by Douglas Ankney
The California Court of Appeal (CCA), First Appellate District, ruled that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) amendments to the California Code of Regulations (“CDCR Regs.”) § 3043 (“Rule 3043”) narrowing the application of credits to advance the Youth Parole Eligibility Date (“YPED”) …
by Douglas Ankney
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit revived a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint (“Complaint”) that alleged claims of, inter alia, deliberate indifference to serious medical needs and a failure to train, on behalf of Jovon Mitchell who died from a stroke while …
by Douglas Ankney
After more than a dozen New Jersey guards were arrested on charges of assaulting and sexually abusing incarcerated women at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility (“EMCF”) in what may plausibly be termed “cell-extraction nacht,” state Governor Phil Murphy (D) ordered EMCF be closed and replaced …
by Douglas Ankney
It has been said that the definition of insanity is to repeat the same actions again and again while expecting a different result. Spouting old hat “tough on crime” rhetoric got Jeff Landry elected as Governor of Louisiana. Together with his Republican friends, they immediately …
by Douglas Ankney
On November 20, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit revived the 42 U.S.C. § 1983 suit of Juliana Swink, Administrator of the Estate of David Ray Gunter, that alleged, inter alia, claims of deliberate indifference under Monell v. Dept of Soc. …
by Douglas Ankney
In February 2024, Commissioners Lina Khan, Chair; Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Alvaro M. Bedoya of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) determined that the facts substantiated the allegations made against Respondents Global Tel Link Corporation (“GTL”); Telmate, LLC; and TouchPay Holdings, LLC (collectively “ViaPath” or “Respondents”). …
by Douglas Ankney
“Many of the risk factors for suicide are overrepresented in the population of people who come into contact with the criminal justice system every year, (including) high rates of psychiatric illness, high rates of substance use, trauma exposure, people living in unsafe environments. So we …
by Douglas Ankney
On November 26, 2025, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled that Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin did not violate Ohio’s Public Records Act (“Act”), RC 149.43 and declined to award sanctions to prisoner Terry Brown.
In August 2023, Brown requested numerous records from McLaughlin …
by Douglas Ankney
Following the murders of prisoners Robert Brooks and Messiah Nautwi in two facilities of the New York Department of Corrections and Community Services (DOCCS), the state legislature passed landmark legislation aimed at enhancing prisoner and staff safety, security training, and accountability.
Senate Bill 8415 …
by Douglas Ankney
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that, because Tennessee’s parole statutes created no liberty interest in parole, prisoner Michael Hester could not state a claim of violation of his right to due process even though he was held in prison beyond …
