Federal Appeals Court Upholds Contempt Order Against Corrections Corporation of America

Affiliate: ACLU of Idaho
May 23, 2016 3:45 pm

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ACLU of Idaho
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BOISE, Idaho – A federal appeals court has upheld a contempt order against Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for violating terms of a settlement agreement over how it operated the Idaho Correctional Center.

The ruling stems from a federal class-action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union against CCA on behalf of prisoners incarcerated at the facility. The complaint alleged deliberate indifference by CCA officials, inadequate staffing and supervision, and a failure to adequately investigate acts of violence at the prison.

The case settled, and as part of the agreement CCA was to make a numerous improvements designed to reduce violence in the prison. It failed to do so, prompting the contempt proceedings. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a 2013 contempt order against CCA, which no longer runs the facility.

ACLU of Idaho Legal Director Richard Eppink said, “The courts have once again found that CCA was in the wrong and must be held accountable.”

The ruling is at: https://www.aclu.org/legal-document/kelly-v-wengler-opinion

More information about this case is at: https://www.aclu.org/cases/kelly-v-wengler


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