More from this issue:

1. Debit Card Issuers Still Prey on People Released from Prisons and Jails: HRDC Lawsuits Challenge Companies in Court, by Andrew Stewart
2. Arkansas Governor Hutchinson Grants Commutation for Blind Mother, by Kevin Bliss
3. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
4. $6 Million Payout in Montana Wrongful Conviction Case, by Derek Gilna
5. NBA Owner Capitalizes on Mass Incarceration; Players Silent, by Matthew Clarke
6. University of Florida Still Using Prison Labor, But End in Sight, by Kevin Bliss
7. Texas Disguising Deaths in Custody, by Diana Claitor
8. Administrator of “Whitey” Bulger’s Estate Sues BOP Over His Murder, by Derek Gilna
9. North Carolina Case Involving Death of Black Prisoner: “I Can’t Breathe,” Revisited, by Edward Lyon
10. New Jersey Releases 2,258 Prisoners to Combat COVID-19 Spread, by David Reutter
11. Cost of Communicating with Prisoners Breaking Family Budgets During Pandemic, by David Reutter
12. Pennsylvania Prisoner Off Death Row After 33 Years, by David Reutter
13. Innovative Vermont Prison Superintendent’s Demotion for Sexist Language Proves Controversial, by Jayson Hawkins
14. Another Prisoner’s Needless Death, Another Lawsuit at LaSalle-Run Texarkana Jail, by Matthew Clarke
15. Federal Judge Approves $25 Million Class Action Settlement Against Global Tel*Link, by Derek Gilna
16. The Latest on COVID-19: Will Vaccines be Available Soon?, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
17. Former Prisoners Testify on Abuse at Notorious New Jersey Women’s Prison, by Kevin Bliss
18. Fifth Circuit Order Denies Texas Prisoners Hand Sanitizer and Cleaning Supplies, by Derek Gilna
19. California Passes Bill Allowing ICE Detainees to Sue Private Contractors, by Kevin Bliss
20. The Role of Prosecutors in Mass Incarceration, by Jayson Hawkins
21. COVID-19 Deaths in Jails, Prisons Exceed Number of Deaths by Execution From 1990 to Present, by Derek Gilna
22. Missouri Executes Prisoner During COVID-19 Crisis, by Edward Lyon
23. $5.9 Million Settlement in Death of Transgender Prisoner at New York’s Rikers Island, by Matthew Clarke
24. For Some Faiths in Los Angeles County Jails, Volunteer Chaplains Are in Short Supply, by Douglas Ankney
25. Connecticut Prisoner Commits Suicide With COVID-19 Protective Mask, by Kevin Bliss
26. Prisoners Exonerated in Michigan After Police Misconduct Revealed, by Edward Lyon
27. Woman Sues Mississippi Parole Board for Discrimination and Retaliation, by Anthony Accurso
28. Maine Jail Gets a Pass for Using Pepper Spray on Mentally Ill Prisoners, by Kevin Bliss, Daniel A. Rosen
29. Privatized Food Service Problems at Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County Jail, by Jayson Hawkins
30. $177,500 Settlement in Lawsuit Over Five Louisiana Prisoners Pepper-Sprayed While Handcuffed, by Matthew Clarke
31. California Appellate Court Orders 50% Reduction in San Quentin Population Over Fears of COVID-19 Spread, by David Reutter
32. COVID-19 Lockdowns in Prisons Affecting Post-Secondary Education, by Kevin Bliss
33. Indiana Prisoner Has First Amendment Retaliation Claims Rejected by Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, by Casey Bastian
34. Nine Months Later, DOJ Still Hasn’t Provided Senator Rubio With Answers About Rampant Sexual Abuse at Women’s Prisons, by Douglas Ankney
35. Members of Congress Probe Pentagon on Accreditation of Military Prisons, by Douglas Ankney
36. $11 Million Settlement in Illinois for Three Men Freed From Prison in Wrongful Convictions, by Anthony Accurso
37. COVID-19 in the Country’s Largest Female Prison, by Edward Lyon
38. Activists Call to Shut Down Illinois Prison, by David Reutter
39. California Jail Prisoner Loses Limbs, but Faces Setback in Lawsuit Alleging Medical Neglect, by Edward Lyon
40. Suicides in New York SHUs Surge to Epidemic Levels, by Keith Sanders
41. COVID-19 Strikes Alaskan Prison, by Kevin Bliss
42. Teen Spends 17 Months in Mississippi Jail Without Indictment, by Daniel A. Rosen
43. Julian Assange’s Potential Fate in U.S. Prisons, by Jayson Hawkins
44. California First State to Eliminate Post-Prison Fees, by Jayson Hawkins
45. Families Must Pay for Cremation Bill of Loved Ones Who Die in Prison, by Kevin Bliss
46. Fifth Circuit Reinstates Texas Jail Suicide Lawsuit, by Matthew Clarke
47. Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Illinois Prisoner’s Lawsuit Alleging Dental Care Negligence, by David Reutter
48. Former Transgender Prisoner Fights for LGBTQ Rights in Massachusetts Prisons, by Kevin Bliss
49. Third Circuit Reinstates Claims by Immigration Detainee in GEO-Operated Prison Seeking to Marry U.S. Citizen, by Matthew Clarke
50. Eighth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Iowa Prisoner’s ADA Claim, by David Reutter
51. Nebraska Supreme Court Rules Execution Drug Documents Subject to Disclosure, by Matthew Clarke
52. DC Circuit Court: “Three Strike” Prisoners Must Show Imminent Danger to File Lawsuits, by David Reutter
53. New Documentary Released on Forced Sterilizations of Female Prisoners, by Edward Lyon
54. Whistleblower Claims Female Detainees at Privately Run Georgia ICE Facility Had Forced Hysterectomies, by Dale Chappell
55. News in Brief
56. Maine Superspreader: Few Masks at Wedding Lead to Big Problems at Prison, by Jayson Hawkins

More from Kevin Bliss:

• After Florida Appellate Court Holds Crimes of ‘Attempt’ Eligible for Incentive Gain Time, Supreme Court Refuses Review, Jan. 15, 2025
• LGBTQ+ Detainees at Rikers Island Suffer Under Mayor Adams, Sept. 15, 2023
• Government Watchdog Adds BOP to List at “High Risk” of Mismanagement, Sept. 15, 2023
• At Massive and Corrupt Philippine Prison, Contraband Includes Jacuzzis and Horses, Sept. 15, 2023
• Second Circuit Affirms $600,000 Punitive Damage Award to New York Prisoner Brutally Beaten by Guards, Sept. 15, 2023
• Maryland Sheriff Charged with Illegally Procuring Machine Guns from ATF, Sept. 15, 2023
• Voting Rights Restoration for Virginia Ex-Felons Once Again Subject to Governor’s Whim, Sept. 15, 2023
• Prison Profiteer Who Chairs Christian Seminary Board Called Not Very ‘Christlike’, Aug. 15, 2023
• Menstruation Weaponized Against Women in Prison, Aug. 15, 2023
• Idaho Revives Firing Squads, Aug. 15, 2023

More from Daniel A. Rosen:

• Death, Neglect and Despair in U.S. Tribal Jails, Oct. 1, 2021
• Immigration Detention Contracts Cancelled in Georgia and Massachusetts, Oct. 1, 2021
• Federal BOP Overwhelmingly Denies Compassionate Releases During COVID, Sept. 1, 2021
• Lawsuit Over Alabama Private Mega-Prison Leases Dismissed, Sept. 1, 2021
• Illinois First State to Abolish Cash Bail, Aug. 1, 2021
• Justice Delayed in California Jails: Lengthy Pretrial Imprisonment Common, Aug. 1, 2021
• Louisiana Law School Counts Deaths Behind Bars Because State Won’t, Aug. 1, 2021
• Orange County California Jail Guard Investigated for Burning Mentally Ill Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2021
• Connecticut Makes All Prison Communications Free, Makes History, Aug. 1, 2021
• Architects Question Whether Building “More Humane” Prisons is Possible, July 1, 2021

More from these topics:

• Washington Governor Fires Independent Prison Watchdog, May 1, 2026. DOC/BOP misconduct, Government Misconduct, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Administrative Detention/Segregation.
• Fourth Circuit Revives North Carolina Prisoner’s Suit Blaming Lazy Guards for Assault by Detainee, May 1, 2026. Failure to Protect (General), Qualified Immunity, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Cruel and Unusual Punishment, Deliberate Indifference.
• $1.25 Million Paid for Special Needs Teen’s Fatal Beating in Houston Jail, May 1, 2026. Prisoner-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
• Seventh Circuit Upholds Liability but Reverses Damages in Lawsuit Over Illinois Warden and Investigator Using Prisoner as Bait to Catch Staff Member Raping Her, May 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Damages, Evidentiary Ruling, Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
• “Large Fight” Broke Out at Alaska Prison After Downsizing Effort, April 1, 2026. Transfers, Cost of Prison Systems, Totality of Conditions, Failure to Protect (General), Overcrowding.
• $950,000 Settlement Reached for Pennsylvania Jail Detainee Repeatedly Pepper-Sprayed During Mental Health Episodes, April 1, 2026. Clothing, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Chemical Spraying of Mentally Ill Inmates, Deliberate Indifference.
• $667,000 Awarded to Muslim Missouri Prisoners Pepper-Sprayed for Praying, April 1, 2026. Religious Discrimination, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Religious Practices, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Deliberate Indifference.
• Five Prisoners in Georgia Injured in Fight, Two Months After Three Prisoners Were Killed, April 1, 2026. Prison/Jail Murders, Totality of Conditions, Failure to Protect (General), Staffing.
• Leaked Video Footage Shows California Prison Guards Engaged in Retaliatory Assault, March 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Prison Rape Elimination Act.
• Eighth Circuit Revives Case Against Guards Who Failed to Intervene As Chaplain Sexually Assaulted Arkansas Prisoner, March 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Prison Rape Elimination Act, Qualified Immunity, Failure to Train/Supervise.