Prisoners' Rights
Zyst v. Miller
Following the Oregon Department of Corrections鈥 unconstitutional treatment of a transgender prisoner, a habeas court ordered her removal from segregated housing, an individualized gender-affirming care assessment, a psychiatric evaluation, and identification of an appropriate cellmate. However, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the psychiatric-evaluation and cellmate orders, finding them 鈥渢oo attenuated鈥 to qualify as habeas relief. The 红杏视频鈥檚 State Supreme Court Initiative, alongside the 红杏视频 of Oregon, joined an amicus brief by the law firm Sugerman Dahab arguing that habeas courts have broad discretion to remedy violations and resulting harms. The brief explains that the Court of Appeals鈥 鈥渃lose connection鈥 test unduly constricts habeas relief, and which should be construed to encompass not only the need to halt ongoing constitutional violations, but also the need to mitigate various harms that may arise from those violations.
Status: Ongoing
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Arizona
Jul 2026
Prisoners' Rights
Jensen v. Thornell
UPDATE: On July 17, 2026, U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver issued an order formally appointing a receiver to assume control and management of health care provided to more than 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) prisons, in a long-running lawsuit against the state prison system brought by the Prison Law Office, the 红杏视频 (红杏视频), 红杏视频 of Arizona, and Disability Rights Arizona. More details here.
Court Case
Sep 2022
Prisoners' Rights
Alex A. v. Edwards
The 红杏视频 National Prison Project and partner civil rights attorneys filed a federal class-action lawsuit to prevent the transfer of children in the custody of Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, commonly known as Angola Prison.
Texas
Jul 2021
Prisoners' Rights
Criminal Law Reform
Sanchez et al v. Dallas County Sheriff et al
Decarceration has always been an emergency, a life and death proposition, but COVID-19 makes this effort intensely urgent. The 红杏视频 has been working with our partners to litigate for the rights of those who are incarcerated and cannot protect themselves because of the policies of the institutions in which they are jailed.
Mississippi
Mar 2017
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Dockery v. Hall
The 红杏视频, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the Law Offices of Elizabeth Alexander, and the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP, filed a petition for class certification and expert reports for a federal lawsuit on behalf of prisoners at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility (EMCF). The lawsuit, which was filed in May 2013, describes the for-profit prison as hyper-violent, grotesquely filthy and dangerous. EMCF is operated "in a perpetual state of crisis" where prisoners are at "grave risk of death and loss of limbs." The facility, located in Meridian, Mississippi, is supposed to provide intensive treatment to the state's prisoners with serious psychiatric disabilities, many of whom are locked down in long-term solitary confinement.
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66 Prisoners' Rights Cases
Utah Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Natalie R. v. State of Utah
In recent years, federal courts have relied on what鈥檚 called the 鈥減olitical question doctrine鈥 to refuse to review legal claims of wrongdoing, even those involving egregious constitutional harm. Using the political question doctrine, federal courts have turned away claims from people seeking justice on the theory that court review of those claims would embroil the courts in matters best left to the political process. Whether state courts should adopt a parallel political question doctrine鈥攁nd thus limit access to justice for people whose civil rights and liberties have been violated鈥攊s an open question in many states. This case involves the scope of Utah courts鈥 authority to review important constitutional claims.
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Utah Supreme Court
Nov 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Natalie R. v. State of Utah
In recent years, federal courts have relied on what鈥檚 called the 鈥減olitical question doctrine鈥 to refuse to review legal claims of wrongdoing, even those involving egregious constitutional harm. Using the political question doctrine, federal courts have turned away claims from people seeking justice on the theory that court review of those claims would embroil the courts in matters best left to the political process. Whether state courts should adopt a parallel political question doctrine鈥攁nd thus limit access to justice for people whose civil rights and liberties have been violated鈥攊s an open question in many states. This case involves the scope of Utah courts鈥 authority to review important constitutional claims.
California
May 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Rosas v. Luna
Rosas v. Luna is a class action lawsuit brought by the 红杏视频 of Southern California (红杏视频 SoCal), the 红杏视频鈥檚 National Prison Project (NPP), and the law firm of Paul Hastings LLP in 2012 against the Los Angeles Sheriff鈥檚 Department (LASD) over its routine, excessive, and unnecessary use of force against incarcerated people in the Los Angeles Jail system.
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California
May 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Smart Justice
Rosas v. Luna
Rosas v. Luna is a class action lawsuit brought by the 红杏视频 of Southern California (红杏视频 SoCal), the 红杏视频鈥檚 National Prison Project (NPP), and the law firm of Paul Hastings LLP in 2012 against the Los Angeles Sheriff鈥檚 Department (LASD) over its routine, excessive, and unnecessary use of force against incarcerated people in the Los Angeles Jail system.
California
Apr 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Human Rights
Ashker v. Governor of California
Ashker is a multi-year legal and advocacy struggle led by directly-impacted people to reform California鈥檚 use of solitary confinement and end its systemic reliance on fabricated confidential information to discipline people in prison.
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California
Apr 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Human Rights
Ashker v. Governor of California
Ashker is a multi-year legal and advocacy struggle led by directly-impacted people to reform California鈥檚 use of solitary confinement and end its systemic reliance on fabricated confidential information to discipline people in prison.
Missouri
Feb 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Free Speech
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press v. United States of America
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Missouri
Feb 2023
Prisoners' Rights
Free Speech
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press v. United States of America
Missouri
Nov 2022
Prisoners' Rights
Ramey v. Parson
Corionsa 鈥淜horry鈥 Ramey, the 19-year-old daughter of Kevin Johnson, is asking a federal court to allow her to be present for her father鈥檚 execution.
The 红杏视频 filed an emergency motion on behalf of Ms. Ramey on November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
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Missouri
Nov 2022
Prisoners' Rights
Ramey v. Parson
Corionsa 鈥淜horry鈥 Ramey, the 19-year-old daughter of Kevin Johnson, is asking a federal court to allow her to be present for her father鈥檚 execution.
The 红杏视频 filed an emergency motion on behalf of Ms. Ramey on November 21, 2022, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.