Biden signs bill strengthening oversight of crisis-plagued US Bureau of Prisons after AP reporting
President Joe Biden has signed into law a bill strengthening oversight of the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons after The Associated Press exposed systemic corruption and abuse in the prison system.
Derek Chauvin's family has received no updates after prison stabbing, attorney says
An attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd says his family has been kept in the dark by federal prison officials after he was stabbed in prison.
Senators clash with US prisons chief over transparency, seek fixes for problem-plagued agency
The director of the federal Bureau of Prisons was scolded Wednesday by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who say her lack of transparency is hampering their ability to help fix the agency, which has long been plagued by staffing shortages, chronic violence and other problems.
Feds outline new plan for inmates to pay victim restitution
The Justice Department is proposing changes to how it runs federal prisonersโ deposit accounts in an effort to make sure victims are paid restitution, including from some high-profile inmates with large balances.
Prisons chief: Official who beat inmates deserves 2nd chance
The director of the federal Bureau of Prisons is defending her decision to rally behind a high-ranking agency official who climbed the ranks after beating Black inmates, saying Tuesday that she feels heโs shown contrition and deserves a second chance.
Feds to review security after inmate tried to shoot visitor
Officials will begin assessing security protocols at federal prison camps across the U.S. after an inmate obtained a gun and tried to shoot a visitor in the head at a prison camp in Arizona.
New US prisons chief pledges truth, reform for ailing system
The outsider brought in to reform the ailing federal Bureau of Prisons has pledged to hold accountable any employees who sexually assault inmates and reform the agencyโs archaic hiring practices.
Senators push new oversight to combat federal prison crises
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday to overhaul oversight and bring greater transparency to the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons.
Senate to hold hearing on crisis-plagued federal prisons
The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee says he plans to hold an oversight hearing on the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons after The Associated Press reported that the agency is keeping its embattled ex-director on the payroll as an adviser to his successor.
Prisons chief deflects blame for failures, angering senators
With just days left in his tenure, the embattled director of the federal prison system faced a bipartisan onslaught Tuesday as he refused to accept responsibility for a culture of corruption and misconduct that has plagued his agency for years.
Senate panel subpoenas federal prisons director to testify
The outgoing director of the Bureau of Prisons has been subpoenaed to testify before a Senate committee examining abuse and corruption in the beleaguered federal agency.
7 charged in deaths of 2 fellow inmates at prison in Texas
Seven inmates have been charged with killing two fellow prisoners and wounding two others during a January attack at a federal prison in Texas that led to a nationwide lockdown of the federal prison system.
Senators push Garland to reform prisons after AP reporting
The leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee are demanding Attorney General Merrick Garland take immediate action to reform the beleaguered federal Bureau of Prisons.
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AP sources: Officials mulling ousting US prisons director
Senior Biden administration officials have discussed whether to remove the holdover director of the beleaguered federal Bureau of Prisons who has been at the center of the agencyโs myriad crises.
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US prison guards refusing vaccine despite COVID-19 outbreaks
In Rhode Island, 30% of prison staff have refused the vaccine, a higher rate than the incarcerated, according to the stateโs Department of Corrections. Prison staff helped accelerate outbreaks by refusing to wear masks, downplaying peopleโs symptoms, and haphazardly enforcing social distancing and hygiene protocols in confined, poorly ventilated spaces ripe for viral spread. AdStill, some correctional officers are refusing the vaccine because they fear both short- and long-term side effects of the immunizations. The resistance to the vaccine is not unique to correctional officers. It was updated on March 16, 2021, to add the percentage of Rhode Island prison staff who have declined to be vaccinated.
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Kwame Kilpatrickโs prison sentence commuted by Trump -- hereโs what to know
Quick facts:Kilpatrick is seven years into a 28-year sentence to federal prison for racketeering and bribery. He was sentenced to federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of a long list of charges. Hereโs the statement from the White House:โPresident Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. He was sentenced to federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of racketeering, mail fraud, and wire fraud, among other charges. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge.
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Trump commutes sentence of ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick after 7 years in prison
DETROIT โ Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence late Tuesday night. UPDATE Jan. 20: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonHereโs the statement from the White House:โPresident Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the People of Detroit. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge. Before serving as mayor, Kilpatrick served in the Michigan State House of Representative.
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Judge delays execution of only woman on US death row
(AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)A federal judge said the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled the execution of the only woman on federal death row, potentially setting up the Trump administration to schedule the execution after president-elect Joe Biden takes office. U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss also vacated an order from the director of the Bureau of Prisons that had set Lisa Montgomerys execution date for Jan. 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)WASHINGTON โ A federal judge said the Justice Department unlawfully rescheduled the execution of the only woman on federal death row, potentially setting up the Trump administration to schedule the execution after president-elect Joe Biden takes office. Moss prohibited the Bureau of Prisons from carrying out Lisa Montgomeryโs execution before the end of the year and officials rescheduled her execution date for Jan. 12. Generally, under Justice Department guidelines, a death-row inmate must be notified at least 20 days before the execution.
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Reversing course, feds say some US inmates get virus vaccine
The Federal Bureau of Prisons says it has started to give the coronavirus vaccine to some high-risk inmates but wont say how many inmates have been vaccinated or how it selects those to receive the vaccine. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)WASHINGTON โ The Federal Bureau of Prisons says it has started to give the coronavirus vaccine to some high-risk inmates but wonโt say how many inmates have been vaccinated or how it selects those to receive the vaccine. The revelation, in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, contradicts the agencyโs previous policy that initial doses were for staff members. Since March, 171 federal inmates have died of the coronavirus. At least two inmates scheduled to be executed by the Bureau of Prisons next month have also tested positive for coronavirus.
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Sister claims ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be released from prison this week
DETROIT โ Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is expected to be released from prison this week, after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal, according to Kilpatrickโs sister. โDue to suffering severe health challenges we expect Kwame Kilpatrick to receive a grant for COVID-19 compassionate release from the FBOP this week," Ayanna Kilpatrick tweeted on Sunday night. Kilpatrick, 50, is currently serving a 28-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oakdale, Louisiana. Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of racketeering, mail fraud, and wire fraud, among other charges. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge.
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Indiana police to stop blocking roads during executions
CHICAGO Indiana State Police agreed Friday to stop blocking roads to a prison where federal executions resumed last month and are set to continue, backing down after anti-death penalty activists said in a lawsuit the roadblocks impeded their free speech rights. During the first three federal executions in July following a 17-year hiatus, troopers shut main roads to the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, where all federal executions are carried out by lethal injection. Plaintiff Abraham Bonowitz, director of Death Penalty Action, welcomed the change in procedures by the Indiana State Police. The Indiana State Police will continue to provide a safe environment for people who are expressing their views on the First Amendment, ISP spokesman Sgt. The only Native American on federal death row, Lezmond Mitchell, is scheduled to be put to death on Aug. 26.
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Federal Bureau of Prisons denies former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatricks early release
DETROIT Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will not be released early because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Federal Bureau of Prisons announced. The bureau reviewed Kilpatricks request for home confinement, and it was denied, officials said. Kilpatrick will remain incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution-I in Oakdale, Louisiana, according to authorities.
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Kwame Kilpatrick supporters angry over decision not to grant him early prison release
DETROIT Supporters of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick are angry about the decision by the Federal Bureau of Prisons not to grant him an early prison release. Kilpatrick denied early release: Heres everything we knowA decision was all but guaranteed by Kilpatricks family and supporters, but on Tuesday night, federal officials announced his request was denied. Shes been a Kilpatrick supporter and was convinced last week that he would soon be a free man. Last night, when the Federal Bureau of Prisons made its decision, Kilpatrick supporter Angela Stanton King, attorney Norman Yatoomah, who represents the family of Tamara Green, both offered their thoughts. You can hear their statements, as well as what Local 4 legal expert Keith Corbett had to say, in the video posted above.