious Prisoner Incidents to State Agency, by Chad Marks
- South Carolina: Two Women Drown in Sheriff’s Transport Van, Deputies Charged, by Scott Grammer
- New Mexico Riot Raises Questions About Private Prison Company’s Competence, by Kevin W. Bliss
- New Indianapolis Jail Will Not be Run by a Private Prison Company, but is Being Built on Contaminated Land, by Kevin W. Bliss
- GEO Group Produces Litigation Documents After HRDC Files Public Records Suit, by Christopher Zoukis
- Imagine Pleading Guilty Because You Can’t Afford to Call Your Lawyer, by Victoria Law
- Canada: Long-Term Segregation of Mentally Ill Prisoners Unconstitutional; $20 Million in Damages, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Federal Court Rules in Favor of HRDC in Virginia Jail Censorship Suit
- Settlement Reached in Suit Over Failure to Keep Released L.A. County Prisoners from Becoming Homeless, by Scott Grammer
- “I Had Nothing”: How Parole Perpetuates a Cycle of Incarceration and Instability, by Raven Rakia
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Sixth Circuit Rules Suit May Proceed Where State Judge Offered Reduced Sentences for Sterilization, by Douglas Ankney
- The Second Step: Invest in Prison Education Programs, Reinstate Pell Grants, by Christopher Zoukis
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Seventh Circuit Grants Qualified Immunity to Detectives Who Revealed Prisoner Was Informant, Denies Him Anonymity, Aug. 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Holds Federal Law Prohibits County Jail from Forcing Immigration Detainees to Perform Custodial Labor by Threatening Solitary Confinement, Aug. 1, 2026
- New Mexico Supreme Court Holds Corrections Department Regulations Do Not Exempt Use-Of-Force Documents from Public Records Disclosure, Aug. 1, 2026
- DOJ Issues Memorandum Over BOP Employees Abusing Their Law Enforcement Credentials to Illegally Purchase Personal Firearms, Aug. 1, 2026
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Summary Judgment Against Former Illinois Prison Guards Challenging Termination for Violating Use of Force Policy, Aug. 1, 2026
- Federal Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Barring Enforcement of Executive Order to Transfer Trans Women Prisoners to Men’s Prisons, Aug. 1, 2026
- Idaho Supreme Court Holds Indigent Parents Have Constitutional Right to Counsel at Public Expense, July 1, 2026
- Free Phone Calls Saved Prisoners and Their Families More than $600 Million, Report Finds, July 1, 2026
- California Appeals Court Holds Defendant Cannot Be Penalized for Failing to Appear at Sentencing When He Was Being Held in Another County’s Jail on Preexisting Charges, July 1, 2026
- SCOTUS Reverses Mississippi Capital Conviction, July 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- “Safe Inside” Review Paid for by DOJ Found Prisons Grew Much Deadlier in Five Year-Period, Aug. 1, 2026. Work Conditions/Safety, Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Staffing, Assaults on Staff.
- Three Detainees Die in Four Days at the Tarrant County Jail, Aug. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Wrongful Death, Compassionate Release.
- Prison Policy Initiative Updates Its “Money of Mass Incarceration” Report, Aug. 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Cost of Prison Systems, Forfeiture, Effects of Mass Incarceration, Ability to Pay.
- California Supreme Court Limits Money Bail for Nonviolent Charges, July 1, 2026. Conditions of Confinement, Sentencing, Due Process, Constitutional Challenges/Law, Pretrial Detention and Detainees.
- Oregon Supreme Court: Jail Credit Statute Focuses Upon Legal Custody Not Physical Custody Location, July 1, 2026. Civil Procedure, Sentencing, Appeals/Appellate Jurisdiction, Criminal Justice, Statutory Construction/Interpretation.
- Louisiana’s Atavistic Approach to Criminal Sentencing and Parole Demonstrates Politicians’ Failure to Learn from Past Mistakes, July 1, 2026. Medical, Conditions of Confinement, Sentencing, Parole, Prisoners' Rights.
- $3.25 Million Verdict in New York Against Jail Medical Profiteer Armor Health, July 1, 2026. Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Medical, Conditions of Confinement, Civil Rights Actions or Offenses/Bivens Actions.
- Detainee Deaths Went Unreported at Dallas County Jail, July 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Databases, Public Records.
- Prisoners’ Risk of Death In Custody More than Doubles in Solitary Confinement, July 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Confinement in Segregated Housing, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
- Wisconsin State Prison Population Approaches Record High, July 1, 2026. Statistics/Trends, Overcrowding, Staffing, Pardons/Clemency, Reduction of Prison Population.

