More from this issue:

1. Jail Suicides in Massachusetts Point to National Crisis: Challenging Legislatures to Say Not One More, by Jennifer Honig
2. From the Editor, by Paul Wright
3. Government Refuses to Follow Federal Court’s Discovery Order After Being Caught Recording Attorney Meetings with Prisoners at Leavenworth, by Dale Chappell
4. Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, by Derek Gilna
5. Pandemic Medical Update: “Herd Immunity” at Prisons?, by Michael D. Cohen, MD
6. Texas Winter Storm Freezes Plumbing, Power and Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
7. Massachusetts Governor Ends Good Time Offer for Prisoners Taking COVID-19 Vaccine, by David Reutter
8. Confidential Settlement in Case Involving Alleged Pattern of Racist Misconduct in Michigan Prisons, by Casey Bastian
9. Connecticut Lawmakers Refuse to Address Corrections Issues During Pandemic, by Anthony Accurso
10. California Trans Women Struggle For Protection Under Prison Rape Elimination Act, by Edward Lyon
11. Oklahoma Prisoners Call for Better Nutrition, by Kevin Bliss
12. Florida Jail Administrators Fired After Woman Gives Birth in Cell, by Daniel A. Rosen
13. Holiday Cards for Prisoners: Let’s End Collective Punishment in U.S. Prisons, by Sandy Rozek
14. COVID-19 Inspired Ban on Prison Visits in Texas Ends, by Chad Marks
15. Virginia Settles Two Lawsuits Over Misuse of Solitary Confinement, by Daniel A. Rosen
16. COVID-19 Pandemic Makes Job Hunting Especially Difficult for Ex-Offenders, by Kevin Bliss
17. Activist, Political Prisoner, and Journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal Diagnosed With COVID-19, Energizing Calls for His Release, by Juliette LaMarr
18. U.S. Sues Alabama Over Prison Conditions, by David Reutter
19. Florida Prison Guard Indicted in Prisoner Death by Blunt Force Trauma, by David Reutter
20. Michigan Begins Video Visits During Coronavirus Pandemic, by David Reutter
21. Hawaii Fails to Provide Video of Two Prison Disturbances, by Edward Lyon
22. California Prison Factories Fined For Exposing Unwitting Workers to COVID-19, by Mark Wilson
23. "Conservative New York County Enacts Progressive Transgender Prisoner Policy", by Mark Wilson
24. Sixth Circuit Upholds Prisoner’s 18 U.S.C. § 111 Conviction for Assaulting Federally Contracted Private Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
25. After 36 Years in a Louisiana Prison for a Rape He Didn’t Commit, Archie Williams Wins Freedom — and a TV Show Spotlight, by Casey Bastian
26. COVID-19 Depletes State Prison Staffs Nationwide, Forcing Consolidation of Facilities and Increasing Risk to All, by Derek Gilna
27. COVID-19 Continues Rampage Through Pennsylvania State Prisons, by Derek Gilna
28. Alabama Jails and Prisoners Swamped With COVID-Related Problems, by Daniel A. Rosen
29. $105,000 Settlement in Wisconsin Prisoner’s Excessive Force Claim, by David Reutter
30. How States Exclude People With Criminal Records From Jury Service, by Dale Chappell
31. Study Shows Misaligned Economic Incentives Fuel Mass Incarceration, by Matthew Clarke
32. California Enacts Legislation Strengthening Protections for LGBTQ Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
33. Baltimore Demolishes Maryland’s Oldest Penitentiary, Burying Its Nostalgia And Nightmares, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
34. Books: “Let The Lord Sort Them: The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty”, by Robert Dunham
35. Florida Senator Wants to Keep Ex-Prisoners from Earning the $15 Minimum Wage Increase, by Kevin Bliss
36. Former Prisoner Becomes Activist for LBGTQ Rights in California Prisons
37. Parnall Correctional Facility in Michigan Copes with Scabies Outbreak, by Kevin Bliss
38. People in jails are using more phone minutes during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite decreased jail populations, by Andrea Fenster
39. Fourth Circuit: Deaf North Carolina Prisoner Should be Allowed Direct Videophone Calls to Communicate with Deaf Community, by David Reutter
40. Ransomware Attack on GEO Group Exposes Sensitive Information, by Matthew Clarke
41. Hundreds of Virginia Inmates Await Parole Consideration Under New Law, by Daniel A. Rosen
42. Colorado’s Governor Bows to Pressure in Denying State Prisoners Priority COVID-19 Vaccinations, by Derek Gilna
43. Experts Divided on Drug Court Effectiveness, by Kevin Bliss
44. More Than 40 Immigrants Have Died in ICE Custody, by Anthony Accurso
45. Secrecy Surrounded Flurry of Late-Term Federal Executions Under Donald Trump, by Derek Gilna
46. New Advocacy Group for New Mexico Prisoners Created, by Dale Chappell
47. Vermont Prisoner’s Death Under Investigation: Did Implicit Bias Play Role?, by Kevin Bliss
48. News in Brief

More from David Reutter:

• 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
• Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
• Colorado Supreme Court Announces Defendant Must Be Competent Before Undergoing Mental-Condition Examination Under § 16-8-107(3)(b), April 1, 2026
• California Court of Appeal Announces Plea Agreements Cannot Bar § 1172.1 Resentencing, Holds Merit-Based Denial of Petition Is Appealable, April 1, 2026
• Georgia Supreme Court Clarifies That Failure to Object to Ineligible Juror Does Not Constitute Waiver Unless Party Knew or Could Have Discovered Ineligibility Through Ordinary Diligence, April 1, 2026
• Washington State Guard’s Conviction Affirmed in Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound Scheme, March 1, 2026
• Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Holds Motion Judge Abused Discretion by Denying Evidentiary Hearing on IAC Claim Where Plea Counsel’s Affidavit Was Not Inherently Inconsistent With Colloquy Statements Regarding Immigration Advice, March 1, 2026
• Washington Supreme Court Clarifies Double Jeopardy Analysis for Multiple Assault Convictions, Holding That Assaultive Acts Occurring Over Short Time Period in Same Location Without Intervening Events Constitute Single Course of Conduct, March 1, 2026
• New Jersey Supreme Court Reverses Drug Convictions Under Cumulative Error Doctrine, Holding Combined Effect of Improper References to Television Series, Gun Violence, and Search Warrants Deprived Defendant of Fair Trial, March 1, 2026
• New York Court of Appeals Announces Coercive Police Tactics Compelling Suspect to Exit Home Constitute “Constructive Entry” Violating Payton, Holds Attenuation Analysis Applies to Third-Party Consent, March 1, 2026

More from these topics:

• ACLU Threatens New Lawsuit After Indiana County’s Repeated Failures to Abide by 17-Year-Old Settlement Agreement, May 1, 2026. Overcrowding, Exercise, Sanitation, Bedding, Settlements.
• Atlanta Jail Boasts Improvements Since Consent Decree, Reports from Monitor and ACLU Are More Critical, May 1, 2026. Staffing, Sanitation, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Consent Decrees, Bail/Pretrial Release.
• Six Maryland Guards Convicted in Prisoner’s Beating, Cover-up; § 1983 Suit Filed, May 1, 2026. Guard Brutality/Beatings, 42 U.S. Code § 1983, civil action for deprivation of rights, Obstruction of Justice, Wrongful Use of Force, Evidence - Destruction/Fabrication/Manipulation of.
• Judge Denies New York Prison Chief’s Motion to be Dismissed from Case Related to Robert Brooks’ Murder, May 1, 2026. Work Strikes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Train/Supervise, Police--Excessive Force, Deliberate Indifference.
• Massachusetts Settles Lawsuit with Promise to Release Jail Voting Data, April 1, 2026. Voting, Advocacy, Settlements, Voting Rights, Felon Disenfranchisement Statute.
• Virginia Jail Suicide Results in $950,000 Settlement, Claims Against Wellpath still Pending, April 1, 2026. Private Contractors, Medical Records, Settlements, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides.
• $300,000 Class-Action Settlement at California Jail Includes Policy Changes; Agreements with Aramark and Wellpath Reached Confidentially, March 1, 2026. Food, Sanitation, Settlements, Class Certification, Monell Liability.
• South Dakota Sobriety Program Participants Will No Longer Be Jailed for Non-Payment of Fees, March 1, 2026. Settlements, Class Certification, Fourteenth Amendment, rights, Unlawful Detention, Ability to Pay.
• Sixth Circuit Revives Michigan Prisoner’s Challenge to Guard Tackle That Broke His Foot, March 1, 2026. Evidentiary Ruling (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Summary Judgment, Qualified Immunity, Wrongful Use of Force.
• Differing Judicial Outcomes for the New York Guards Who Killed Robert Brooks, Feb. 1, 2026. Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Pending Appeal/Sentencing.