prison news stories on Newser

This Is the World's Cushiest Prison

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:33:11 CDT

We earlier reported on the plush world of Norway's Halden prison , where Anders Behring Breivik could end up. Today CNN tops that prison (which employs personal trainers) with what it calls the "world's nicest prison" and "the holiday version of Alcatraz." Also located in Norway, Bastoy Prison is, as you...

Dharun Ravi Gets 30-Day Sentence

Kevin Spak — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:05:18 CDT

After declining to speak on his own behalf, Dharun Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in jail today for spying on and allegedly outing gay roommate Tyler Clementi. Ravi "stared wide-eyed at the judge" as the sentence was read, but had no other reaction, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger...

Guard Killed, 19 Injured in Mississippi Prison Riot

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:39:26 CDT

A 23-year-old guard has been killed and 16 workers injured in a riot by hundreds of inmates at a private Mississippi prison. Three inmates were also hospitalized, though one has since been returned to prison. The riot broke out at the Adams County Correctional Facility in Natchez at around 2:...

10 Facts About That Imprisoned Candidate

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:33:07 CDT

The imprisoned felon who challenged President Obama for the Democratic nomination in West Virginia's primary and won an impressive 40% of the vote remains the bizarre political story of the day. Politico rounds up 10 facts about the locked-up candidate, Keith Judd, including:

Taliban Prison Break Frees 380 in Pakistan

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:09:00 CDT

Taliban militants battled their way into a prison in northwest Pakistan today, freeing close to 400 prisoners, including at least 20 described by police as "very dangerous" insurgents, authorities and the militants said. The raid by more than 100 fighters was a dramatic display of the strength of the insurgency...

Inmate Busted in Taxi After Helicopter Escape

Rob Quinn — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:02:33 CDT

Freedom only lasted a couple of hours for a Russian murderer who made a Hollywood-style helicopter escape from prison. Alexei Shestakov's two accomplices hijacked a rented helicopter at gunpoint and lowered a rope ladder into the prison yard for the 34-year-old, who is halfway through a 24-year sentence, the Telegraph...

Woman Fights to Get Kids Out of Jail in Nepal

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:23:29 CDT

Nepal's extreme poverty rate leads to an unusual prison situation: Kids sometimes go to jail with their incarcerated parents because there's no alternative—it's that or the streets. CNN profiles a 28-year-old woman who has made it her life's mission to get these kids out of jail. Pushpa Basnet spearheads...

Prison-Bound Blagojevich Gets Lost, Grabs Lunch

Matt Cantor — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:10:00 CDT

As Rod Blagojevich's car headed to prison from the Denver airport yesterday, it didn't stop at the entrance of the correctional facility. Then it passed by again. Turns out the former Illinois governor and his lawyer got lost, then opted to grab Blago's last lunch before serving his time, according...

44 Dead in Mexico Prison Riot

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:07:06 CST

The death toll in yesterday's riot inside a Mexican prison has now climbed to 44, officials say. No guards were among the dead, but MSNBC reports that corrupt ones may have helped enable the brawl. All the Apodaca prison's guards are reportedly being held for questioning. The clash was initially...