Prison Legal News: January, 2015

Volume 26, Number 1

In this issue:

When Halfway Houses Pose Full-Time Problems (p 1)
Controversy, Criticism Plague Brooklyn Halfway House (p 18)
From the Editor (p 20)
“Ban the Box” Campaigns Seek to End Discrimination Against Formerly Incarcerated College Applicants (p 22)
Admission of Jail Disciplinary Records at Criminal Trial May Violate Confrontation Clause (p 26)
Oklahoma Supreme Court Remands Consolidated Sex Offender Registration Case (p 26)
Federal Court Orders Colorado to Provide Outdoor Recreation to Supermax Prisoner (p 28)
Texas Prison Population Drops as Guard Shortage Persists (p 30)
State Appellate Costs Improper on Washington PRP Dismissal (p 31)
Prison Legal News Prevails in Tennessee Public Records Suit in Spite of Sheriff’s Antics (p 32)
Virginia Prison’s Policy Requiring Physical Indicia of Faith for Religious Sincerity Held Unconstitutional; Suit Settles for $3,795 (p 34)
Florida Death Row Prisoner Entitled to Prison and Medical Records (p 34)
Tenth Circuit: No Qualified Immunity for Juvenile Restraint Chair Punishment (p 36)
CCA Board Member Steps Down from Open Government Organization (p 36)
Tennessee Man Sues for Placement in Women’s Facility for Three Years (p 38)
Consent Decree and Remedial Plan End Lawsuit Challenging Conditions in Illinois Juvenile Facilities (p 38)
Colorado Prisoner Sues Security Guard Who Sexually Abused Her Moments after Giving Birth (p 40)
RLUIPA Explained in Tenth Circuit Decision re Denial of Sweat Lodge Access (p 40)
America’s Prisons: A Road to Nowhere (p 42)
Investigation Finds that Money Stolen from Oregon Prison Wasn’t Really Stolen (p 44)
Prisoner’s Request for Medical Care after Signing Refusal Form Precludes Summary Judgment (p 44)
$145,000 Settlement for U.S. Citizen Held on Immigration Detainer due to Racial Profiling (p 45)
West Virginia Public Defender Disbarred for Child Prostitution “Hoax” (p 46)
Fifth Circuit: Sleep Deprivation May Violate Eighth Amendment (p 46)
Florida Court of Appeals: Prison Guards Can Raise “Stand Your Ground” Defense (p 47)
Ohio DOC Director Wants Return to Stricter Law after 2012 Spike in Positive Drug Tests (p 48)
Introduction of Nolo Plea to Challenge Prisoner’s Credibility was Error (p 48)
California Parole Term Not Shortened by Improper Parole Denial (p 49)
The Globalization of Supermax Prisons, edited by Jeffrey Ian Ross (Rutgers University Press, 2013). 240 pages, $28.95 paperback (p 50)
Jail Closes “God Pod,” Agrees to Accommodate Muslim Prisoners (p 50)
Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law Struck Down, Some Prisoners Released (p 52)
Malpractice Suit Proceeds against Michigan Defense Attorney in Wrongful Conviction Case (p 52)
Georgia: Mandamus Available to Compel Law Library Access (p 53)
Fifth Circuit Holds Prison Officials Need Not be Named in Grievances (p 54)
Florida Supreme Court: Review of Parole Commission Revocation Order Limited (p 54)
News in Brief (p 56)

When Halfway Houses Pose Full-Time Problems

Loaded on Jan. 10, 2015 by Derek Gilna published in Prison Legal News January, 2015, page 1

Filed under: Classification, Work Release, Staff-Prisoner Assault, Prisoner-Prisoner Assault, Community Education Centers, Contractor Misconduct, Prison Rebellion, Escapes, Failure to Protect (General), Rehabilitation/Recidivism, Alternative Sentencing. Locations: Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington.

When Halfway Houses Pose Full-Time Problems

by Derek Gilna

A recent interest among government officials in reducing prison populations as a way to cut costs, stemming from the 2008 Great Recession that resulted in significant budget deficits, has placed renewed emphasis on the importance of halfway houses. As more prisoners ...