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The article explores the issue of forced labor in U.S. prisons, tracing its historical origins and discussing its current existence. It highlights the legal framework that allows slavery as a form of punishment for crimes and mentions the past practice of convict leasing. The article also addresses the use of prison labor for industrial jobs and the alleged profiting of private firms and government agencies. It emphasizes the racial disparities in the prison system and the similarities between prison labor and slavery. Efforts to ban prison slavery and improve working conditions are mentioned, as well as a lawsuit against a private prison company for underpaying immigrant detainees. The text concludes with information about a court case in Washington state where detainees sued for fair wages and the publication of a book providing guidance for prisoners seeking habeas corpus relief. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the controversies surrounding Aramark, a food service company that supplies meals to prisoners in correctional facilities. The company has faced lawsuits alleging issues such as contaminated food, failure to accommodate dietary requirements, and employee misconduct. However, many of these lawsuits have been dismissed due to legal hurdles and procedural requirements. The article also mentions protests and boycotts organized by students at colleges and universities against Aramark. Overall, Aramark's business practices are criticized for exploiting prisoner labor and providing inadequate food. [Extracted from the article]

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that North Carolina prisoners who adhere to the Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE) can be treated as adherents of a religion, even if the group denies the label. The court found that the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's refusal to recognize NGE violated the First Amendment's Freedom of Religion Clause and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The court also noted that 15 other state prison systems already recognize NGE as a religion. In a separate case, a Washington state court ruled that a county jail violated state law by holding detainees responsible for the costs of their medical care without a judicial determination of their ability to pay. The court ordered the jail to discharge the medical debt and revise its policy. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the scandal at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California, known as the "rape club" prison, where staff sexual assaults on prisoners have been rampant. The FBI raided the prison, and the warden and associate warden were removed from their positions. A federal court issued a historic ruling, granting class certification to a lawsuit filed on behalf of prisoner victims and appointing a special master to enforce the court's rulings. The court found that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was deliberately indifferent to the risk of sexual assault and violated prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights. The article also mentions several former prison staff members who have been sentenced for their roles in the scandal. [Extracted from the article]

Alabama prisons are facing a third class-action lawsuit filed by state prisoners who accuse the Board of Pardons and Paroles of denying them release and the Department of Corrections of forcing them to work for little pay. The plaintiffs, who are predominantly Black, argue that they are being subjected to a modern-day form of slavery. The suit also claims that the parole system is unfair and drives up the costs for providing free legal services to prisoners challenging their sentences. The prisons are also dealing with problems of short-staffing and overcrowding, with 700 guard vacancies and 8,000 more prisoners than capacity. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the history and power of prison music in America. It highlights the experiences of Kenyatta Emmanuel Hughes, a formerly incarcerated rapper, and his performance at Carnegie Hall after being released from prison. The article emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of individuals in prison and the potential for music to break the cycle of punishment and help with rehabilitation. It also explores the historical context of prison music and its role in resistance and expression. The article suggests that there is a need for society to see people in prison as regular individuals and to support arts programs that can foster hope and dignity. [Extracted from the article]

Florida prisons are struggling to combat the use of jailbroken tablets by inmates. The tablets, issued for free to prisoners under a contract with JPay, are being jailbroken to gain access to messaging apps and avoid charges for phone calls. Inmates are paying up to $300 to have their tablets jailbroken, and some are even setting up profitable businesses by jailbreaking tablets for other prisoners. The Department of Corrections has been criticized for not doing enough to prevent this activity, which raises concerns about fraud and illegal activity. [Extracted from the article]

Harris County in Texas has started sending detainees from its overcrowded jails to a CoreCivic prison in Mississippi. Advocates argue that the money spent on this contract could be better used for alternatives to pretrial detention, such as addressing poverty and mental illness. The move comes after the county was ordered to reduce its jail population by state regulators. Critics raise concerns about the track record of the prison operator, CoreCivic, citing accusations of short staffing, excessive force, and substandard healthcare in other facilities. Sending detainees far away complicates their legal defense and may lead to unfair plea deals. [Extracted from the article]

According to a report by the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of Americans held in federal and state prisons increased by 2% to a total of 1,230,143 at the end of 2022, following two years of decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also highlighted a significant geographic divide, with states in the former confederacy accounting for two-thirds of the prison population growth. The number of men in prison is about 13 times higher than the number of women, but the latter group saw a higher growth rate. The racial and ethnic composition of jail populations remained stable, with 48% white, 35% Black, and 14% Hispanic. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses two separate topics. The first topic is the takeover of a state prison in Oklahoma from private operator CoreCivic by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC). The prison was renamed Allen Gamble Correctional Center (AGCC) in memory of a guard who was fatally stabbed at another DOC lockup. The article highlights the ongoing issues of low staffing, violence, and drug use in state prisons. The second topic is the Dynamo program at Missouri's Northeast Correctional Center, which is modeled after Norwegian prison efforts to focus on re-entry rather than punishment. The program allows prisoners to have more responsibility and freedom within the prison, with the aim of preparing them for successful reintegration into society. [Extracted from the article]

After the Oklahoma Department of Corrections took over a state prison from private operator CoreCivic, the prison became even more short-staffed. The hourly pay for guards under CoreCivic was higher than what the DOC offered, leading many staff members to stay with CoreCivic or transfer to another facility. The prison is not only dealing with low staffing but also issues of drugs and gang tensions. Since the takeover, staffing has decreased to just 106 guards from the previous 161. In Missouri, a re-entry program called Dynamo has been implemented at the Northeast Correctional Center, modeled after Norwegian prison efforts. The program focuses on re-entry rather than punishment, allowing prisoners more freedom and responsibility in maintaining their living spaces. The program has seen enrollment increase to 17 participants, with plans to expand to other facilities. [Extracted from the article]