Department of Corrections

District attorneys expressed concern over potential 'chaos' resulting from the state legislature’s failure to create a sentencing structure for felony murder following an unconstitutional Supreme Court ruling regarding mandatory life sentences. Larry Krasner pointed to successful individualized resentencing efforts for juveniles as a template, citing Robert Saleem Holbrook as an example of community reintegration. The General Assembly was given 120 days to draft a solution but failed to achieve consensus.

The Department of Corrections faces obstacles implementing recommended reforms for improving mental health care in Wisconsin prisons, where nearly half of those incarcerated have a mental illness diagnosis. DOC reported difficulty implementing proposals, such as sending individuals with serious mental illness to alternative units instead of restrictive housing. For several recommendations, the department indicated it requires additional staffing, material resources, or policy changes.

A D.C. auditor report revealed public safety agencies spent nearly $220 million on overtime due to staffing shortages and high employee leave. The Department of Corrections spent $30 million with 704 employees below its authorized 1,762, while D.C. Fire and EMS spent $50 million despite being 95% staffed. The report highlights chronic overtime costs as a persistent issue.

Activists protested outside the Wisconsin Department of Corrections headquarters over concerns about solitary confinement and inhumane prison conditions. The DOC disputed claims and highlighted rejected state budget proposals as a barrier to reform, while advocates called for reduced prison populations, improved living conditions, and independent oversight.

Windham County is implementing the Rapid Accountability Docket, a 90-day initiative to resolve criminal cases faster by coordinating with multiple agencies and social service providers. The program aims to reduce recidivism by expediting court processes for defendants with multiple pending cases.

Two of the eight housing units at Lino Lakes prison lack air conditioning, affecting 336 inmates as temperatures rise. The units were retrofitted with AC, but recent repairs revealed ineffective cooling equipment. Staff is using industrial fans, ice water, and outdoor access as temporary solutions.

A New York state report by WilmerHale reveals systemic issues in prisons, including insufficient training, lack of accountability, and a 'us versus them' culture, following two fatal beatings of inmates in 2024 and 2025. The report highlights false force reports, a failed strike by correction officers, and recommendations for oversight and mental health care reforms.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee stated execution protocols will remain unchanged after a botched lethal injection attempt on Tony Carruthers, while Carruthers' attorneys and advocates demand an investigation. The next scheduled execution, set for August 13, involves Darrell Hines.

Brandon Michael Hall, 43, led law enforcement on a high-speed chase exceeding 100 mph in Blue Earth County, resulting in a fiery crash near Mankato. The pursuit, linked to a 2021 methamphetamine case, involved collisions with a drug task force vehicle and a civilian car before Hall was subdued with less-lethal rounds and arrested. A civilian sustained minor injuries.

Several agency heads under Gov. Ron DeSantis are departing ahead of the next gubernatorial transition, including Taylor Hatch from the Department of Children and Families and Ricky Dixon from the Department of Corrections. Julie Gallagher, a Tallahassee attorney, noted this is a common practice as officials seek new roles before a new administration takes office.

Dusty Ray Spencer, convicted of fatally stabbing his wife Karen in 1992, is set to be executed in Florida, marking the state's ninth execution this year. His appeals were denied by Florida and U.S. courts despite claims of health issues and advanced age. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has overseen a record number of executions in 2025.

Florida lawmakers submitted a $114.5 billion 2026-2027 budget to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who plans to cut at least $800 million using his line-item veto. The budget includes $49.2 billion for healthcare, $4.05 billion for corrections, $638.6 million for Everglades Restoration, and $425 million for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Florida TaxWatch identified $829.7 million in 'budget turkeys' within the package.

Prosecutors filed 21 charges, including 18 counts of first-degree assault and three of illegal gun possession, against Tyler Joseph O'Brien following an hourslong standoff in Minneapolis where he fired at deputies and threatened with a grenade. O'Brien was previously convicted of first-degree assault in Nebraska, making him ineligible to possess a gun.

Thailand’s Thaksin Shinawatra is officially free after receiving a royal pardon. He served eight months of a one-year sentence for corruption and abuse of power before being released on parole due to age and health, with a condition to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was granted a royal pardon as part of clemency measures for the queen’s birthday. He served part of his one-year sentence and was released on parole, required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Andrew Richard Lukehart is scheduled for execution in Florida after confessing to killing his girlfriend’s 5-month-old daughter in 1996 by dropping and shaking her before discarding her body in a pond. This execution would mark Florida’s eighth of 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025 under Governor Ron DeSantis.

Andrew Richard Lukehart, 53, is set to be executed in Florida for killing his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter, Gabrielle Hanshaw, in 1996 by dropping and shaking her before discarding her body in a pond. His execution would mark Florida's eighth of 2026, following a record 19 executions in 2025 under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui apologized to Cole Allen for his treatment in a Washington, D.C. jail, citing concerns over his safety and presumed innocence. Allen is accused of trying to kill President Donald Trump. Faruqui has been criticized for his stance on crime crackdown and praised for his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

A federal judge apologized to Cole Allen, alleged would-be assassin of President Donald Trump, for restrictive confinement imposed by jail staff. Allen has been in federal custody since attempting to gain access to the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner ballroom. The judge criticized the prison treatment and compared it to the treatment of Jan 6 suspects.

A man was executed for the brutal murder of his brother's teenage stepdaughter nearly 50 years ago. He issued last words before his execution. The crime occurred approximately five decades prior to his punishment.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger denied claims that Virginia is a sanctuary state and clarified her stance on ending the 287(g) agreement with DHS. She criticized misinformation about her policies and addressed legislative efforts to restrict ICE cooperation in Virginia.