Tucson, Ariz.—“Felons are our best clients,” said Les Boynton, CEO of the apartment company Second Chance Rentals, to The Associated Press. “They value their housing.” The Phoenix-based company is expanding operations to Tucson.
Pittsburgh, PA — Lewis Fogle, 63, served 34 years in prison after being convicted of raping and killing a 15-year-old girl. In August, new DNA testing brought doubt into Fogle’s conviction, which led a judge to void his conviction, UPI reports. County prosecutors agreed to dismiss all charges against him.
Philadelphia, PA — Jesse Krimes has filed a proposed class action against JPMorgan Chase, accusing the bank of charging excessive fees for debit cards issued to federal inmates when they are released, Reuters reports. The lawsuit seeks damages for inmates, nationwide, claiming they were forced to accept JPMorgan debit cards to get their own money.
New Orleans, LA — In New Orleans the transfer of 1,200 prisoners has started as the new $150 million jail is finally ready to welcome inmates. The old prison had caused tensions between the sheriff, the city and advocate groups due to the jails dilapidated conditions, reports The Associated Press.
Springfield, Mass. — Mark Schand served 27 years in prison for murder, assault and robbery he did not commit, The Associated Press reports. In 2013, Schand won a new trial that included testimony that he was never at the scene of the crime. The prosecutor dropped the case several weeks later. Schand is now seeking financial compensation from law enforcement officers and prosecutors for suppressing police reports, coerced and unreliable witness statements, improper identification procedures, and “a general pattern of blatant disregard for the law.”
Menard, Ill. — Mario Casciaro walked out of prison in September after an appellate court overturned his murder conviction in the 2002 case of a missing northern Illinois teenager. Relatives met Casciaro as he left Menard Correctional Center in southern Illinois, The (Crystal Lake) Northwest Herald reports. Prosecutors intend to challenge the ruling in Illinois Supreme Court.
Augusta, Maine — Jonathan Carey, 39, has been released from prison after serving more than three years of a four-year sentence for sexual assault. A judge ruled his defense attorneys inadequately represented him during the trial, The Kennebec Journal reports. Carey has always maintained his innocence.
Concord, N.H. — Frank Staples, a Taoist, has filed a religious rights lawsuit against the state after being placed in secure housing for not shaving his beard, The Associated Press reports. State prison rules mandate beards be no longer than a quarter inch for safety reasons. Previously, Staples has been denied parole for being placed in secured housing for violating prison rules.
Oklahoma City, OK — A pilot program could soon give more recreational time to the nearly 1,200 inmates currently locked in solitary confinement in Oklahoma’s maximum security prison, The Associated Press reports. The inmates currently receive only five hours per week of solitary recreation time, but the shift away from solitary housing reflects a growing trend in the country, Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Robert Patton said.
Huntsville, Texas — Daniel Lee Lopez was executed mid-August for striking and killing a police lieutenant with an SUV during a chase which happened more than six years ago, The Associated Press reports. Lopez, 27, became the 10th Texan inmate put to death in 2015. So far, 19 prisoners have been executed in the US. Lopez, who has always asked for a speedy execution, was quoted with having said: “I hope this execution helps my family and also the victim’s family.”
