Another Florida Youth Languishes in Pain until Death While Guards Idly Watch
By David M. Reutter
A sense of fear and apprehension about overstepping authority kept guards at a Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facility from summoning help for a dying juvenile. …
Another Failed Experiment: Minnesota’s Private Prison Health Care Saves Money but Costs Lives
by David M. Reutter
Minnesota privatized its prison health care system in 1998 to achieve cost savings. While it has saved taxpayers money, it has exacted a toll of human …
Systematic Problems Result in Closure of Florida Juvenile Facilities
by David M. Reutter
The systematic lack of training, supervision, and oversight at two Florida juvenile detention centers caused unconstitutional conditions of confinement, a report by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) concludes. While …
Fourth Circuit Finds PLRA Attorney Fee Cap Constitutional
by David M. Reutter
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held on November 1, 2013 that the attorney fee provision of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) is constitutional. The ruling was in alignment with other appellate courts that …
Alabama DOC Short Hair Policy Does Not Violate RLUIPA
by David M. Reutter
The Eleventh Circuit held in July 2013 that an Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) policy requiring prisoners to maintain short hair does not violate their rights under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons …
Eleventh Circuit Tailors Turner for Censorship Claims at Civil Commitment Center
by David M. Reutter
On September 23, 2013, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a summary judgment order that upheld a civil commitment center’s policy which limited circulation of a detainee’s controversial newsletter among residents …
Alabama Work Release Transportation, Medical and Drug Screen Costs Not “Incidental to Confinement”
by David M. Reutter
Alabama’s Supreme Court has held that the plain language of § 14-8-6, Ala. Code 1975 does not prohibit the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) from collecting, over and above the …
Settlement Opens Georgia Courtrooms to the Public
by David M. Reutter
Human rights groups have applauded efforts to open Georgia courts to members of the public, putting an end to a widespread practice of courtrooms being declared off limits – a practice that was condemned as a …
Private Debt Collection Companies Contract with District Attorney’s Offices
by David M. Reutter
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against companies that contract with prosecutors to collect debts in bad check cases because, opponents say, the firms contact debtors on official district attorney letterhead and use draconian tactics …
Qualified Immunity to Iowa DOC Director for Recalculating Prisoners’ Release Dates
by David M. Reutter
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a district court’s grant of qualified immunity in a civil rights action brought by four ex-prisoners who were held beyond their release dates.
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