More from this issue:

1. Coronavirus: A Nationwide Survey of the Push for Early Release as Pandemic Fears Grow, by Christopher Zoukis
2. Early Prison Release for Gangsta Rapper Sped Up by Coronavirus, by Edward Lyon
3. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
4. Prioritizing Jails Over Hospitals Has Made Rural US More Vulnerable to COVID-19, by Jack Norton, Jasmine Heiss
5. May Update: Protect Yourself and Your Facility from COVID-19, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
6. Recent Exonerees Give the Public Advice on Being Locked Down: You Have No Idea, by Dale Chappell
7. Lawsuit: Release Prisoners in Virus Tinderbox to Home Confinement, by David Reutter
8. Prison Postcards: Prisoners Write About Fears, Incompetence, at Their Facilities, by Ken Silverstein
9. Rikers Island Prisoners Helped with Preparations to Bury the Coronavirus Dead
10. Federal Judge “Troubled” by Arizona Prison Director’s Response to Coronavirus; State Rep Calls it “Reckless”, by Dale Chappell
11. California Publishes Use of Force in Prisons Report, by Anthony Accurso
12. Connecticut Prisoners Win Lawsuit After Hepatitis Exposure, by Edward Lyon
13. Nevada Prisoner Prevails in Good Time Deprivation Appeal, by Edward Lyon
14. California Three-Judge Court Denies Emergency Motion to Reduce Prison Population During Pandemic, by Christopher Zoukis
15. Arkansas Supreme Court Denies Prisoner Preliminary Injunction on Religious Issues, by Anthony Accurso
16. Federal Court Grants Default Summary Judgment in Favor of Indiana Prisoner as Sanction for State’s Lies, by Dale Chappell
17. How Prepared Are State Prison Systems for a Viral Pandemic?, by Peter Wagner, Emily Widra
18. Suit: Mississippi Man Sentenced to Two Days Hangs Himself After Jail Kept Him 52 Days Longer, by Douglas Ankney
19. Emergency Cancellation of Attorney Visits Subject to Court Oversight, by David Reutter
20. Undisclosed Settlement in Kentucky Case a Textbook Case of Negligent Privatized Prison Medical Care, by David Reutter
21. Illinois Supreme Court: Settlements with Private Companies When Contracted for Government Service Are Public Record, by Kevin Bliss
22. Coalition Fights to Ensure Jailed Voters in Arizona Can Vote, by Scott Grammer
23. Mass Incarceration, Meet COVID-19 Opportunity to release prisoners with little public safety risk is clear, by Sharon Dolovich
24. Multiple Indictments, Prison Sentences, for Guards and Officials at Violence-Plagued Cleveland Jail, by Edward Lyon
25. Another Prisoner Dies at Tennessee Prison Run By CoreCivic, by Matthew Clarke
26. Texas Prison Health Care Costs at Record High Despite Population Reduction, by Matthew Clarke
27. DOJ to Treat Immigrants Like Criminals by Collecting DNA Samples, by Kevin Bliss
28. Minnesota Prison Bans “No Touch” Rule, by Edward Lyon
29. Alabama Grandma Sentenced to Life on Drug Charge Finally Paroled, by David Reutter
30. ICE Diverts Needed Face Masks from Medical Professionals, by Kevin Bliss
31. Paroled New Yorker Wrongfully Confined; Awarded $3,250, by Kevin Bliss
32. Michigan Permits Prisoners to Seek Financial Assistance for College, by Bill Barton
33. New Yorker Held Three Years at Rikers Island Before Acquittal, by Matthew Clarke
34. Arizona DOC Raids Prisoner-Generated Funds to Pay for Lock Repairs; Whistleblower Says Records Being Falsified, by Matthew Clarke
35. Kentucky Governor’s Executive Order Restores Voting Rights for Felons, by David Reutter
36. Women Advocate for the Release of COVID-19 At-Risk Prisoners in Indiana, by Kevin Bliss
37. D.C. Juvenile Offender Finally Released After 26 Years Behind Bars, by Bill Barton
38. Arizona Court Denies Emergency COVID-19 Motion, by David Reutter
39. Ohio Prisoner’s Facebook Live a Plea for Help During COVID-19 Pandemic
40. Santa Rita Jail Accused of Slave Labor in California Class Action, by Kevin Bliss
41. Open Prison: Lessons from the Past, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
42. $25 Million Jury Award to Baltimore City Prisoner For Guards Setting Up Retaliatory Gang Attack, by Dale Chappell
43. Chatham County Jail Reverses On Book Ban But Limits Number of Publications, by David Reutter
44. Third Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Pennsylvania Prisoners’ Dry Cell Suit, by David Reutter
45. Leaving Prison for a Real Home in California, by Edward Lyon
46. Health Care Services Killing Women at Virginia Prison, by David Reutter
47. $120,000 Settlement for Minnesota Woman Forced to Remove Hijab for Booking, by David Reutter
48. News in Brief

More from David Reutter:

• Help Wanted: 31,000 Prison Guard Jobs Open Nationwide, Sept. 1, 2025
• Fifth Circuit Greenlights Federal Takeover of Mississippi Jail, Aug. 1, 2025
• Ninth Circuit Revives Prisoner’s Claim Based on Guard’s 
Thwarting of Administrative Remedies, Aug. 1, 2025
• Tenth Circuit Ruling Paves Way for $2.7 Million Settlement 
for Intellectually Disabled Jail Detainee Raped by Sheriff, Aug. 1, 2025
• Ninth Circuit Agrees That Former Guantanamo Detainee 
Lacks Grounds to Sue for Waterboarding, Aug. 1, 2025
• Qualified Immunity Denied for Iowa Prison Doctor’s MRI Delay 
for Non-Medical Reasons, Aug. 1, 2025
• Ninth Circuit: Continuing-Violations Doctrine Applies 
for PLRA Administrative Exhaustion Purposes, Aug. 1, 2025
• First Circuit: Prosecutor’s Breach of Plea Agreement 
Requires Government’s Specific Performance of Agreement, 
Not Specific Performance by District Court, Aug. 1, 2025
• Oregon Prisoners Can Now Seek Economic Damages 
for Future Lost Income More Easily, July 15, 2025
• $22.5 Million Verdict Arrives Too Late for 
Wrongfully Convicted Illinois Prisoner, July 15, 2025

More from these topics:

• $95,000 Paid to Nevada Prisoner Denied 
Muslim Prayer; Pending Cases Allege Continued 
Discrimination Against Non-Protestants, Aug. 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Denial of Religious Services, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), Free Exercise Clause.
• Wiccan Nevada Prisoner Wins 18-Year Fight for Religious Items, July 15, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Denial of Religious Services, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• Ninth Circuit Reinstates Religious Exercise Claim from Arizona “Christian-Israelite” Prisoner Denied Passover Meal, June 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights.
• Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim, June 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).
• Muslim Prisoners Face Price-Gouging, April 1, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Seizure of Prisoner Funds, Religious Practices, Religious Property.
• Ninth Circuit Greenlights Muslim Hawaii Prisoner’s Challenge to Early-Served Ramadan Meals, Jan. 15, 2025. Religious Discrimination, Religious Diet.
• Muslim New York Prisoner’s Free Exercise of Religion Claim Reinstated, Jan. 15, 2025. State Law Claims, Religious Freedom, Denial of Religious Services, Religious Freedom/Worship.
• BOP Settles Muslim Prisoner’s Religious Discrimination and Medical Denial Claims at Colorado Supermax, Dec. 15, 2024. Religious Discrimination, Systemic Medical Neglect, Settlements, Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
• Fifth Circuit Revives Texas Prisoner’s Suit Alleging Interference With His Muslim Religious Practice, Nov. 15, 2024. Religious Discrimination, Denial of Religious Services.
• Second Circuit: New York Prisoner’s Religious Discrimination Need Not Show a “Substantial” Burden of Beliefs, Oct. 15, 2024. Religious Discrimination.