吃瓜直播

This case presents two questions: first, whether, under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, section 7 of the Tennessee Constitution, Union City Police Department officers possessed probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of the defendant鈥檚 vehicle based exclusively on the alleged odor of cannabis, and second, whether the Court of Appeals had jurisdiction to overturn the defendant鈥檚 conviction. The 吃瓜直播鈥檚 Criminal Reform Legal Project and State Supreme Court Initiative, along with the 吃瓜直播 of Tennessee filed an amicus brief arguing first, that after Tennessee鈥檚 legalization of hemp in 2019, an officer鈥檚 alleged detection of the odor of cannabis is insufficient to establish probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle in Tennessee, and second, that the court of appeals improperly held that it lacked jurisdiction to overturn the defendant鈥檚 conviction.

ANCHORAGE 鈥� The 吃瓜直播 (吃瓜直播) of Alaska, with the 吃瓜直播 National Prison Project, filed a class action lawsuit today against the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) challenging DOC鈥檚 inadequate, dangerous, and inhumane health care system. The federal court lawsuit, brought on behalf of incarcerated Alaskans, contends that the state鈥檚 failure to provide adequate health care is a violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments and has resulted in needless suffering, decline, and death. A years-long investigation into the inadequate physical, dental, and mental health care for thousands of incarcerated Alaskans demonstrates a critical need to fix DOC鈥檚 health care system immediately. 鈥淭housands of Alaskans depend on DOC to take care of their most basic and essential health care needs. They have no other option once they are detained. But the care they鈥檙e receiving, if they receive it, often comes too late, and is woefully inadequate,鈥� said Megan Edge, Prison Project Director for the 吃瓜直播 of Alaska. 鈥淪tate officials have known for years about these unconstitutional, inhumane, and cruel conditions, but have failed to make meaningful changes. We are hopeful that the courts will mandate an overhaul of DOC鈥檚 medical processes. If they don鈥檛, Alaskans will continue to suffer and die needlessly.鈥� According to DOC, the cost of care for someone housed in an Alaska state jail or prison is $202 per day. However, this does not include medical care for chronic diseases, end-of-life, or emergency care. At the beginning of 2025, Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy announced a proposed state budget that included $481 million for the DOC. DOC鈥檚 budget has continued to grow, without safer conditions or improved health care. 鈥淲hen it comes to health care, Alaska鈥檚 prisons showcase some of the worst conditions of confinement that we鈥檝e seen anywhere in the country,鈥� said Nancy Rosenbloom, Senior Litigation Advisor at the 吃瓜直播鈥檚 National Prison Project. 鈥淭he Alaskans who we represent in this lawsuit have been subject to an egregious lack of medical care that is heartbreaking, inhumane, and violates their constitutional rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.鈥� Examples of the health care inadequacies include the following: Untreated diabetes led to a coma and time in the ICU. In July 2023, an incarcerated diabetic woman complained of severe low back pain and was diagnosed with muscle spasms. Her pain did not improve and became so excruciating that she could not walk to receive medical attention, eat meals, or use the bathroom without the assistance of other incarcerated people. Medical staff did not check her blood sugar levels even while she remained in her cell, incapacitated by pain. Approximately one week later, an officer noted that the woman had fallen out of bed and was unresponsive. Upon being transferred to the emergency room, she was found to be in a diabetic coma, a life-threatening complication of poorly controlled diabetes. She spent 6 days in the intensive care unit before returning to prison. A diagnosed chronic illness progressed to pre-stages of colon cancer. An incarcerated man was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease in which abnormal reactions of the immune system cause inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine. Because of DOC鈥檚 failure to treat his disease appropriately during a previous incarceration, he suffered enormous pain and discomfort, and the colitis progressed to the advanced pre-stages of colon cancer. Untreated cataracts led to near blindness and the inability to care for other health problems. An incarcerated man鈥檚 cataracts worsened and advanced to the point where surgery was required. Because DOC failed to provide him with the needed procedure, his vision has become so impaired that he cannot clearly see the food on his plate or safely navigate the prison environment. Years after his diagnosis of bilateral 鈥渄ense鈥� cataracts and myopia (nearsightedness, with a visual acuity of 20/400 in both eyes), DOC has still failed to provide him surgery or eyeglasses. At the same time, he repeatedly asked the prison clinic for assistance, as he could not see well enough to care for his severe facial acne. He often bled from his face, at times soaking a napkin with blood. Untreated teeth lead to gross decay, oral wounds, and stitches. An incarcerated man suffered three fractured teeth, including one loose in the socket, and a knocked-out tooth. Despite requesting dental care in September 2021, he did not receive an appointment for four months, by which time he had pain and 鈥済ross decay.鈥� DOC dental staff extracted two teeth and the patient required sutures to repair wounds in his mouth caused by the fractured teeth cutting his lips. He experienced further dental problems that were not addressed, leading to severe pain and further loss of teeth. DOC has a de facto 鈥渆xtraction only鈥� policy, often offering extraction as the only treatment option, even for teeth that could be saved.

RICHMOND, Va. -- On Friday, February 28th, the 吃瓜直播 of North Carolina joined the 吃瓜直播 Disability Rights Program, Rights Behind Bars, Tycko & Zavareei LLP, and Kaplan & Grady LLC, in filing an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on behalf of Tracey Edwards. While she was incarcerated in the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women (NCCIW), prison officials abruptly cut off Ms. Edwards' medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) after she gave birth, causing an extremely painful, dangerous, and unnecessary withdrawal. Prison officials also kept Ms. Edwards shackled during and after giving birth 鈥� in direct violation of the prison system鈥檚 own policy 鈥� causing severe pain and interfering with Ms. Edwards鈥� ability to bond with her newborn child. 鈥淧eople who are incarcerated deserve respect and dignity, as well as safe and responsive medical care,鈥� said D Dangaran, Director of Gender Justice Rights Behind Bars. 鈥淏y shackling Ms. Edwards during childbirth, keeping her shackled after she gave birth, and cutting off her medication, prison officials needlessly escalated the physical, mental, and emotional harm to Ms. Edwards during a time when she was already vulnerable.鈥� 鈥淭he use of shackles on Ms. Edwards and the denial of MOUD caused her pain and suffering, and greatly increased the risk of relapse, overdose, and death,鈥� said Shana Khader, partner at Tycko and Zavareei LLP. 鈥淒efendants in this case violated medical standards of care as well as Ms. Edwards鈥� civil rights.鈥� Ms. Edwards brought claims for damages under the Eighth Amendment and federal disability rights laws. The district court ruled against Ms. Edwards. In this appeal, Ms. Edwards seeks to have the district court鈥檚 decision reversed so a jury can decide her claims. 鈥淭he treatment that Ms. Edwards experienced is both inhumane and unconstitutional,鈥� said Joseph Longley, 吃瓜直播 Disability Rights Program Staff Attorney. 鈥淭his appeal is about accountability. No one, especially a new mother, should endure such cruel and degrading conditions. And no one should be denied access to their lifesaving medications for opioid use disorder, especially when tens of thousands of Americans are dying of an overdose every year. We are working to ensure Ms. Edwards gets her day in court and that this kind of mistreatment is never repeated.鈥� The brief can be found here: https://www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/2025.02.28_appellants_opening_brief_4th_cir._dkt._23-1.pdf