On April 26, 1996, Congress enacted landmark legislation aimed at curtailing meritless inmate litigation and restricting remedies for prison condition lawsuits. This legislation, the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), is briefly summarized in this article. Five areas of constitutional challenges to the PLRA at the appellate and district court level are reviewed. Eleven legal issues raised by the PLRA are inconsistent decisions among circuit and district courts, particularly in the areas of separation of powers and due process violations.
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References
1.
Abdul-Wadood v. Nathan, 91 F.3d 1023 (7th Cir. 1996).
2.
Adepegba v. Hammons, 103 F.3d 383 (5th Cir. 1996).
3.
Alexander, E. (1996). Inmate advocate raises questions about PLRA's constitutionality. Correctional Law Reporter, 8(2), 19, 26.
4.
Alexander S. v. Boyd, 113 F.3d 1373 (4th Cir. 1997).
Benjamin v. Jacobson, 935 F.Supp. 332, (S.D.N.Y. 1996).
9.
Black's law dictionary (5th ed.). (1979). St. Paul, MN: West.
10.
Breed, A. (1996). Experienced master offers views on PLRA. Correctional Law Reporter, 8(2), 21-22, 26.
11.
Bronstein, A. J., & Gainsborough, J. (1996). Prison litigation: Past, present, and future. Overcrowded Times, 7(3), 1, 15-20.
12.
Carson v. Johnson, 112 F.3d 818 (5th Cir. 1997).
13.
City of Boerne v. Flores, 1997 WL 345322 *12 (U.S.;S.Ct. 1997).
14.
Coleman v. Wilson, 912 F.Supp. 1282 (E.D.Cal. 1995).
15.
Coleman v. Wilson, 933 F.Supp. 954 (E.D.Cal. 1996).
16.
Cooper v. Casey, 97 F.3d 914 (7th Cir. 1996).
17.
Court strikes out PRLA's three strikes section. (1997). Correctional Law Reporter, 8(6), 88.
18.
Covino v. Reopel, 89 F.3d 105 (2d Cir. 1996).
19.
Duamutef v. O'Keefe, 98 F.3d 22 (2d Cir. 1996).
20.
Firefighters Local Union No. 1784 v. Stotts, 467 U.S. 561, 104 S.Ct. 2576, 81 L.Ed.2d 483 (1984).
21.
Floyd v. U. S. Postal Service, 105 F.3d 274 (6th Cir. 1997).
22.
Gavin v. Ray, No. 4-78-CV-70062 (S.D.Iowa Aug. 9, 1996).
23.
Gay v. Texas Department of Corrections State Jail Division, electronic citation: No. 96-10995-CVO.htm (5th Cir. July 3, 1997).
24.
Government officials may face criminal liability for civil rights violations. (1997). Correctional Law Reporter, 8(7), 6, 8.
25.
Green v. Nottingham, 90 F.3d 415, 417-20 (10th Cir. 1996).
26.
Hadix v. Johnson, 933 F.Supp. 1360 (E.D.Mich. 1996a).
27.
Hadix v. Johnson, 933 F.Supp. 1362 (W.D.Mich. 1996b).
28.
Hadix v. Johnson, 947 F.Supp. 1100 (E.D.Mich. 1996c).
29.
Hadix v. Johnson, 947 F.Supp. 1113 (E.D.Mich. 1996d).
30.
Hampton v. Hobbs, 106 F.3d 1281 (6th Cir. 1997).
31.
Inmates of Suffolk County v. Sheriff of Suffolk County, 952 F.Supp. 869 (D.Mass. 1997).
32.
In re Green 669 F.2d 779, 781 (D.C. Cir. 1981).
33.
In re Nagy, 89 F.3d 115, 116-117 (2d Cir. 1996).
34.
In re Prison Litigation Reform Act, 105 F.3d 1131 (6th Cir. 1997).
35.
In re Tyler, 110 F.3d 528 (8th Cir. 1997).
36.
Jackson v. Stinnett, 102 F.3d 132 (5th Cir. 1996).
37.
Jeffery v. Walker, 113 F.3d 527 (5th Cir. 1997).
38.
Jensen v. Clarke, 94 F.3d 1191 (8th Cir. 1996).
39.
Landgraf v. USI Film Products, 114 S.Ct. 1483 (1994a).
40.
Landgraf v. USI Film Products, 511 U.S. 244, 114 S.Ct. 1483 (1994b).
41.
Leonard v. Lacy, 88 F.3d 181, 184- 187 (2d Cir. 1996).
42.
Lyon v. Vande Krol, 940 F. Supp. 1433 (S.D.Iowa 1996).
43.
Maahs, J. R., & del Carmen, R. V. (1995). Curtailing frivolous section 1983 inmate litigation: Laws, practices, and proposals, Federal Probation, 59(4), 53-61.
44.
Madden v. Myers, 102 F.3d 74 (3rd Cir. 1996).
45.
Madrid v. Gomez, 940 F.Supp. 247 (N.D.Cal. 1996).
46.
Marks v. Solcum, 98 F.3d 494 (9th Cir. 1996).
47.
Martin v. United States, 96 F.3d 853 (7th Cir. 1996).
48.
McClendon v. Albuquerque, Civ.No. 95-24 MV/RLP (D.N.M. 1996).
49.
McGann v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration, 96 F.3d 28 (2d Cir. 1996).
50.
McGore v. Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601 (6th Cir. 1997).
51.
McIntosh v. U.S. Parole Com'n, 115 F.3d 809 (10th Cir. 1997).
