News

Education and Prison Contract Scandals Spell Trouble for Otter

By Rocky Barker and Cynthia Sewell / Idaho Statesman State officials are scrambling to preserve the network that lets Idaho students take distance learning and dual-credit classes now that a judge has voided the state’s contract for the Idaho Education Network. Six days after Gov. Butch Otter was decisively re-elected to a historic third term,

Read More »
Students in a classroom focusing on their exam papers, depicting diverse educational setting.

Getting Out by Going In (GOGI)

By Leigh Erin Carlson, National Director of Programs  While news reports and scientific studies are now touting the benefits of prisoner education, at GOGI, it is considered old news that the education of inmates and prisoners correlates with increased levels of success upon release. We have known this fact because we asked the prisoners. By asking the prisoners what

Read More »
A black and white photo of a vintage balance scale in an office environment, emphasizing symmetry and justice.

Seventh Circuit Suggests Clemency

The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), 18 U.S.C. § 924(e), mandates sentence enhancements for certain federal defendants who commit crimes with firearms; those who have three or more prior “violent felonies” or “serious” drug offenses face a minimum 15-year prison term.In some cases, however, prior state convictions should not qualify as “predicate” offenses for the

Read More »
African American judge in traditional robes holds a document and talks on the phone in a law library.

Judge May Resolve Exhaustion Issue

By David Reutter The Third Circuit Court of Appeals held on August 26, 2013, that a judge may resolve factual disputes relevant to the exhaustion of administrative remedies without the participation of a jury. It also held the district court had erred in finding a failure to exhaust where a prisoner did not receive a

Read More »
book, read, book pages, literature, knowledge, reading, education, study, pages, paper, open, book stack, book, book, book, book, book, reading, reading, reading, education, education, education, education, study, study, study

Correctional Facility Hosts Educational Fair

By Samantha Schmieder / Gazette.Net Inmates at Montgomery County Correctional Facility participated in its first-ever educational fair on Wednesday, allowing them to see the many options available once released. Participating vendors included the University of Maryland University College, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County, the Aesthetics Institute of Cosmetology, and many other colleges, GED programs,

Read More »
A modern dental clinic interior showcasing a dental chair and equipment in a clean, clinical setting.

Seventh Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in Dental Care Suit

On July 19, 2013, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a grant of summary judgment to three defendants, holding there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find they acted with deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious dental needs. Richard M. Smego, a civil detainee at Illinois’ Rushville Treatment and Detention Center, filed suit

Read More »
Close-up of Scrabble tiles forming words related to education and school.

Jail GED Programs Help Educate Inmates on Brighter Future

By Leah Binkovitz / Houston Chronicle Ramiro Eric Avalos just celebrated his 32nd birthday – his third awaiting trial in the Fort Bend County jail. “It’s not depressing like it used to be,” he said. That’s partly because he started taking GED classes under a new program the jail launched this year. The second set

Read More »

Louisiana Public Service Commission Considers Prison Phone Issues

By Prison Legal News The Advocate reported in March 2014 that tensions were high between Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Eric Skrmetta and PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell during a hearing on issues related to prison and jail phone rates. Previously, in December 2012, the PSC voted to lower the cost of phone calls made

Read More »

Opinion: Lewis W. Diuguid

By LEWIS W. DIUGUID / McClatchyDC  John Quinones said things about education that baby boomers of color depended on for the needed lift out of America’s ghettos and barrios. “It was a lifesaver for me,” said Quinones, ABC News anchor for the show “What Would You Do?” He spoke this month in Kansas City during

Read More »
Search
Categories
Categories
Archives
X