AK – Parnell Signs Bill to Fight Sex Trafficking
LA – Entire New Orleans Jail Operation Needs to be Reformed (opinion)
NM – New Program Puts Low-Risk Inmates to Work Around Santa Fe
SC – Probation has “Not Complied with State Law”
SD – State Prepares to Start Work with Tribes on Experiments for Paroles on Reservations
OK – Mandatory Supervision Not Being Required Despite New Law
PA – State Releases First Youth Recidivism Report
TX – Two Private Prisons Close
The inmate was 22 years old and at least a year into a six year burglary sentence. Seems like there are some details missing. What few there are can be read here.
According to the article, SD used execution drugs contaminated with fungus. It WOULD have used drugs illegally imported from India, but those expired.
Not sure of the veracity of this journalism, as this seems far-fetched for a state’s actions. But you can read about it here.
From the article: “A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the South Dakota prison system’s ban on tobacco in religious ceremonies substantially burdens Native American inmates’ religious rights.”
Read more here.
In Ohio, the prison system has a system-wide ban on tobacco products, which also applies to religious tobacco. My understanding is that they have found a non-tobacco alternative for the ceremonial herbs that Native Americans smoke as part of their religious practice.
“State leaders from all three branches of government announced Tuesday the creation of a work group to study possible ways to reform the criminal justice system in an effort to control its rising costs in South Dakota.”
Read more: http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/event/article/id/67879/group/homepage/
“The U.S. Department of Justice is supporting Native American inmates in their lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s ban on tobacco in religious ceremonies.”
Read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/5c7651f0e2da4bd9ab29ae49374f02ee/SD–Ceremonial-Tobacco-Prison
