Flurry of Escapes Emphasizes Prisoners' Desperation by Matthew Clarke by Matt Clarke Last September produced a bumper crop of prison and jail escapes around the country, including a desperate escape by two Texas prisoners that resulted in the death of a guard, a car jacking and two shootouts. Plus a …
Meet Gus Puryear: Bush's Latest Villainous Nominee for a Lifetime Judgeship by Silja JA Talvi This exclusive article was first published on Alternet, at: www.alternet.org/rights/84388 and www.alternet.org/rights/84491 By Silja J.A. Talvi, AlterNet Posted on May 5, 2008, Printed on May 7, 2008 Editor's Note: In 2004, Estelle Richardson's lifeless and …
Tennessee Prisoners Must Verify Truth of Petitions for Relief from Sentences by Daryl Holton and Paul Reid, Tennessee state prisoners, were sentenced to death on murder convictions. Neither appealed. Later, acting as "next friend," others filed petitions for relief on their behalf, claiming they were mentally incompetent. The petitions weren't …
Tennessee Public Records Act Requires Fees For Copying, Production by Pro se Tennessee State prisoner Omawali Shabazz, aka Fred Dean, appealed a 1999 ruling denying certain documents and requiring fees for others. Dean had brought an action to compel the production of documents from various Tennessee Department of Corrections personnel, …
Tennessee Prisoners Have No Right to Specific Classification, Only the Determination Thereof by Tennessee State prisoner Davalon Higgins applied for work release at Middle Tennessee Correctional Center Annex (MTCC) in 2003 and was denied because his record indicated he was a member of a Security Threat Group (STG). His complaint …
Dismissed Paruresis Action Remanded for Proper Venue by Pro se Tennessee State prisoner Barton Hawkins petitioned for a writ of certiorari to review disciplinary actions taken against him for refusing to comply with a drug screening. He alleged that he suffered from paruresis (shy bladder syndrome) which hindered urine production. …
Tennessee Act Exempts Only Pending Investigative Materials From Public Disclosure by City of Memphis Police Department Director, John Holt, sought reversal of a Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmation of an order allowing closed investigative file access to the Memphis Publishing Company (media). The order was affirmed. A shootout ensued in …
Tennessee Prisoners Entitled to Submit Public Records Act Requests by Tennessee State prisoner Robin Cole challenged an appellate affirmation of his denial to make Public Records Act (Act) requests. The denial was reversed in the case of first impression. Cole requested documents from the Commissioner of Corrections regarding a riot …
Amended Tennessee Statute Ruled Retroactive For Denial Of Records Request by Tennessee State death row prisoner Richard Taylor's attorney, Sabin Thompson, appealed a 1991 dismissal of a petition to compel the Internal Affairs Division (IAD) of the Department of Corrections (DOC) to produce records concerning Taylor's murder conviction, The records …
Discovery Request Petition Prohibited While Another Court Entertains Post conviction Proceedings by Tennessee State pro se prisoner Ronald Waller appealed the 1998 denial of his petition under the Public Records Act to obtain copies of photographs taken in connection with his conviction. The denial was affirmed because he was statutorily …
TN Chancery Court Must Award Reasonable, Rather Than All, Costs and Fees to Winner in Public Records Act Cases by The Pollow family settled a civil rights action against police in Memphis, Tennessee after officers killed Adam Pollow while "restraining" him. The Settlement Agreement (Agreement) netted the Pollows $475,000. Contemporary …
Federal Law Requiring Felons Submit DNA Sample Constitutional by The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that a federal statute, 42 U.S.C. § 14135a, that requires persons convicted of federal felonies to submit a DNA sample is constitutional. That ruling comes in the appeal of Bobbie J. Conley, who …
$1.6 Million Settlements by PHS and Hillsborough County in Death of Baby Born in Florida Jail by David Reutter by David M. Reutter Inadequate medical care by Prison Health Services (PHS) has resulted in yet another death and $1.6 million in settlements for the mother of a baby boy who …
Tennessee Parole Rules-Changes as Applied to Old Lifer May Violate Ex Post Facto by The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals held that a double-murderer convicted in 1975, serving life in Tennessee, was entitled to the benefit of 1974 parole rules which conditionally provided that ?... such prisoner shall be …
Tennessee DOC’s Double Standard by G.A. Bowers Tennessee DOC's Double Standard by Greg Bowers The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) applies a double standard to ethical violations committed by its employees and those committed by prisoners. TDOC staff who commit ethical violations are typically reassigned. Even when fired, they have …
