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In Historic Move, 15 Cases Related to Crooked Chicago Cop Thrown Out

Cook County, Illinois Chief Criminal Judge LeRoy Martin tossed the convictions of 15 criminal defendants on November 16, 2017, because the cases were linked to disgraced former Chicago Police Sergeant Ronald Watts. All of the men whose cases were overturned claimed that they had been framed by Watts, who went to federal prison in 2013

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NY book ban to make prisons “safer” drew backlash

New York State Department of Correctional and Community Service (DOCCS) enacted Directive 4911A in December as a pilot project in three New York prisons. Under this Directive, prisoners may only receive packages from six approved vendors (a couple more vendors may be later added), and packages from family members are restricted to non-electrical musical instruments,

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Drug Addicts Suffer Preventable Deaths in U.S. Jails

There is a growing epidemic of opioid addiction in the United States. According to the Federal Centers for Disease Control, over 33,000 opioid-related deaths occurred in 2015, representing a quadrupling of such fatalities since 1999. It is estimated that three-quarters of crimes are related to drugs, and two-thirds of prisoners have a history of substance

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Lack of data leaves BOP at risk for healthcare fraud

The Department of Justice’s (DOJ) official watchdog late last year released a report on how to fix what it said is a systemic weakness at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): its failure to obtain full data on reimbursement claims submitted by private healthcare providers, especially claims submitted electronically. According to the “procedural reform recommendation”

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Prison program cooks up opportunity for inmates

America likes to play with its food. Chopped, Food Network Star, Cutthroat Kitchen – there is no shortage of entertainment on television when it comes to mixing ingredients and drama together. For the inmates of Folsom Women’s Facility, however, food has an entirely different meaning. It’s not about fun, drama, or competition. It’s about opportunities,

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New York: Inhumanity in the Guise of Education at Rikers Island Jail

The New York City Board of Correction (BOC), which provides oversight of the city’s jails, has approved the use of controversial “restraint desks” for violent prisoners aged 18 to 21 held at the Rikers Island jail complex. The desks – used in classrooms where programming is provided – allow for free movement of the hands

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Federal Prison Handbook makes IndieReader’s “Best Reviewed” list

Christopher Zoukis’s 2017 release, the Federal Prison Handbook, has received a top accolade from IndieReader, making the list of Best-Reviewed Non-Fiction Books of 2017. “‘Federal Prison Handbook‘  is an invaluable resource for those incarcerated or with loved ones behind bars, as well as anyone curious about what life in a federal prison is like,” states

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Palestinian Prisoners Stage Hunger Strike

Around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails launched a hunger strike on April 17, 2017, a date also known as Palestinian Prisoners Day. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Center for Studies, the strike was meant to protest the “difficult humanitarian conditions” inside Israeli prisons. Al Jazeera reported that the prisoners’ demands included bi-monthly family visitation,

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$8.4 Million Judgment in Defamation Suit to Retired Army Colonel

A retired Army colonel denied a promotion due to a rape accusation has been awarded $8.4 million in a defamation lawsuit filed against his accuser. Col. David “Wil” Riggins, a highly-decorated veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, was up for promotion to brigadier general in July 2013 when he was accused of raping a fellow

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