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Articles by David Reutter

Allegheny County Doctor Files Complaint against Corizon over Hiring Practices

Allegheny County Doctor Files Complaint against Corizon over Hiring Practices

by David Reutter

Corizon, a private for-profit company, is facing a complaint filed with Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Commission that claims a bias against women, immigrants, and doctors who complain against frugal prisoner health care was the basis …

Downward Departure Sentenced for Florida Guard Convicted in Beating Prisoners Vacated

Downward Departure Sentenced for Florida Guard Convicted in Beating Prisoners Vacated

by David Reutter

In vacating the sentences of two former Florida prison guards convicted of violating prisoners’ civil rights and obstruction of justice, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that downward variances of more than …

ACLU Report Condemns Colorado’s Warehousing of Mentally Ill Prisoners in Solitary Confinement

ACLU Report Condemns Colorado’s Warehousing of Mentally Ill Prisoners in Solitary Confinement

By David Reutter

Despite being aware that prolonged isolation of seriously mentally ill prisoners can be devastating, the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) continues to house hundreds of prisoners it knows suffer from mental illness …

Indiana Supreme Court Defines “Infamous Crime,” Holds Convicts Can Be Disenfranchised During Incarceration

Indiana Supreme Court Defines “Infamous Crime,” Holds Convicts Can Be Disenfranchised During Incarceration

by David Reutter

In answering a certified question from a federal district court, the Indiana Supreme Court departed from established precedent and redefined what constitutes an “infamous crime” that a person for which a …

Texas Cops Granted Qualified Immunity for False Arrest, Malicious Prosecution

Texas Cops Granted Qualified Immunity for False Arrest, Malicious Prosecution

by David Reutter

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the grant of summary judgment to two police officers sued for false arrest and malicious prosecution by two men who spent nine-months in jail for murder. The …

$25,000 Jury Award in Missouri Prisoner’s Failure to Protect Claim

$25,000 Jury Award in Missouri Prisoner’s Failure to Protect Claim

by David Reutter

A Missouri federal jury awarded a prisoner $25,000 in a failure to protect case. The district court also awarded $23,401.05 in attorney fees and costs.

Missouri prisoner Christopher Prosser was placed in administrative …

Arkansas Prisoner’s Suit Based on Classification Status Dismissed

Arkansas Prisoner’s Suit Based on Classification Status Dismissed

by David Reutter

The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner’s lawsuit for being barred by sovereign immunity and for failure to state a cause of action on which relief could be granted. The dismissal counts as …

$1.75 Million Settlement in Michigan Detainee’s Heroin Withdrawal Death

$1.75 Million Settlement in Michigan Detainee’s Heroin Withdrawal Death

by David M. Reutter

A $1.75 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by the estate of a pre-trial detainee who died as a result of heroin withdrawal after being denied medical care.

In the days …

Arbitrator’s Award on Pay Raises for Prison Guards Costs Pennsylvania County $5 Million

Arbitrator’s Award on Pay Raises for Prison Guards Costs Pennsylvania County $5 Million

by David M. Reutter

Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County Commission has been forced to dip into its reserve funds to comply with an “unaccountable” arbitration award that resulted in a 7% annual pay increase for the …

BOP Settles Medical Negligence Claim for $600,000

BOP Settles Medical Negligence Claim for $600,000

by David M. Reutter

The federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) paid $600,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging officials at USP Coleman Low caused a prisoner to suffer permanent injuries due to their negligent provision of medical care.

BOP prisoner …