Correctional Forum

Headlines about Rendell's proposal

Pa. considers sentencing changes in effort to turn around inmates [AP]

Rendell's plans aim to ease prison strain [PennLive]

Sentencing changes [Easton Express Times]

Suggested changes in sentencing could help local jails [Shamokin News Item]

Tuesday's International: Headlines

France: Brother of French justice minister jailed for drug dealing: Rachida Dati (pictured) has made tougher sentencing on repeat offenders one of her priorities as justice minister. Her brother, Jamal, is one such offender. His sentence of one year, considered very tough in France, is a result of her new policies. [Expatica.com]

Ethiopia: Four Journalists Released From Prison on Conditional Pardon: The Committee to Protect Journalists, which named Ethiopia as the world's worst backslider on press freedom this year, welcomes the release of the writers who covered civil unrest. [allAfrica.com]

Barbados: Prison warders not paid since February: But they still have to pay for bus fare. [The Nation Newspaper]

France: French prison doctor gave paedophile Viagra before attack: A bizarre case of a repeat offense in France is bringing about talk of life imprisonment and chemical castration for sex offenders. Sarkozy is under great political pressure. [New Zealand Herald]

Headlines: The Weekendening

Berks prison says door problems added to $855,067 OT bill [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Two lightning strikes knocked out electronic locks at Berks County prison for 15 days. The double shifts required to cover the repairs have added to the county's substantial amount of overtime pay for correctional officers.

Correctional officers union is unhappy with state eliminating jobs [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
The union of correctional officers is worried about the state's plan to privatize the jobs of 200 guards.

Prison board names Lee to chaplain's post [Pocono Record]
Although the Monroe County prison is still in need of a new warden, William Lee was recently appointed prison chaplain.

Mayview state hospital to close [Washington Observer-Reporter]
The Washington County mental health facility is closing down, much to the consternation of local residents. State officials claim that many patients will be offered alternative therapies including group housing and the opportunity to move in with family.

Westmoreland county OKs housing of Philly inmates [Pittsburgh Tribune Review]
Westmoreland county has agreed to house Philadelphia inmates in local prisons in order to ease the strain on Philadelphia's overcrowded prison system. Many officials are concerned that they won't actually receive compensation for this.

Headlines: Over the weekend

Akron man may return to prison [Ohio.com]

Limo riding bank robber gets prison [Reuters]

County judges hand down prison terms, probation [Times-Tribune]

Fatal Del Rio jail illness baffles authorities [MySanAntonio.com]

Convicted Child Molester to Spend Six Years in Prison [Hartford Courant]

Weekend Headlines

Standoff triggers lockdown [Johnstown Tribune-Democrat]
An 11 hour lockdown at SCI Somerset was ended last Friday when inmates who refused to leave their cells were removed by guards.

Law allows corrections officers to use deadly force in escape [Wilkes-Barre Citizen's Voice]
A law recently signed by Governor Ed Rendell allows Pennsylvania corrections officers to use deadly force when pursuing escaped inmates.

W-B facility crossing over helps start addicts, inmates on right path [Wilkes-Barre Times Leader]
A re-entry program in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania has had incredible success helping recently released inmates.

States want to know where offenders live in cyberspace [Easton Express-Times]
A Pennsylvania bill seeking approval in the legislature would follow the example set by Virginia, Arizona, and Kentucky by requiring registered sex offenders to provide their e-mail addresses and other online information to law enforcement officials on penalty of ten years imprisonment.

Seven guards fired for mistreating inmates [Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]
Seven corrections officers of the East Arkansas Regional Unit prison were fired for abusing inmates with pepper spray and slamming inmates into cell bars.

Headlines: Super Mega Edition!

FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2007:

New system aims to cut abuses and costs of prison health care [Detroit Free Press]
Patricia Caruso, head of the Michigan Department of Corrections, is pushing for the Michigan prison system to become the first in the nation to use health maintenance organizations for inmate health care.

Mentally ill inmate's family files wrongful death suit [Dallas Morning News]
The family of a mentally ill inmate alleges that neglect was the cause behind the death of their mother. The lawyer representing the family also makes the case that this incident is not isolated.

Nicole Richie sentenced to 4 days in jail, fined for driving under the influence [The Seattle Times]
There are no words.

SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007:

Longest-serving prisoner in Illinois up for parole hearing [wandtv.com - AP]
A 78-year-old inmate who has spent 61 years in prison is being given a parole hearing this week.

Schwarzernegger to appeal order that created prison judicial panel [San Jose Mercury News]
Gov. Schwarzernegger will attempt to overturn a panel created to examine the effects of prison overcrowding. His stated reason is that he has not had sufficient time to pursue policies that would reduce prison crowding, and does not want the panel to advocate a release program.

SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2007:

Mexico City prison system allows first gay conjugal visit [International Herald Tribune - AP]
Following a 2003 law which bans all forms of sexual discrimination, Mexico has begun to allow same sex conjugal visits for inmates.

PENNSYLVANIA, JULY 27-29, 2007

When scientific court testimony falters [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
After denying on the witness stand that she killed her daughter, and accusing her husband of the murder, DeAnndra Day later confessed to  beating her child to death with a shoe. A medical examination and autopsy was inconsistent with Ms. Day's testimony and would have cleared Mr. Day of all charges, but they were not introduced at the time of trial and were therefore considered invalid. Despite numerous confessions on the part of Ms. Day, Mr. Day still remains in prison for life, pending his final appeal in federal court.

Court-bound prisoners headed underground [Easton Express-Times]
The Northampton county prison has nearly completed a $1 million tunnel which will offer a secure way to transport inmates to and from the local courthouse.

Commissioners 'appalled' [Scranton Times-Tribune]
County commissioners are finally in agreement that the birth which took place in a Lackawanna County prison is "wrong," after two weeks of claims that the incident was "sensationalized" and "overblown."

Trust crumbles by stonewalling [Scranton Times-Tribune]
A letter to the editor by Bill DiMascio, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society,about the silence surrounding Shakira Staten, the woman who gave birth in the Lackawanna County prison.

Criminal Justice News, around the corner, around the globe

Nine reasons for prison uprising [The Nation, Barbados]

R.I. gets permission to add prison beds [Associated Press, Rhode Island]

New system aims to cut abuses and cost of prison health care [Detroit Free Press, Michigan]

American Dental Association Applauds Legislators for 'Meth Mouth' Bills [AScribe.org]

Federal Prisons to Get Environmental Checks [presszoom.com, Pennsylvania]

Prison Board members spar over Staten birth

The Lackawanna County Prison Board met privately Monday to determine whether prison officials handled Shakira Staten's situation appropriately. After the meeting, County Judge Vito P. Gerulo, a board member, told Staff Writer for the Scranton Times-Tribune Borys Krawczeniuk that "The facts and circumstances really don't make a lot of sense right now, without us being able to see all of the medical information that we feel we should see in order for it to be a complete and thorough review." The board needs Ms. Staten's authorization to see her medical records, which her lawyer, Nicholas E. Fick, said that she would grant: "We have no problem signing whatever authorization they think they need. I'm a little puzzled why they would need her medical records."

Before the meeting even began however, there was a bit of a verbal tussle between Commissioners Robert C. Cordaro (Rep.) and Mike Washo (Dem.). Mr. Cordaro accused Mr. Washo of turning the birth into a political issue by calling for an investigation by an independent outside agency last week.

For the full story:
Inmate's medical records sought [Scranton Times-Tribune]

In the news in Pennsylvania ...

Mercer County Prison Board makes job recommendations [Youngstown Vindicator]

Horsham introduces Sex Offender Ordinance [CBS3.com]

Demonstrators voice dissatisfaction with court system [Pocono Record]

Pa. man sentenced to jail for homicide by vehicle, DUI [Associated Press]

Tuesday's International Headlines

Bulgarian Medics arrive home after more than 8 years in Libyan prison [940 News, Montreal]

Canadian Woman sentenced to 40 years for Ecstasy trafficking [Pontiac Daily Leader]

Lithuania refuses extradition to US for cyber-crime suspect [France24.com]

Rwandan Police accused in 20 Detainee Deaths since November [VOAnews.com]

[image by Photocapy via flickr]