ARCHIVE
SEPTEMBER 2007

PCI, 1114 Brandt Drive, Tallahassee FL 32308

September 28, 2007 - Prison officials investigate inmate's death The Oklahoman Prison officials are investigating the second homicide this week to occur behind prison walls. (Click here for more)

September 28, 2007 - EEOC accuses Delco prison of discrimination AP Prison officials in Delaware County violated workplace discrimination laws when they fired a Muslim nurse who insisted on wearing a head scarf on the job, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charged yesterday. (Click here for more)

September 27, 2007 - Company seeks $514,000 settlement in jail suit News-Herald Emerald Correctional Management LLC has taken a step back from the $13.2 million it sought from Bay County — a considerable step. (Click here for more)

September 26, 2007 - Unhealthy legacy Santa Fe Reporter Over the last year, whistle-blowers have come forward, auditors have released findings, legislative committees have convened. (Click here for more)

September 25, 2007 - Ex-sheriff's aide guilty San Antonio Express-News The longtime campaign manager and friend of resigned Bexar County Sheriff Ralph Lopez pleaded guilty to one felony count of theft Tuesday that could bring him up to a decade in prison and a $10,000 fine. (Click here for more)

September 25, 2007 - Prison guard nabbed in Net sex sting Rocky Mountain News A correctional officer at the Huerfano County Correctional Center in Walsenburg has been arrested on suspicion of Internet sexual exploitation of a child, Internet luring of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child. (Click here for more)

September 25, 2007 - Exelon acts on dozing guards Philadelphia Inquirer Exelon Corp., the nation's largest producer of nuclear energy, said yesterday that it was moving to terminate a contract with Wackenhut Corp. to provide security at Exelon's Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station after reviewing videos of guards "nodding off or sleeping" at the York County, Pa., power plant. (Click here for more)

September 25, 2007 - Fourth wrongful death lawsuit hits Gwinnett Atlanta Journal Constitution The death of an inmate who fell ill while being held at the Gwinnett County Jail awaiting transfer to another jurisdiction has spurred a lawsuit against the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department and its contracted health care provider. (Click here for more)

September 24, 2007 - Local Univision television reporter is nominated for Emmy Award Laredo Morning Times For the first time in history, a television reporter working in Laredo has been nominated for an Emmy Award. (Click here for more)

September 24, 2007 - Some Nashville inmates sue over medical care Fairview Observer Two years after Correct Care Solutions won a $36 million contract to provide medical care for Metro's jail inmates, some prisoners are filing lawsuits alleging their treatment has been inadequate. (Click here for more)

September 23, 2007 - Natural causes ruled out in prison death Daily News-Miner The Eloy Police Department has ruled out natural causes as the cause of death of an Alaskan inmate found unresponsive in his cell at the Red Rock Correctional Center 25 miles south of Phoenix, said Capt. Shane Blakeman. (Click here for more)

September 22, 2007 - Judge rejects inmate’s suit Altoona Mirror A federal judge has rejected a request by an inmate at the Moshannon Valley Correctional Center to stop sending “Latino” inmates to the facility. (Click here for more)

September 21, 2007 - Still no sign of murderer who escaped from private prison AP A convicted murderer who escaped from a private prison in Florence earlier this week is still on the loose. (Click here for more)

September 21, 2007 - Riot reparations: agencies seek compensation Mineral Wells Index When the riot erupted inside Corrections Corporation of America’s pre-parole facility in August, local law enforcement responded in force and to the tune of approximately $2,200. (Click here for more)

September 21, 2007 - Kuhl lashes out at Nugent St Petersburg Times Fed up with the ongoing barbs aimed at him and the county he leads, outgoing County Administrator Gary Kuhl this week called out his most vocal critic, Sheriff Richard Nugent. (Click here for more)

September 20, 2007 - Inconclusive study of private prisons leaves legislative panel miffed Salt Lake City Tribune Halfway through a professor's presentation of a study on prison privatization, Sen. Bill Hickman was losing patience. (Click here for more)

September 20, 2007 - Halfway house monitor's enhanced sentence upheld Salt Lake City Tribune The inmates at a halfway house in Salt Lake County knew that a sexual favor or a few dollars slipped to monitor Larry Lee Jensen could allow them to break the rules or keep them out of trouble if they had been drinking or using drugs. (Click here for more)

September 19, 2007 - Cornell has no plans for new prisons in Alaska KTUU Cornell Cos. claims it will no longer attempt to sell projects here in Alaska. (Click here for more)

September 19, 2007 - Fairbanks man dies in prison AP A Fairbanks man in prison for killing a cabdriver 19 years ago was found dead in his cell at the Red Rock Correctional Center in Arizona. (Click here for more)

September 19, 2007 - Jail guard won't do time for battery St Petersburg Times The second of two Hernando County jail guards accused of abusing inmates will not receive jail time as part of a plea deal. (Click here for more)

September 18, 2007 - Sightings reported, but inmate remains at large Arizona Republic Authorities issued a statewide alert but scaled back their search Tuesday for a convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Florence. (Click here for more)

September 18, 2007 - Court rules against private prison company in tax dispute AP The state Court of Appeals has ruled that a private prison company isn't entitled to a refund of taxes for operating prisons that house inmates for the state and federal governments. (Click here for more)

September 18, 2007 - Consultant and sheriff trade barbs Sarasota Herald-Tribune A $600,000 increase in the cost to provide medical services to jail inmates has spawned accusations between the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and the consultant who was in charge of negotiating the deal. (Click here for more)

September 18, 2007 - Convicted murderer sought after escaping Florence prison Arizona Republic Two convicted murderers serving time at a private prison in Florence overcame a guard and then used ladders to slip over prison fences early Monday, authorities said. (Click here for more)

September 17, 2007 - Prison operator spent $1.3M lobbying Forbes Corrections Corp. of America, which builds and manages prisons, spent $1.3 million to lobby the federal government in the first half of 2007, according to a disclosure form. (Click here for more)

September 17, 2007 - Lawsuit claims prison guards sexually harassed inmate KITV 4 Another lawsuit has been filed against the mainland prison corporation that houses thousands of Hawaii inmates. (Click here for more)

September 17, 2007 - Two murderers escape from Florence prison East Valley Tribune Two convicted murderers working on the night cleaning crew overtook and tied up a correctional officer, and escaped from Florence Correctional Center early Monday. (Click here for more)

September 16, 2007 - Expert training and diet advice at gym for prisoners Sunday Herald INMATES of Fulham Correctional Centre, near Sale, are receiving personal gym training and specialised diet advice while in jail. (Click here for more)

September 15, 2007 - Judge sends guard to jail  St Petersburg Times A fired Hernando County jail guard will go to jail for his role in the abuse of two inmates last year, a judge ruled Friday. (Click here for more)

September 15, 2007 - Ex-counselor guilty in sex case Tribune-Review A Westmoreland County jury deliberated about three hours on Friday before finding a former drug and alcohol counselor guilty of having a sexual relationship with an inmate at the state prison in Hempfield. (Click here for more)

September 14, 2007 - Man faces jail for stealing £130,000 from parking meters 24 Dash A security worker who stole nearly £130,000 in coins from parking meters he was employed to empty is facing jail. (Click here for more)

September 14, 2007 - Sheriff spending scrutinized Sarasota Herald-Tribune The company now providing health care for the county's jail inmates has accused Sheriff Bill Balkwill of dumping them and awarding the $9 million contract to another firm without taking competitive bids. (Click here for more)

September 13, 2007 - Guards at Liberty Bell, Independence Hall vote to unionize AP Private security guards who have protested what they call poor working conditions at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell voted Wednesday to unionize. (Click here for more)

September 13, 2007 - Lea County jail damaged when inmates protest meal AP Some Lea County inmates set fires and broke toilets and windows after being told they would be allowed only one sausage at dinner. (Click here for more)

September 13, 2007 - Two RT guards are held in theft of game console at station Sacramento Bee As part of an ongoing anti-theft campaign, the Rancho Cordova Police Department baited a trap.  (Click here for more)

September 13, 2007 - 'Serious events' had ICE pull its jail inmates in Albuquerque Albuquerque Tribune U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials pulled all their detainees from a privately run jail in Downtown Albuquerque because of critical concerns about management, a federal official says. (Click here for more)

September 13, 2007 - Family settles prison death lawsuit Rutland Herald A settlement has been reached in a civil lawsuit against the state filed by the family of a Brandon man who died in a South Burlington jail while suffering from severe heroin withdrawal, according to court records. (Click here for more)

September 12, 2007 - Who Holds the Keys? Boise Weekly There's little to no distinction in the world of private prisons, a place where capitalism meets public service. (Click here for more)

September 12, 2007 - Study confirms prison's problems Times-Dispatch An independent study released yesterday found the state's only private prison has problems with drugs, cell phones and high staff turnover. (Click here for more)

September 12, 2007 - Lawyers put security firm in dock BBC The security firm Reliance has been accused of causing delays at one of Scotland's busiest courts. (Click here for more)

September 11, 2007 - Family suing jail in death of Newark man Inside Bay Area The children of a Newark man who died while in custody at the Santa Rita county jail in Dublin are suing the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and others for wrongful death and negligence. (Click here for more)

September 10, 2007 - 82 of 185 jobs at Albuquerque jail cut Albuquerque Tribune After more than a month without its main client sending detainees to its jail in Downtown Albuquerque, Cornell Companies Inc. this morning cut 82 of 185 jobs at the jail. (Click here for more)

September 10, 2007 - Ex-New Castle inmate sues state, prison management after beating The Star Press A former New Castle Correctional Facility inmate who said he was beaten by two other prisoners has sued the state of Indiana and the Department of Correction, among other parties, for not protecting him after he reported illegal activity to prison security last year.  (Click here for more)

September 9, 2007 - E-mail: Jail kids beat up patients AP Youngsters sentenced to jail time intermingled with -- and beat up -- youth undergoing drug and alcohol treatment at a privately run facility, Department of Family Services Director Tony Lewis told Gov. Dave Freudenthal's chief of staff. (Click here for more)

September 9, 2007 - Louisiana jail services company, LCS Corrections Services Inc. in an ongoing public corruption investigation San Antonio Express-News Bexar County Sheriff Ralph Lopez and some of his friends weren't the only ones in South Texas who enjoyed the benefits of helping Premier Management Enterprises secure lucrative jail commissary contracts, according to interviews and records examined by the San Antonio Express-News. (Click here for more)

September 8, 2007 - Candidate linked to bribe case The Advocate This week’s conviction of a San Antonio area sheriff for his involvement in a bribery and money laundering scheme has ties to a Lafayette company owned by a candidate for the state House of Representatives. (Click here for more)

September 7, 2007 - G4S-Securicor Services Fined U.S. $46,000 for Hiring Illegal Staff All Africa The Mozambican Labour Ministry, through the Labour General Inspectorate, has fined the multinational giant "G4S-Securicor Services Moçambique, Lda" with an amount equivalent to 730 minimum statutory minimum wages in the country for hiring nine illegal foreign workers. (Click here for more)

September 7, 2007 - Prison guard says inmate punched her The Vindicator A corrections officer told police that she was punched by an inmate at the private prison on Hubbard Road. (Click here for more)

September 7, 2007 - Panel holds up contract for inmates' health care Birmingham News The Legislative Contract Review Committee on Thursday delayed implementation of a $223 million prison health-care contract after an official with a company that bid $9 million less questioned the process. (Click here for more)

September 6, 2007 - Former soldier jailed for Securicor robbery plot News Shopper A FORMER soldier has been jailed for four years for his part in a plot to steal more than £1m from security vans - including his own. (Click here for more)

September 6, 2007 - State's prison health care deal raises questions Huntsville Times The state corrections commissioner was questioned by legislators Wednesday over a $233.73 million contract for health care for Alabama's nearly 26,000 inmates. (Click here for more)

September 5, 2007 - Prison nurse suspended Daily Times A nurse at George W. Hill Correctional Facility was recently put on administrative leave for allegedly violating a prison policy forbidding association or relationships with prisoners that would be “contrary to the best interest of GEO (the private firm that runs the prison) or the safety or security of the facility,” the Daily Times has learned. (Click here for more)

September 5, 2007 - MAC walkaway recaptured Lebanon Enterprise Gilbert Jones walked away from the Marion Adjustment Center Aug. 26. He was at large for nearly a week before he was apprehended Sunday, Sept. 2. (Click here for more)

September 5, 2007 - Justice Minister hits out at private prisons The Herald Low-paid prison officers employed in the private sector are more vulnerable to the temptation of corruption, according to Kenny MacAskill. (Click here for more)

September 4, 2007 - Guards arrested for Superior Hotel robbery The Daily Times Ndirande Police have arrested seven people in connection with the theft of assorted goods valued at over K500,000 on July 24 from Blantyre’s Superior Hotel. (Click here for more)

September 1, 2007 - Sheriff Lopez Resigns San Antonio Express-News With an indictment hanging over his head, Sheriff Ralph Lopez resigned Friday in a deal struck with prosecutors that guarantees him no jail time in exchange for a no contest plea and $10,000 fine, a source familiar with the negotiations told the San Antonio Express-News. (Click here for more)