AELE LAW LIBRARY OF CASE SUMMARIES:
Corrections Law for
Jails, Prisons and Detention Facilities
Employment Issues
Mississippi jailers
claimed that, after they witnessed a sergeant beating a prisoner, they
were told to report the incident to a supervisor, but were fired one day
after they filed the report, purportedly on unrelated charges of misconduct.
Ordering further proceedings on the fired jailers' First Amendment claims,
an appeals court found that there was a genuine issue of fact as to whether
their action in filing the report was part of their official job duties,
and therefore not protected speech under the First Amendment. The issue
is whether or not language in a policy manual stating that jailers should
report certain kinds of incidents showed that their actions in doing so
was part of their job duties. The plaintiff jailers argued that the manual
did not create any such duty to report incidents such as the beating. Williams
v. Riley, No. 07-60252, 2008 U.S. App. Lexis 8990 (5th Cir.).
Discipline of correctional
employees because of their association with a motorcycle club did not violate
their First Amendment or due process rights to freedom of intimate association
or expressive association. The court found that the motorcycle club memberships
were not expressive association "on matters of public" concern,
and that those memberships also were not intimate relationships provided
protection under the constitution. Additionally, law enforcement agencies
believed that the motorcycle club in question engaged in criminal acts.
Piscottano v. Murphy, No. 05-3716, 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 29541 (2nd Cir.).
Escape
Private company that operated a prison under
a contract with the State of Kentucky was not liable for an escaped prisoner's
robbery, assault, and rape of a woman several hours after his escape. Under
Kentucky state law, applied by the federal court on the plaintiff's negligence
claim, there is no negligence liability when the harm to a third person,
the victim, is caused by another person's intentionally criminal acts.
Intentionally violent acts against unknown third persons, the court stated,
are generally not regarded as foreseeable under Kentucky state law. Norris
v. Corrections Corporation of America, No. 3:07CV-273, 2007 U.S. Dist.
Lexis 83965 (W.D. Ky.).
While an Illinois prison employee (serving
as a clinical casework supervisor) had a protected property right under
state law not to be demoted or fired without cause, a mere change in his
job duties, relating to the entry of data concerning certain disciplinary
hearing information and other clerical work, did not constitute a firing
or demotion. While his specific job duties changed, he was not placed in
a lower pay grade. Further, there was no evidence that the employee's new
job duties were so "intolerable" as to constitute a constructive
discharge. Akande v. Grounds, No. 05-cv-4212, 2007 U.S. Dist. Lexis 78803
(S.D. Ill.).
A Mexican-American correctional officer failed
to show that he had been subjected to national origin discrimination or
that there was any connection between the allegedly discriminatory conduct
of two employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections (such as discriminatory
remarks) and his firing. He was fired after an investigation concerning
the alleged smuggling of contraband cigars into a correctional facility.
Jennings v. IL Dep't of Corr., No. 06-1637 2007 U.S. App. Lexis 18325 (7th
Cir.).
Without special circumstances, the sexually
harassing conduct of inmates in a juvenile correctional facility could
not be attributed to the employer. Additionally, the alleged sexually harassing
conduct of the female plaintiff's former co-workers, such as asking for
dates, while it was "inappropriate" was not so severe as to make
the employer liable for creating an intolerable work environment that resulted
in her resignation. Vajdl v. Mesabi Acad. of Kidspeace, Inc., No. 06-2482,
2007 U.S. App. Lexis 9368 (8th Cir.).
Occasional incidents of sexually "inappropriate"
language by co-workers were not severe and pervasive enough to show that
female correctional employee faced a hostile work environment constituting
sexual harassment in violation of federal law. The complained of remarks
were "isolated" incidents, offhand comments, and simple "teasing."
Benny v. Penn. Dept. of Corrections, No. 05-5499, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis
28596 (3rd Cir.). [N/R]
Correctional officials' alleged failure to
do anything in response to female correctional employee's concerns about
presence of a male inmate in her office after hours was sufficient to support
denial of summary judgment in a lawsuit claiming that the inmate's alleged
sexual assault on her grew out of a "hostile work environment,"
because this lack of response could be found unreasonable by a reasonable
jury. Erickson v. WI Dep't of Corr., No. 05-4516, 2006 U.S. App. Lexis
28125 (7th Cir. November 14, 2006) [N/R]
White male correctional employee failed to
show that his firing for having brought prohibited alcoholic drinks onto
prison property on several occasions constituted racial discrimination.
Another employee who was not fired for possession of alcohol on prison
property was not similarly situated since there was no showing of multiple
incidents over a period of time, as there was with the plaintiff. Veazey
v. Ark. Dept. of Corrections, No. 5:05CV080, 2006 U.S. Dist. Lexis 73430
(E.D. Ark. 2006). [N/R]
Former correctional officers who had been charged
with drug trafficking failed to assert valid claims for malicious prosecution,
false imprisonment, or wrongful termination. There had been probable cause
to arrest them, and, while state criminal charges against them were dropped,
this was not done in a manner indicating their innocence, but rather was
based on a decision to instead pursue possible federal charges. Additionally,
on the wrongful termination claim, the officers failed to exhaust their
available administrative appeals, and instead decided to voluntarily resign,
so that they were not properly "terminated" at all. Law v. South
Carolina Dept. of Corrections, No. 26134, 629 .E.2d 642 (S.C. 2006). [N/R]
Female former correctional officer failed
to show that her firing for entering into a romantic relationship with
an inmate, and later marrying him, was based on racial discrimination.
While she claimed that she was discriminated against because of her African-American
race, as certain white correctional officers who had romantic relationships
with prisoners were not fired, those white officers had begun their relationships
before their romantic partners were incarcerated, while the plaintiff knowingly
entered into a prohibited relationship with a known incarcerated prisoner,
serving a life sentence for murder, and who had previously been under her
supervision. Burke-Fowler v. Orange County, Florida, No. 05-14899, 447
F.3d 1319 (11th Cir. 2006). [N/R]
Jail guard's speech on alleged abuse of inmates
was on a matter of public concern, protected by the First Amendment, and
there were factual issues as to whether he was subjected to harassment
in retaliation for exercising that First Amendment right. Fairley v. Andrews,
No. 03C5207, 430 F. Supp. 2d 786 (N.D. Ill. 2006). [N/R]
Jail commander did not have a constitutionally
protected property interest in his job under Oregon law on the basis of
the county's personnel rules and ordinance, given disclaimers in a personnel
manual stating that the rules and ordinance did not create any contract
rights. Brunick v. Clatsop County, #A122339, 129 P.3d 738 (Or. App. 2006).
[N/R]
Female correctional officer's claims that
female officers were not given identical locker room facilities as the
male officers had and that the city's department of corrections failed
to conduct a proper investigation of her discrimination complaint were
insufficient to show "adverse employment actions" amounting to
sex discrimination under federal employment law. Hayes v. Kerik, No. CV-99-5725,
414 F. Supp. 2d 193 (E.D.N.Y. 2006). [N/R]
While employees of community correctional
facilities in Ohio were entitled to due process on any demotion, suspension
or termination of employment, there was no available cause of action for
money damages. Disputed issues of fact, however, remained on terminated
female African-American employee's claims of disparate treatment, disparate
pay, and unlawful retaliation. McClain v. Northwest Community Corrections
Center Judicial Corrections Bd., No. 05-3154, 440 F.3d 320 (6th Cir. 2006).
[N/R]
Termination of female correctional employee
after she married a former inmate did not violate her right to freedom
of association or to maintain intimate relationships. The "anti-fraternization"
rule applied had a reasonable relationship to legitimate interests in maintaining
institutional security in correctional facilities. Lape v. Pennsylvania,
No. 05-1094, 157 Fed. Appx. 491 (3rd. Cir. 2005). [N/R]
Firing of Mississippi corrections counselor
for allegedly engaging in an "improper relationship" with a prisoner
was not "arbitrary or capricious." Correspondence from the counselor
to an inmate which she signed "Your Mom" violated rules prohibiting
counselors from establishing close personal relationshipswith prisoners.
Mississippi Dept. of Corrections v. Maxwell, No. 2004-CC-00637, 913 So.
2d 1013 (Miss. App. 2005). [N/R]
Black employee was properly fired for working
for the same county department of corrections that his daughter was employed
by, in violation of the county's policy against nepotism, and he failed
to show that his termination was based on racial discrimination, as he
claimed. Anderson v. Sedgwick, No. 05-3118, 150Fed. Appx. 754 (10th Cir.
2005). [N/R]
Gay, HIV-positive, former cook in California
youth correctional facility was properly awarded $1,917,104 in damages
on state law claim that he was subjected, during five years of employment,
to pervasive sexual orientation harassment and retaliation. Plaintiff claimed
that his complaints to management were ignored. Hope v. Cal. Youth Auth.,
No. B171593, 2005 Cal. App. Lexis 1853 (Cal. App. 2nd Dist. 2005) [2006
JB Jan]
If, as former Illinois prison warden claimed, she
had no policymaking function and no discretionary authority, then her alleged
termination based on her Republican political affiliation would demonstrate
the violation of her clearly established First Amendment rights. Appeals
court rejects, however, plaintiff's due process claim as she had no constitutionally
protected property interest in continued employment as a state prison warden.
Kiddy-Brown v. Blagojevich, No. 04-2283, 408 F.3d 346 (7th Cir. 2005).
[N/R]
Male correctional officers alleged acts of
sexual harassment, including asking female officer out on dates, including
out of town trip, and engaging in alleged retaliation when she refused
was sufficiently severe or pervasive to state a cause of action under Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2000e et seq. Porter
v. California Dept. of Corrections, No. 02-16537, 419 F.3d 885 (9th Cir.
2005). [N/R]
Plaintiff assistant wardens of Illinois state
prisons are policymaking officials and therefore can be fired by the governor
on the basis of their political affiliation. Riley v. Blagojevich, 04-3085,
2005 U.S. App. Lexis 20631 (7th Cir.). [2005 JB Nov]
Female prison employees' claim that male
warden gave favorable treatment to other female employees with whom he
was having sexual affairs, while they were retaliated against when they
complained, was sufficient, under California law, to create a viable case
of sexual harassment. Miller v. Dept. of Corrections, No. S114097, 2005
Cal. Lexis 7606 (2005). [2005 JB Sep]
Employee's lawsuit against private corporation
(Correctional Services Corporation) operating correctional facility could
not be pursued as a federal civil rights claim under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983,
since the company's employment decisions are not made under color of state
law, which is a necessary part of such a claim. Cornish v. Corr. Serv.
Corp., No. 04-10550, 402 F.3d 545 (5th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
While correctional officer's comments made
to female employee of juvenile boot camp were of a sexual nature, they
were not severe and pervasive enough to constitute sexual harassment. Moser
v. Indiana Dep't of Corr., No. 04-1130 406 F.3d 895 (7th Cir.2005). [N/R]
County did not violate the due process rights
of retired sheriff's deputies by requiring them to pay higher health insurance
premiums than were paid by currently working deputies. Germano v. Winnebago
County, 2005 U.S. App. Lexis 6075 (7th Cir.). [N/R]
Female correctional officer failed to show
that alleged sexual harassment by a co-worker was "severe or pervasive"
as required to impose liability on her employer, or that employer ignored
her complaint about his conduct. Sheriff's office, in fact, took the incident
in question seriously, and suspended the male deputy without pay for thirty
days. Hathaway v. Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, No. 03-35571, 123
Fed. Appx. 806 (9th Cir. 2005). [N/R]
A policy of random drug testing, when applied to
an employee of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice who worked in
"long-range" planning, was unconstitutional since there was no
special need for sobriety on his part, such as protection of juveniles
or public safety. Wenzel v. Bankhead, No. 4:03 CV 403, 351 F. Supp. 2d
1316 (N.D. Fla. 2004). [N/R]
Indiana Department of Corrections did not
violate an employee's Fourth Amendment rights by requiring her to submit
to a psychological examination inquiring into details concerning her personal
life. Greenawalt v. Indiana Department of Corrections, No. 04-1997, 397
F.3d 587 (7th Cir. 2005). [2005 JB Apr]
Order requiring Bureau of Prisons to release
entire Special Investigative Supervisor Manual to employee union was overbroad
and an abuse of discretion when portions of it were irrelevant to union's
tasks in representing disciplined employee, and the Bureau contended that
a release of the entire document would compromise internal agency security.
Federal Labor Relations Authority v. U.S. Department of Justice, No. 03-4051
2005 U.S. App. Lexis 1087 (8th Cir.). [2005 JB Mar]
Michigan Department of Corrections' decision
to designate certain jobs in housing units at female prisons as "female
only," was valid. Gender is found to be a "bona fide occupational
qualification" for such jobs, in light of a past history of alleged
sexual abuse of female prisoners by male personnel. Everson v. Michigan
Dep't. of Corrections, No. 02-2028, 2004 U.S. App. Lexis 24905 (6th Cir.
2004). [2005 JB Jan]
State correctional officers were not entitled
to a preliminary injunction against discipline of them for associating
with Outlaws Motorcycle Club, a group alleged to be a criminal gang. The
directive prohibiting officers from conduct constituting or giving rise
to the appearance of conflict of interest, engaging in unprofessional or
illegal behavior that could reflect negatively on the Department, and acting
in ways jeopardizing institutional security or the health, safety, or welfare
of the staff or inmates, which was the basis for the discipline, was not
overbroad under the First Amendment. Piscottano v. Murphy, 317 F. Supp.
2d 97 (D. Conn. 2004). [N/R]
Arbitration award upholding suspension of
corrections officer for three and a half months without pay for refusing
to simultaneously escort two diabetic inmates to facilities "insulin
room" could not be overturned on "public policy" grounds.
While the officer claimed that the order was unlawful under a prison rule
requiring prisoners to be escorted to the insulin room "individually,"
he failed to show that the rule was aimed at prison safety, and there was
evidence that the rule was enacted to ensure accurate accounting and disposal
of syringes used by inmates who self-administered insulin while medical
personnel was not available. Selman v. Department of Correctional Services,
773 N.Y.S.2d 364 (A.D. 1st Dept. 2004). [N/R]
County sheriff was not entitled to qualified
immunity from lawsuit by correctional officer for violation of his First
Amendment rights and wrongful termination in violation of public policy
by firing him after he complained about fellow officer's alleged illegal
conduct while transporting an extradited prisoner. Trial court judge upholds
jury awards of $88,027 for past lost wages and benefits, and $40,000 for
future lost wages and benefits, but orders new trial on jury's "excessive"
$250,000 award for emotional distress unless plaintiff officer agrees to
a reduced amount of $130,000. Shepard v. Wapello County, Iowa, 303 F. Supp.
2d 1004 (S.D. Iowa 2003). [N/R]
New Jersey intermediate appeals court upholds Merit
System Board's decision that county was entitled to designation of eight
Juvenile Detention Officer positions as "male-only" on the basis
of "bona fide occupational qualification" because of privacy
interest of male juvenile detainees in not being viewed by female officers
while showering, using toilet, and being strip-searched. In the Matter
of Juvenile Detention Officer Union County, 837 A.2d 1101 (N.J. Super.
A.D. 2003). [N/R]
Correctional employee's "non-theistic"
spiritual belief that he should not cut his hair was not a protected religious
belief sufficient to challenge the state correctional department's grooming
policy, since it was merely based on his own "personal and philosophical"
choices. His desire to "live simply and avoid excessive pride"
did not qualify for a possible religious exemption from the grooming policy.
Luken v. Brigano, #CA2003-01-007, 797 N.E.2d 1047 (Ohio. App. 12 Dist.
2003). [N/R]
Correctional rule barring prison employees
from non-work-related contact with prisoners, parolees, probationers, and
their relatives and visitors did not violate employees' rights. Akers v.
McGinnis, #01-18, 2003 U.S. App. Lexis 24155, 352 F.3d 1031 (6th Cir.).
[2004 JB Jan]
A probationary employee of a community corrections
center was entitled to an opportunity to be heard before being terminated
and was denied due process when she was not told why she was being offered
a choice between quitting or being fired. McClain v. Northwest Comm. Corrections
Cent., 268 F. Supp. 2d 941 (N.D. Ohio 2003). [N/R]
Male correctional officer was properly awarded
$750,000 in compensatory damages for alleged sexual harassment by a female
co-worker and the alleged failure to his superiors to adequately remedy
the problem, along with $850,000 in attorneys' fees and costs. New Jersey
Supreme Court upholds, however, reversal of $3 million punitive damages
award, based on inadequate jury instructions concerning willful indifference
by upper management which failed to explain the term "upper management."
Further proceedings ordered on issue of punitive damages. Lockley v. State
of New Jersey Department of Corrections, 828 A.2d 869 (N.J. 2003). [N/R]
Female correctional officers showed that
sheriff's office provided a pervasively sexually hostile work environment
for female employees and that they faced unlawful retaliation for complaining
about it. Officers did not show, however, that they were denied promotions
and were terminated on the basis of sex discrimination. Court awards both
of two plaintiffs $150,000 in compensatory damages and $20,000 in punitive
damages, as well as attorneys' fees. Brissette v. Franklin County Sheriff's
Office, 235 F. Supp. 2d 63 (D. Mass. 2003). [N/R]
Dispute over whether county violated the
terms of a collective bargaining agreement by requiring correctional officers
to dispense medication to prisoners was subject to arbitration under Illinois
state law regardless of whether or not the disputed job assignments were
legal under a state controlled substances law. Any exclusion from arbitration
has to be expressly stated in a public employees' collective bargaining
agreement under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, 5 ILCS 315/8.
Rock Island County Sheriff Grchan v. AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Local 2025, #3-03-0052,
791 N.E.2d 57 (Ill. App. 3d Dist. 2003). [N/R]
Substantial evidence supported dismissal
of corrections officer for improperly having "avoidable contact"
with prisoner, when an enveloped address to him was in her handwriting
as was the enclosed letter addressed "Hey Baby." Lombardi v.
Dunlap, #WD 61417, 103 S.W.3d 786 (Mo. App. W.D. 2003). [N/R]
Arbitrator did not have the authority to
reduce the discipline of a correctional officer from termination to a 60-day
suspension in circumstances where the misconduct involved the development
of an inappropriate personal relationship with an inmate. The officer's
relationship with the inmate created a potential security risk. State of
Rhode Island v. Brotherhood of Correctional Officers, No. 2001-590-Appeal,
819 A.2d 1286 (R.I. 2003). [N/R]
Correctional officer's memo to his employer,
requesting vacation time to "spend the Christmas holiday" with
his parents, even though it did mention their failing health, was not sufficient
to inform the department that he was seeking family leave as he was entitled
to do under a California state statute, to take care of his parents. Denial
of his request, therefore, did not violate his rights or subject the employer
to liability. Stevens v. California Department of Corrections, No. C039896,
132 Cal. Rptr. 2d 19 (Cal. App. 2003). [N/R]
Correctional officer allegedly forced to
quit after he reported a co-worker's misconduct in playing cards with a
group of inmates stated a possible claim for violation of his First Amendment
rights based on tolerance of supervisors of harassment of him for making
the report, since tolerance of such conduct was a "matter of public
concern." Baron v. Hickey, 242 F. Supp. 2d 66 (D. Mass. 2003). [N/R]
Security guard fired by Mississippi Department
of Corrections had the burden on appeal of showing that conduct which was
the basis for his termination, assaulting and injuring several inmates
during a fight and falsifying records, had not occurred. Decision by Employee
Appeals Board which reinstated guard was reversed as "arbitrary and
capricious" when there was evidence that he took a handcuffed prisoner
into an ice room and beat him, as well as a fellow officer's observation
of him "driving" another prisoner's head into a wall. Mississippi
Department of Corrections v. Harris, No. 2001-CC-004223-COA, 831 So. 2d
1190 (Miss. App. 2002). [N/R]
Arbitrator could properly find, under the
terms of a collective bargaining agreement, that the firing of a clerk-typist
from a position at a county jail for bringing Playgirl magazine to work
was not supported by just cause after determining that her conduct was
not willfully in violation of a law prohibiting the bringing of "obscene"
materials into the jail and the firing was simply for bringing the magazine
to work, regardless of any explanation she had. The arbitrator exceeded
his authority, however, in ordering that the employee be assigned to a
job elsewhere than the jail, since the county had the ability to direct
where she would work. County of Bedford v. Pennsylvania Social Services
Union, SEIU, AFL-CIO, Local 668, 814 A.2d 866 (Pa. Cmwlth 2003). [N/R]
Delaware Department of Corrections code which
prohibited off-duty personal contact with offenders was not "substantially
related" to legitimate state interests in the orderly functioning
of the prisons. No evidence showed that terminated female correctional
officer's off-duty relationship with a paroled former inmate had "any
impact" on inmates or prison staff, but the defendant correctional
officials were entitled to qualified immunity because the asserted constitutional
right to privacy to cohabit with a former inmate was not "clearly
established" law. Via v. Taylor, 224 F. Supp. 2d 753 (D. Del. 2002).[N/R]
An employee hired to staff an Ohio community-based
correctional facility, who was subject to a 120-day initial review period,
was entitled to due process in the termination of her employment, the Supreme
Court of Ohio ruled in response to a question certified by a federal district
court. The court declined, however, to answer a second certified issue
of whether the employee was an "at-will employee." McClain v.
Northwest Community Corrections Center, Judicial Corrections Board, No.
2001-1312 (Ohio 2002). [N/R]
Department of Corrections failed to
rebut prison employee's prima facie case that he was demoted in retaliation
for his filing of a whistleblower report concerning a meat theft from the
prison kitchen, and therefore would be liable for retaliation under a state
statute. 43 P.S. Sec. 1423 et seq. O'Rourke v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
778 A.2d 1104 (Pa. 2001). [N/R]
Correctional officials should have been granted
qualified immunity in lawsuit by African-American correctional employee
terminated following an investigation of his alleged choking of a handcuffed
inmate, since he failed to adequately show a possible equal protection
violation. Inmon v. Arkansas Dept. of Correction, #00-2113, 245 F.3d 1030
(8th Cir. 2001). [N/R]
Correctional department internal affairs investigator
was entitled to First Amendment protection for his report concerning a
correctional officer's alleged wrongdoing and use of excessive force during
a prison riot, Factual issues existed as to whether he was subsequently
constructively discharged in retaliation for his report and his refusal
to alter it, or whether he merely resigned because he was unhappy with
his job. Bailor v. Taylor, 170 F.Supp. 2d 466 (D. Del. 2001). [N/R]
D.C. Department of Corrections employees
facing closure of a D.C. reformatory were not entitled to federal competitive
status for the purpose of retirement benefits and "entitlement"
to federal employment simply because some federal prisoners were committed
to D.C. prisons. The passage of the D.C. Comprehensive Merit Personnel
Act, D.C. Code Secs. 1-201.01 established a city personnel system apart
from that of the federal government. Lucas v. United States, Nos. 00-5149,
00-5191, 268 F.3d 1089 (D.C. Cir. 2001). [N/R]
298:148 Arbitrator's award reinstating correctional
officer who used physical violence against inmate and failed to report
it did not violate public policy. Illinois, State of, v. AFSCME, Council
31, AFL-CIO, No. 5-99-0688, 749 N.E.2d 472 (Ill. App. 2001).
297:131 Corrections officers subject to discipline
for "inattentiveness" during training on "gays and lesbians"
in the workplace were improperly punished for silently reading bibles,
when other officers, inattentive or reading non-religious materials, were
not similarly punished. Altman v. Minn. Dept. of Corrections, #00-1168
and 00-1489, 251 F.3d 1199 (8th Cir. 2001).
297:131 Labor board upholds an arbitration
ruling that federal correctional management could require prison employees
to wear a dress shirt, without a tie, even when presented with a doctor's
note about a skin irritation. AFGE L-4044 - Council of Prisons L-33 and
Federal Corr. Inst., Three Rivers, Tex., #0-AR-3314, 2001 FLRA LEXIS 45,
57 FLRA No. 27, 39 (1914) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 657 (4/30/01).
296:117 Exclusion of polygraph evidence showing
that inmate was telling the truth about her alleged repeated sexual relations
with Native American/Hispanic correctional officer required a new trial
and reversal of $50,000 damage award to officer, who claimed race discrimination
in having been placed on administrative leave during investigation of her
accusations. Subia v. Riveland, No. 24627-9-H, 15 P.3d 658 (Wash. App.
2001).
295:99 Correctional facility had to either
make a good faith effort to accommodate an officer, who was also a minister,
in his request for unpaid leave to attend religious conferences, or else
show that doing so would create an undue hardship; racial harassment claim
was also asserted by officer. Jones v. New York City Dept. of Correction,
2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2669 (S.D.N.Y.).
294:83 Incident in which a white female correctional
officer was not disciplined for allegedly kissing an inmate did not show
that firing an African-American male officer for allegedly having sex several
times with a female prisoner was a "pretext" for racial discrimination.
English v. Colorado Dept. of Corrections, No. 99-1452, 248 F.3d 1002 (10th
Cir. 2001).
290:20 $50,000 jury verdict in favor of corrections
officer who claimed racial discrimination in placement on administrative
leave is overturned because of exclusion from evidence of polygraph test
taken by prisoner who accused officer of sexual misconduct. Subia v. Dept.
of Corrections, No. 24627-9-II, 15 P.3d 658 (Wash. App. 2001).
294:84 Warden was entitled to qualified immunity
for using race as a criteria to deny a white correctional officer promotion
to one of three lieutenant positions; appeals court rules that it was not
clearly established in 1992 that this could violate the plaintiff's rights.
Elwell v. Dobucki, No. 98-1920, 224 F.3d 638 (7th Cir. 2000).
293:69 Failure to allow officers being questioned
at the workplace about possible criminal misconduct access to attorneys,
union representatives and other procedural safeguards violated their rights
under California Public Safety Officers' Bill of Rights. California Correctional
Peace Officers Assn. v. State of Calif., 82 Cal. App. 4th 294, 98 Cal.
Rptr. 2d 302 (2000).
293:68 Corrections officer did not violate
a rule against "making a false official report" when he failed,
in his applications for employment, to disclose his criminal conviction
for resisting arrest and obstructing an officer, since his applications
were not "official reports." Taylor v. Cook County Sheriff's
Merit Board, No. 1-99-3550, 736 N.E.2d 673 (Ill. App. 2000).
291:36 African-American correctional officer
could recover $100,000 in emotional distress damages, as well as back pay,
after he resigned his job in response to racially hostile work environment
caused by the use of racial slurs by his supervisor, also an African-American.
Ross v. Douglas County, Nebraska, #00-2688, 234 F.3d 391 (8th Cir. 2000).
296:117 Female correctional officer was properly
awarded $45,000 against New Hampshire Dept. of Corrections based on sexual
harassment and a hostile work environment which included male co-workers
making sexual remarks and propositions and reading pornographic magazines
at work. White v. New Hampshire Dept. of Corrections, No. 99-1818, 221
F.3d 254 (1st Cir. 2000).
290:19 Federal Bureau of Prisons agrees to
pay $120 million in overtime claims to officers who did not receive compensation
for time spent before and after their shifts getting and returning equipment.
AFGE and Dept. of Justice, 38 (1879) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 1065 (Aug. 2000).
289:3 Texas appeals court overturns $153,670
jury award to warden fired after he reported to his employer that his supervisor
had allegedly taken his girlfriend on trips for state business and kept
another girlfriend on the payroll
earlier solely on the basis of the relationship;
statements, which were based solely on rumor and innuendo, did not constitute
good faith reports of "violations of law" as required to support
an award of damages under the state's Whistleblower Act. Texas Department
of Criminal Justice v. Terrell, No. 12-99-00054-CV, 18 S.W.3d 272 (Tex.
App. 2000).
289:4 Maryland correctional officer was properly
terminated for allowing three female inmates to live at his house after
their release from custody. Stover v. Prince George's Co., #775-1999, 132
Md. App. 373, 752 A.2d 686 (2000).
[N/R] Jailer engaged in protection political
activity in supporting her husband's campaign for sheriff; appeals court
orders further proceedings on her claim that she was fired in retaliation.
Sowards v. Loudon County, #98-6768, 203 F.3d 426 (6th Cir. 2000).
[N/R] Caucasian corrections sergeant presented
a genuine issue of fact as to whether he was demoted and suspended by the
warden for racially discriminatory reasons. Weberg v. Franks, No. 98-1472,
229 F.3d 514 (6th Cir. 2000).
[N/R] New York county sheriff was final policymaker
with respect to the conduct of his staff members toward other officers
exercising their First Amendment rights to inform government investigators
about co-workers' alleged wrongdoing. Jeffes v. Barnes, No. 98-9369, 208
F.3d 49 (2nd Cir. 2000).
285:133 Officer's inappropriate use of force
against a prisoner, combined with an off-duty incident in which he engaged
in lewd dancing, made offensive remarks to members of the public, and broke
property in a gay bar, together supported his termination for conduct unbecoming
an officer. Green v. City of Sioux Falls, 2000 SD 33, 607 N.W. 2d 43 (S.D.
2000).
287:166 Black male prison guard at all-female
Michigan prison awarded $1.015 million on claim that he was illegally fired
for retaliatory reasons after he requested a transfer to an all-male facility
because of stress he was suffering from "taunts" by female prisoners.
Edwards v. Michigan Dept. of Corr., Mich. Cir. Ct., No. 96-626808- CZ,
verdict Sept. 6, 2000, reported in 38 Govt. Emp. Rel. Rptr. Number 1879,
p. 1076 (Sept. 26, 2000).
284:116 New Jersey Supreme Court rejects
employer's argument that it could fire a prison nurse for circumventing
the "chain of command" in complaining to her supervisor's supervisor
of inmates being provided with medicine and medical services without being
charged a legally required co-payment and being provided with medication
under expired doctor's orders; further proceedings ordered on nurse's "whistleblowing"
lawsuit. Fleming v. Correctional Healthcare Solutions, Inc., 164 N.J. 90,
751 A.2d 1035 (2000).
284:118 Native American correctional officer
should be allowed to wear his hair long (but pinned under his cap) to accommodate
his religion, Ohio Supreme Court holds. Humphrey v. Lane, #99-206, 728
N.E.2d 1039 (Ohio 2000).
283:101 Correctional officer who made an
anonymous, obscene, and racist telephone call to a state legislator while
on duty was properly terminated; Connecticut Supreme Court rejects arbitrator's
award reinstating officer and reducing the penalty to 60 days suspension
without pay. Connecticut v. AFSCME, Council 4, Local 387, #16121, 747 A.2d
480 (Conn. 2000).
279:35 Federal Age Discrimination in Employment
Act (ADEA) may not constitutionally be applied to state employees; Congress
exceeded its authority in attempting to create a remedy for age discrimination
which went beyond what the Supreme Court had previously ruled concerning
equal protection of law in age discrimination. Kimel v. Florida Bd. of
Regents, #98-791, 98-796, 120 S. Ct. 631 (2000).
277:12 Termination of female correctional
officer at the end of her probationary period was not sex discrimination
when her performance evaluations showed that she was "not qualified"
for the job; under these circumstances, the court did not need to reach
the issue of whether male co-workers were treated differently. Warfield
v. Lebanon Correctional Institution, #98-3588, 181 F.3d 723 (6th Cir. 1999).
282:84 Correctional officer terminated for
allegedly stealing minor items from his employer received adequate due
process prior to termination and had adequate post-termination state remedies
to seek reinstatement and back pay if he were terminated without just cause.
Schacht v. Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections, No. 96-3633, 175 F.3d 497 (7th
Cir. 1999).
282:85 Former correctional officer was properly
removed from list of those eligible for reappointment based on a factual
finding that he had accepted gifts or gratuities from prisoners in exchange
for favors. Slyke v. Onondaga County Dept. of Personnel, 688 N.Y.S.2d 312
(A.D. 1999).
[N/R] Correctional employer may have a duty
to prospective employers and foreseeable third persons not to misrepresent
material facts when making an employment recommendation about a present
or former employee if a substantial risk of physical harm to third persons
by the employee is foreseeable. Davis v. Board of County Commissioners
of Dona Ana County, #19,176, 987 P. 2d 1172 (N.M. App. 1999).
273:131 U.S. Supreme Court, in three decisions,
narrowly interprets federal disability discrimination statute; plaintiff
employees whose disabilities may be corrected by medication or devices
such as eyeglasses will generally not be disabled persons entitled to protection
against employment discrimination. Murphy v. United Parcel Service, Inc.,
#97- 1992, 119 S. Ct. 2133 (1999); Sutton v. United Air Lines, Inc., #97-1943,
119 S. Ct. 2139 (1999); Albertsons, Inc. v. Kirkingburg, #98-591, 119 S.
Ct. 2162 (1999).
273:132 Congress did not have constitutional
authority under Article I of the Constitution to abrogate states' sovereign
immunity to lawsuits in their own state courts; probation officers could
not sue state of Maine, in either federal or state court, for overtime
pay they claimed they were owed under the federal Fair Labor Standards
Act (FLSA). Alden v. Maine, #98-436, 119 S. Ct. 2240 (1999).
274:147 Co. jail must bargain with jail nurses
over the subject of whether to place last names of employees on required
name tags; nurses argued that placing their last names on nametags put
the safety of their families at risk. King Co. v. Wash. State PERC, #42854-3-1,
972 P.2d 130 (Wash. App. 1999).
274:147 Correctional officer who flew Nazi
flag at his home off-duty was properly reinstated in job when no actual
harm was shown in his workplace and his evaluations were outstanding. Arbitration
bet. N.Y. St. Law Enf. Off. Union and New York, #82571, 694 N.Y.S.2d 170
(A.D. 1999).
275:165 Requiring female correctional officers
to wear pants on duty, and forbidding them to wear skirts, did not violate
their right to religious freedom when pants requirement was justified by
need to properly secure protective vests needed when responding to emergencies.
Seabrook v. City of New York, #99 Civ. 9134, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13729
(S.D.N.Y.).
267:37 Prison chaplain's conversations with
prison official outside his chain of command concerning decision to have
someone else, rather than him, tutor an illiterate prisoner was not protected
First Amendment speech. Button v. Kibby-Brown, #97- 2832, 146 F.3d 526
(7th Cir. 1998).
269:69 Prison officials acted properly in
firing prison guard who appeared on television to promote a Ku Klux Klan
rally; identification of guard as a Klan supporter could incite racial
violence at the prison and the prison's interest in maintaining security
and preventing violence outweighed any First Amendment interest the guard
had in expressing his views. Weicherding v. Riegel, #97-3991, 160 F.3d
1139 (7th Cir. 1998).
270:84 Prison employee's demands for a personal
security guard to protect him did not involve a matter of public concern
entitling him to protection, under the First Amendment, from firing in
alleged retaliation for raising the issue. Kohl v. Smythe, 25 F.Supp.2d
1124 (D. Hawaii 1998).
260:118 Federal appeals court rules that
two jail employees were legitimately discharged by incoming sheriff based
on job performance and "public perception" of job performance,
rather than racial discrimination; one employee's comments to federal trial
court concerning jail conditions were not protected speech under the First
Amendment, since they were not made as a "concerned citizen"
but based on orders from his superior. Day v. Johnson, 119 F.3d 650 (8th
Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 118 S.Ct. 707 (1998).
263:163 Despite the presence, in terminated
correctional officer's suit, of several claims against the State of Wisconsin
barred by the Eleventh Amendment, correctional defendants could still properly
remove the entire lawsuit from state to federal court, and the federal
trial court had jurisdiction to consider and rule on remaining claims not
barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity. Wisconsin Dept. of Corrections v.
Schacht, #97-461, 118 S.Ct. 2047 (1998).
270:84 Correctional officer's criticism,
to inmate, of other officer's conduct was proper grounds for his termination;
any First Amendment interest of officer was outweighed by strong interest
of correctional department in safe and efficient running of prison. Dept.
of Corrections v. Derry, 510 S.E.2d 832 (Ga. App. 1998).
273:134 Correctional officer was properly
fired for going to fellow officer's house while off-duty and threatening
to kill him if the fellow officer ever was "caught" again at
his house around his wife or son; terminated officer's acquittal on criminal
charges did not alter result. Dept. of Corrections v. Glisson, #A98A1701,
508 S.E.2d 714 (Ga. App. 1998).
261:132 Spouse of man killed by jail inmate
during escape from custody at private medical clinic stated claim for failure
to protect under Arkansas state civil rights law; lawsuit alleged that
defendants were consciously indifferent to risk of having violent and suicidal
prisoner transported to clinic by one deputy. Shepherd v. Washington Co.,
962 S.W.2d 779 (Ark. 1998).
262:148 Officer properly used deadly force
to shoot and kill escaped prisoner who was attempting to evade recapture,
even though he did not think that the prisoner posed an immediate threat
of physical harm to anyone; Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual
punishment, rather than Fourth Amendment restrictions on use of deadly
force, provided proper legal standard to apply to officer's actions. Gravely
v. Madden, 142 F.3d 345 (6th Cir. 1998).
256:54 Co. liable for $1.85 million for wrongful
death of man killed in his home by escaped prisoner and for $350,000 to
wife who witnessed her husband's murder, as well as for $200,000 to wife
for her false imprisonment by escapee. Duke v. Cochise Co., 938 P.2d 84
(Ariz. App. 1996), review denied (1997).
259:99 Correctional officers at Wisconsin
prison were immune from liability for injuries minor suffered when struck
by state- owned van driven by escaping prisoner; officers had "wide
latitude" and discretion in determining how to deal with attempted
escape. Ottinger v. Pinel, 572 N.W.2d 519 (Wis. App. 1997).
258:85 Termination, without a hearing, of
correctional officer for allegedly providing false information on his job
application did not violate his due process rights when the defendants
in his lawsuit had not revealed the reasons for his termination to any
prospective employers. Merritt v. Reed, 120 F.3d 124 (8th Cir. 1997).
243:39 Federal appeals court found that correctional
officials did not violate constitutional right of equal protection by giving
preference, for appointment to position of lieutenant in "boot camp"
for "shock incarceration" of young prisoners, to black male applicant
over white applicants who scored higher on promotion test; preference was
justified by penological interest in success of program, given that 68%
of camp prisoners were black. Wittmer v. Peters, 87 F.3d 916 (7th Cir.
1996).
246:83 State correctional department's policy
prohibiting guards from writing letters to prisoner review board supporting
prisoner's petition for clemency might violate First Amendment if department
failed to provide rational basis for policy; federal appeals court orders
further factual hearing on reason for policy. Shimer v. Washington, 100
F.3d 506 (7th Cir. 1996).
247:103 Meal breaks do not have to be "scheduled"
or "occur at a regular time" in order to be bona fide for purposes
of the Fair Labor Standards Act; correctional officers, whose meal breaks
sometimes changed, based on circumstances, were not entitled to overtime
for daily half hour meal break which occurred during eight and a half hour
day. Bates v. Dept. of Corrections, 81 F.3d 1008 (10th Cir. 1996).
249:133 Once Department of Corrections presented
evidence that officer appeared to be asleep on the job, officer had burden
of showing that he was not in order to oppose termination. Miss. Dept.
Corrections v. McClee, 677 So.2d 732 (Miss. 1996).
[N/R] Federal trial court orders union to
refund dues paid by correctional officer who objected, on religious grounds,
to union position on abortion and death penalty; awards plaintiff officer
$45,160 in attorneys' fees and costs. E.E.O.C. v. AFSCME C-82, 937 F.Supp.
166 (N.D.N.Y. 1996) and subsequent decision (awarding attorneys' fees),
1996 U.S. Dist. Lexis 17535 (Nov. 12, 1996).
229:7 Federal trial court rejects N.Y. correctional
department's arguments that requiring Rastafarian correctional officers
to cut their modified dreadlocks furthered a compelling governmental interest
in security, discipline and esprit de corps. Brown v. Keane, 888 F.Supp.
568 (S.D.N.Y. 1995). [Cross- reference: Religion].
229:7 State of Ohio reaches $850,000 settlement
in wrongful death suit brought by surviving family of correctional officer
killed by rioting prisoners during eleven day prison disturbance. Vallandingham
v. Ohio, Ohio state trial court, reported in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin,
p. 3, August 7, 1995.
231:37 Correctional officer's rights were
not violated when Department of Corrections required him to wear American
flag patch on his uniform shirt; officer could be disciplined for failure
to comply with requirement. Troster v. Pennsylvania State Dept. of Corrections,
65 F.3d 1086 (3d Cir. 1995).
232:52 Warden did not violate correctional
officer's due process rights by ordering him to submit to psychiatric examination
after co- workers complained that officer had threatened them with physical
harm; any privacy interest of officer's was outweighed by requirement for
stable prison work force. Flynn v. Sandahl, 58 F.3d 283 (7th Cir. 1995).
233:68 Medical evidence was insufficient
to show that being taken hostage by inmates some 16 years earlier was the
cause of correctional officer's disablement; workers' compensation benefits
were properly denied. Ferber v. N.Y. Dept. of Corrections, 632 N.Y.S.2d
685 (A.D. 1995).
234:86 Jailer who accidentally shot himself
in the leg and foot while cleaning his weapon at home was entitled to workers'
compensation benefits; employer required him to keep his weapon clean and
failed to provide an area at workplace for such cleaning, so that he was
acting in the course and scope of his employment while cleaning it at home.
Esis, Inc. Servicing Contractor v. Johnson, 908 S.W.2d 554 (Tex. App. 1995).
235:101 N.J. to pay $3.74 million to correctional
employees who alleged racial and sexual harassment and discrimination in
the workplace; settlement includes $900,000 in attorneys' fees. Holland
v. N.J. Dept. of Corrections, No. 93- 1683, 34 (1655) G.E.R.R. (BNA) 324
(D.N.J. 1996).
239:163 Federal trial court rules that Congress
did not have the authority, under the Interstate Commerce Clause, to apply
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to state employees; dismisses FLSA
lawsuit brought by Kansas correctional employees for lack of jurisdiction,
finding suit barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity of state. Adams v. Kansas,
N. 94-4201-RDG, 1996 U.S. Dist. Lexis 9462 (D. Kan. June 24, 1996).
239:164 Requirement that prison guard undergo
"mace training," involving her being sprayed in the face with
pepper mace did not violate her right to due process or privacy or shock
the conscience; federal court finds requirement "rationally related"
to correctional department's interest in encouraging officers to "take
care" when using pepper mace, to discourage "indiscriminate use"
of it, and to teach the importance of "prompt remediation" of
its effects. Ryder v. Freeman, 918 F.Supp. 157 (W.D.N.C. 1996). [Cross-reference:
Chemical Agents].
[N/R] Sergeant was properly suspended for
failing to make periodic checks on inmate. Currans v. Linn Co., 540 N.W.2d
469 (Iowa App. 1995).
218:20 Probationary correction officer suffering
from severe depression was properly terminated; termination was not because
she sought help under the Employee Assistance Program, but rather because
of her "psychological unfitness" for job and prolonged absence.
Butler v. Abate, 612 N.Y.S.2d 19 (A.D. 1994).
221:69 Termination of corrections officer
who refused to cut short his pony tail violated his right to religious
freedom as a practitioner of a Native American religion; New York appellate
court orders reinstatement. Rourke v. N.Y. Dept. of Corrections, 201 A.D.2d
179, 615 N.Y.S.2d 470 (1994).
221:70 Update: Nevada Department of Prisons'
interest in preventing employees from bringing discredit upon the department
outweighed a prison psychologist's limited right to commercial free speech
concerning his business venture of a theme-park legal brothel. Knapp v.
Miller, 863 F.Supp. 1221 (D. Nev. 1994).
223:101 Supervisor of juvenile detainees
suffering from bipolar disorder (manic-depression) was properly terminated
after she suffered a mood swing which resulted in injury to one detainee
and his possible suicide attempt; her termination was not disability discrimination
under Indiana state law. Ind. Civ. Rights Commn. v. Delaware Cty. Cir.
Court, 642 N.E.2d 541 (Ind. App. 1994).
223:102 California city jailers injured on
the job were not entitled to benefits under state statute providing up
to one year of fully paid disability leave for personnel engaged in "active
law enforcement services." United Public Employees v. City of Oakland,
31 Cal.Rptr.2d 610 (Cal.App. 1994).
224:117 Probationary corrections officer
was properly terminated for wearing a t-shirt with a swastika and the words
"White Power" at a barbecue with fellow officers and firing a
weapon after becoming inebriated. Lawrenz v. James, 852 F.Supp. 986 (M.D.
Fla. 1994).
225:132 Correctional officers were entitled
to be paid for their meal periods, during which they could not leave prison
grounds, read, or go to their vehicles. Brinkman v. Dept. of Corrections,
21 F.3d 370 (10th Cir. 1994).
225:132 Firing of corrections officer for
gambling with an inmate was not an excessive penalty. McFarland v. Abate,
611 N.Y.S.2d 153 (A.D. 1994).
225:133 Update: Female correctional officer
awarded $7,500 in damages for invasion of privacy based on male supervisor's
observation of her from ceiling of prison restroom. Speer v. Ohio Dept.
of Rehab. & Corr., 646 N.E.2d 273 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 1994).
226:151 Update: Nevada Supreme Court upholds
determination that dismissal was too severe a sanction for prison psychologist
who used inmates to mail out advertising materials for his planned theme-park
legal brothel. Knapp v. Nev. Dept. of Prisons, 892 P.2d 575 (Nev. 1995).
227:165 Retirement Commission was not bound
by psychiatrist's opinion that correctional officer's alleged psychological
disability was caused by work related stress; despite lack of contradicting
medical evidence, Commission determined that incidents which officer related
to psychiatrist had not taken place. Viele v. Div. of Retirement, 642 So.2d
1124 (Fla. App. 1994).
227:165 Federal appeals court upholds use
of rule prohibiting social relationships between correctional officers
and inmates to force female officer to choose between her job and severing
her relationship with a male prisoner she wanted to marry; fact that prisoner
had been transferred to another facility at the time did not alter result.
Keeney v. Heath, 57 F.3d 579 (7th Cir. 1995).
Prison psychologist first terminated and
then reinstated but demoted after he began to pursue business venture in
western theme-park legal brothel stated a valid claim for violation of
his First Amendment right of free commercial speech in his civil rights
lawsuit against state prison officials. Knapp v. Miller, 843 F.Supp. 633
(D. Nev. 1993).
Form female correctional officer signed consenting
to future searches did not justify male supervisor's surveillance of her
in the restroom. Speer v. Ohio Dept. of Reh. & Corr., 89 Ohio App.
3d 276, 624 N.E.2d 251 (1993).
Correctional officer was entitled to an evidentiary
hearing as to whether he had violated sick leave policies, despite prior
signing of agreement placing him on limited probation. Tankard v. Abate,
603 N.Y.S.2d 951 (Sup. 1993).
Indiana prison matron awarded $50,546.28
because she was not paid the same amount as a deputy sheriff between 1972
and 1982 as required by state statute; appeals court rules that matron's
"contract of employment" was written contract subject to 20-year
statute of limitations, rather than oral contract subject to twoyear statute.
Gibson Co. v. State Ex Rel. Emmert, 609 N.E.2d 1179 (Ind. App. 1993).
Correctional officer terminated after his
driver's license was suspended following an eleventh conviction for driving
under the influence of alcohol was not subjected to "handicap discrimination"
as an alcoholic. Sizemore v. Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 629 N.E.2d 1096
(Ohio Ct. Cl. 1992), reported 1994.
Correctional officer's disability was caused
by workplace stress resulting from the incarceration of his son at the
jail and inmates' and fellow officers' taunting, rather than his preexisting
alcohol abuse, depression, and marital difficulties; officer was entitled
to workers' compensation benefits after he was terminated for fighting
with inmate who allegedly threatened to sodomize his son. Beames v. Warren
Co. Sheriff's Dept., 593 N.Y.S.2d 127 (A.D. 1993).
U.S. Justice Department awards approximately
$120,000 to family of state prison guard who died after contracting tuberculosis
on the job. National Law Journal, p. 6 (March 1, 1993).
Jailer terminated because of hearing disability
awarded $73,974.80 in back pay, prejudgment interest, $18,900 in attorneys'
fees, reinstatement and "front pay" until reinstatement on disability
discrimination claim under Texas state law. City of Austin v. Gifford,
824 S.W.2d 735 (Tex. App. 1992).
Prison food service worker injured on the
job was not entitled to full salary benefits under state statute providing
such compensation for those injured while doing "guard" duties.
Stuart v. Dept. of Correction, 601 A.2d 539 (Conn. 1992).
Probationary prison guard could be discharged
on the basis of his abusive words (including ethnic epithets) and conduct
directed towards a private citizen while off-duty, away from the prison,
and out of uniform. Hawkisn v. Dept. of Public Safety, 325 Md. 621, 602
A.2d 712 (1992).
Female civilian jailer fired without hearing
did not show violation of due process, sexual harassment or discrimination;
plaintiff "welcomed the sexual hijinx" of her co-workers. Reed
v. Shepard, 939 F.2d 484 (2nd Cir. 1991).
Firing of probationary correctional officer
for testifying for the defense in a death penalty hearing violated the
First Amendment. Ziccarelli v. Leake, 767 F.Supp. 1450 (N.D. Ill. 1991).
Termination of correctional officer found
sleeping on duty after taking pain medication for arthritic knee was not
arbitrary or capricious. Nebraska Dept. of Correctional Services v. Hansen,
283 Neb. 233, 470 N.W.2d 170 (1991).
Prison officials who took prompt effective
disciplinary action after female employee complained of alleged sexual
harassment by correctional officer were not liable for damages. Hirschfeld
v. N.M. Corrections Department, 916 F.2d 572 (10th Cir. 1990).
Psychological assistant at penitentiary was
not entitled to workers' comp benefits for mental stress arising from hostage
situation. Fenwick v. Oklahoma State Penitentiary, 792 P.2d 60 (Okl. 1990).
Dismissal of correction officer who used
excessive force against inmate was disproportionate to offense and "shocking."
Allman v. Koehler, 554 N.Y.S.2d 842 (A.D. 1990).
Female correctional officer who suffered
depression from seeing male inmates masturbating could collect unemployment
benefits after resigning. State Dept. of Corrections v. Stokes, 558 So.2d
955 (Ala. Civ. App. 1990).
Court finds wrong standard was applied in
finding handicap discrimination for failure to hire "obese" correctional
officer. OSCI v. Bureau of Labor and Industries, 780 P.2d 743 (Or. App.
1989).
Jail cook not entitled to law enforcement
presumption on heart attack; no measurable connection between employment
and disability. Glover v. Bd. of Retirement, 263 Cal.Rptr. 224 (Cal.App.
1989).
Department of corrections counselor's providing
pornographic video tapes to inmates did not justify dismissal. Gouge v.
Civil Service Com'n, 384 S.E.2d 855 (W.Va. 1989).
Correctional officer could not be terminated
under personnel law for agreeing to split cost of bag of heroin with former
inmate and assaulting former inmate when deal fell through. Dept. of Corrections
v. Local No. 246, 554 A.2d 319 (D.C. App. 1989).
Illegally seized evidence admissible in correctional
officer's discharge proceedings, unless obtained in bad faith. Sheetz v.
City of Baltimore, 553 A.2d 1281 (Md. 1989).
Use of gender-specific sexual terms by supervisor
constituted sexual harassment; discharged employee reinstated, awarded
$124,825. Dept. of Corr. v. Human Rights Com'n, 534 N.E.2d 161 (Ill. App.
1989).
Service technician at correctional center
properly terminated after kicking, shoving and throwing beverage at inmate.
Monie v. State Personnel Board, 424 N.W.2d 874 (Neb. 1988).
Bureau of prisons not required to bargain
with union over rule that guards wear neckties and blazers on job. American
Fed. of Gov. Emp. Local 2441 v. FLRA, 864 F.2d 178 (D.C. Cir. 1988).
Imposition of harsher discipline on some
guards than other guards involved in incident where inmates escaped was
justified by prior unsatisfactory work evaluations. Anaya v. New Mexico
State Personnel Bd., 762 P.2d 909 (N.M. App. 1988).
Discharged deputy sheriff who claimed she
was fired because she is a lesbian did not state an equal protection claim.
Todd v. Navarro, 698 F.Supp. 871 (S.D. Fla. 1988).
Federal appeals court reverses prior decision
that a refusal to assign male officers to women's prison was sex discrimination.
Torres v. Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, 859 F.2d
1523 (7th Cir. 1988).
Detention officer rendered psychologically
unfit for contact with inmates by off-the-job injury can be dismissed.
Sienkiewicz v. Santa Cruz Co., 240 Cal.Rptr. 451 (Cal.App. 1987), reported
1988. Widow of correctional employee killed in Attica riot could not withdraw
claim for workers' comp and file damages lawsuit after receiving benefits.
Hardie v. Attica Correctional Facility, 534 N.Y.S.2d 492 (A.D. 1988).
Termination of prison guard for failure to
prevent escape of inmates was unsupported by sufficient evidence. Whipple
v. Dept. of Corrections, 518 N.E.2d 386 (Ill. Ap. 1987).
Correctional employee discharged for sexually
harassive conduct entitled to new hearing. Zavala v. Arizona State Personnel
Board, 757 P.2d 94 (Ariz. App. 1987).
Federal court enjoins random drug testing
of federal prison employees; urinalysis testing for those involved in on-the-job
accidents also enjoined. American Fed. of Gov. Em. Council 33 v. Meese,
688 F. supp. 547 (N.D. Cal. 1988).
Department of corrections investigator not
entitled to qualified immunity for asking irrelevant questions concerning
sexual history of female employee charging sexual assault by fellow employee.
Eastwood v. Dept of Corrections, 846 F.2d 627 (10th Cir. 1988).
Prison teacher could not be suspended for
failing to find drugs planted on him by inmate. Commonwealth v. Ehnot,
532 A.2d 1262 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987).
Impermissible to use evidence that supervisor
ogled and kissed female inmates in proceeding to dismiss for alleged sexual
intercourse with female prisoner. McGowan v. Illinois Department of Corrections,
518 N.E.2d 630 (Ill. App. 1987).
Dept. of Corrections could fire deputy superintendent
for sexual harassment; punishment not too severe. Oare v. Coughlin, 520
N.Y.S.2d 658 (A.D. 1987).
Refusal to assign male correctional officers
to living units in womens' prison was sex discrimination. Torres v. Wisconsin
Dept. of Health & Social Services, 838 F.2d 944 (7th Cir. 1988).
Prison employee could not be criminally convicted
of official misconduct for allowing inmate to visit wife in motel room.
Thomas v. State, 515 N.E.2d 880 (Ind. App. 1987).
Female correctional counselor awarded $2,500
damages plus back pay, front pay and attorney's fees for sexual discrimination
in promotion. Shaw v. Nebraska Dept. of Correctional Services, 666 F.Supp.
1330 (D. Neb. 1987).
Chances of sexual assaults on female guards
doesn't justify excluding them from all male units; judgment entered in
female guards' favor. Griffin v. Michigan Dept. of Corrections, 654 F.Supp.
690 (E.D. Mich. 1982).
Mandatory drug testing for all jail employees
unconstitutional if conducted without "reasonable suspicion".
Taylor v. O'Grady, No. 86-C- 7179 (N.D. Ill. 1987), reported in the Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin, Page 1, September 23, 1987.
Co. jail security officers excluded from
binding arbitration act which applies to fire and police personnel; strike
by jail officers doesn't threaten community safety, as do police strikes,
court finds. Capitol City Lodge v. Ingham Co., 399 N.W.2d 463 (Mich. App.
1986).
Prison warden was at-will employee and neither
statute for employee manual created property interest in continued employment;
however, fellow administrators may have "created" a property
interest through assurances. Christian v. McKaskle, 649 F.Supp. 1475 (S.D.
Tex. 1986).