Justice Department reviewing policies on transgender inmates
The Justice Department is reviewing its policies on housing transgender inmates in the federal prison system after protections were previously rolled back.
Maryland inmates to work on historic gravestone restoration
A select group of Maryland inmates are being trained by national experts to restore weathered and disturbed gravestones at a historic cemetery.
Rights groups urge high court to cut prison population, cite virus
Citing the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, a coalition of civil rights groups has urged Maryland’s top court to order judges and state agencies to quickly reduce prison and jail populations to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus among inmates and corrections officers and beyond. The groups told the Court of Appeals […]
U.S. Judge Kevin Duffy dies of COVID-19 complications
Welcome to Monday, what would have been the 2020 Maryland General Assembly‘s final day if everything had gone according to the original plan. Here are some news items to get the week started: — A tribute to a “no-nonsense” federal judge who died of complications of COVID-19. — Federal court in California rejects motion to […]
Federal prisons close book on controversial purchasing policy
Federal prison officials abruptly reversed a controversial policy Thursday that had made it harder and more expensive for thousands of inmates to receive books by banning direct delivery through the mail from publishers, bookstores and book clubs.
Van with Maryland inmates crashes in Pennsylvania; none hurt
LEWISBERRY, Pa. — Authorities say no one was injured seriously when a van carrying nine Maryland inmates crashed and hit a median barrier on a southern Pennsylvania interstate. Pennsylvania State Police said a driver from Kentucky clipped the front of the Maryland Department of Corrections vehicle late Monday morning on Interstate 83 south of Harrisburg. […]
Virginia governor vetoes ‘Beloved’ bill
Virginia governor vetoes bill permitting parents to reject sexually explicit books leads news summary including Panamanian lawyers, a dog of a case and an inmate's death.
Snack vending machine glitch at Mich. jail pays inmates $500
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Authorities say some jail inmates in western Michigan were essentially paid to get snacks because of a vending machine problem. Kent County Undersheriff Michelle Young tells The Grand Rapids Press that when inmates purchased multiple items from one of four affected machines they were only charged for the first item. Young […]
Deportees fly the expensive skies, report says
High cost of deportation flights leads news summary including homeless advocates, $8 million award to inmate's family and women gain in Romania's bench and bar.
Md. OKs restrictions on shackling pregnant inmates
Restrictions on the shackling of pregnant incarcerated women during labor and delivery have been passed by the Maryland General Assembly.
This crime is a gas
How one man's alleged flatulence led to another man's assault charges.
Bill would limit shackling of pregnant inmates
Some of Maryland's local jails still shackle female inmates as they're giving birth--a harmful and unnecessary practice, women's advocates say.