Latest Prisons News

Saudi Arabia frees American imprisoned over critical tweets
WASHINGTON (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Monday freed a 72-year-old American citizen it had imprisoned for more than a year over old tweets critical of the kingdom's crown prince, his son said. Neither Saudi nor U.S. officials immediately confirmed the release of Saad Almadi, a dual...
Georgia House backs Kemp's push for tougher gang penalties
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia House members on Monday turned aside objections that tougher anti-gang sentencing laws would sweep too many young people into prison for long stretches, passing a bill backed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp that would crack down on people convicted of recruiting minors into a...

Biden signs measure nullifying DC criminal code revisions
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday signed into law legislation nullifying the recent overhaul of the District of Columbia criminal code, but the fight between Congress and local lawmakers is continuing. The signature merely marks the end of a raucous first chapter in a...

Kidnappers who snatched San Jose baby are sentenced
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Two people who kidnapped a 3-month-old baby from his San Francisco Bay Area home last year were sentenced Monday to prison. Yesenia Ramirez was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison. Jose Portillo received five years. The two pleaded...

South Dakota boosts criminal justice system investments
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed legislation Monday that puts more than $390 million into the state's prison system, with most of that money going toward investments in new prison facilities. One of the bills signed by Noem allocates $60 million to build a...
Ex-caregiver sentenced in pushing death of elderly man
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A former employee at a North Dakota care center was sentenced Monday to two years in prison for the death of an elderly resident. Rachel Cooper, 60, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the August 2021 death of 78-year-old Gary Pearson. In addition to prison...
Judge delays next week's execution of Texas death row inmate
HOUSTON (AP) — Next week's scheduled execution of a Texas death row inmate who was convicted in the killing of another prisoner was delayed by a judge. Anibal Canales Jr., 58, had been set to be executed March 29 for the July 1997 strangling death of another inmate, Gary Dickerson,...
Today in History: March 20, Menendez brothers convicted
Today in History Today is Monday, March 20, the 79th day of 2023. There are 286 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 20, 1996, a jury in Los Angeles convicted Erik and Lyle Menendez of first-degree murder in the shotgun...
Man exonerated after serving 34 years for armed robbery
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Sidney Holmes went to prison when he was 23 years old based on one faulty eyewitness identification. Now, at 57 years old, Holmes is free. After more than 34 years in prison, his orange inmate jumpsuit and shackles came off. “It’s...
Judge won't toss lawsuit over ivermectin in Arkansas jail
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit that says detainees at an Arkansas jail were given the drug ivermectin to fight COVID-19 without their knowledge. The lawsuit contends detainees at the Washington County Jail in Fayetteville were given...
