Scranton, Pa—More than 90 lawsuits about food poisoning incidents in a high-security federal prison near Scranton were settled, according to the Blog of Legal Times. Claimants received an average of $1,750. The poisoning happened in 2011. Prison officials initially told reporters that there was “no truth in the rumors” of food poisoning, however, “later medical tests proved the presence of salmonella,” according to the Times.
Tehachapi—California Correctional Institute in Tehachapi is just one of five prisons in California to build an on-site power plant, reports the Tehachapi News. The solar power plant was built at no cost to taxpayers. It is expected to save the state around $4.2 million in energy cost over 20 years.
Sacramento—Five California prisons were certified by the American Correctional Association (ACA) during its143rd Congress of Correction in National Harbor, Maryland, according to a press release by prison officials. CTF Soledad, High Desert in Susanville, Mule Creek, North Kern in Delano, and Pelican Bay received near-perfect scores by the ACA. Their certifications demonstrate that these institutions are providing quality health care and inmate programs and are employing the proper use of segregation.
Baltimore, Maryland—The state’s attorney general has proposed to help offenders gain “educational credentials and social support before they leave prison” by providing inmates with an Android tablet that “could connect with e-books, the state’s library system, law resources and online learning programs,” according to a report by The Baltimore Sun.
Switzerland—According to a new study, 50 to 80 percent of prison inmates in the country use marijuana. Prison staff believes smoking marijuana “has had a positive, rather than negative effect,” according to Medical Daily, an online news source. The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy noted marijuana use was “analgesic, calming,” and it relieves stress, facilitates sleep, prevents violence, and acts as a social pacifier, the Journal noted.
Boise, Idaho—Tim Wengler, former ward of a private prison testified in federal court that “he never noticed that some mandatory security posts went un-staffed or that some staffing reports were falsified to cover up the missing staff hours,” according to a report by The Associated Press. The testimony was part of a contempt-of-court hearing about whether Corrections Corporation of America is meeting the terms of a settlement it reached with Idaho prisoners two years ago, the AP report states.
Arkansas—According to prison officials there are not enough beds for all the state’s inmates, reports the National Journal. The state need 14,753 beds, but officials say they are around 280 beds short, with county jails holding 1,400 offenders waiting to go to state prison. The state’s prison directors said it would cost $8 million to get 300 beds ready for use.
Oklahoma—State prison officials said they would move 310 inmates from one of its state ran prisons to a facility run by the private company, Corrections Corporation of America, reports Oklahoma Watch. Since, July 2008, the number of inmates incarcerated in private prisons within the state has grown from 4,264 to 5,625 in July 2013.
Chicago—A new study found that more than 700 Chicago youngsters who participated in a summer program combining part-time employment with cognitive behavioral therapy subsequently experienced a 51 percent drop in arrests for violent crime. Youth between 14 and 21 were selected to participate in One Summer Plus (OSP) in 2012. OSP provides youth from neighborhoods with elevated rates of violent crime with employment opportunities, mentoring and therapy.
Carson City, Nevada—In a 2-1 decision the state’s Supreme Court ruled rap lyrics written by a man convicted of killing a Reno drug dealer could be admitted as evidence in the murder trial. The court said the lyrics described details of the shooting death of Kevin “Mo” Nelson, who was killed outside a recording studio in 2003, according to The Associated Press.
Washington, D.C.—More than 7,300 federal prisoners have had their sentences reduced under the Fair Sentencing Act, passed by Congress in 2010, according to The New York Times. Act was intended to reduce the disparity between federal court sentences for offenders of crack versus powder cocaine possession, the Times reported. “The average reduction is 29 months, meaning that over all, offenders are serving roughly 16,000 years fewer than they otherwise would have.”
Ohio—Prison officials now allow inmates to buy and use mini-tablet computers while incarcerated, according to a report in USA Today. “We have anticipation and hope to make it a good educational tool,” said Ricky Seyfang, representative for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Ohio is the latest of seven states to authorize computers for inmates use. The other states are Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota, Michigan, Virginia, and Washington. Opponents are concerned the tablets will be used for illegal activities or brandished as weapons.
Sacramento—Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered prison officials to develop regulations that would switch the state’s execution method from using a three-drug combination to a single drug, according to a report by the Bay Area News Service. The change would delay executions in California for at least a year and possibly several years, the report states.
