Case Categories: Prisoners' Rights

• Beard v. Banks (2006)

  Beard v. Banks (2006) upheld, against a First Amendment challenge, prison restrictions on inmates’ reading materials, reinforcing the Court's deference to...

• Bell v. Wolfish (1979)

  Bell v. Wolfish (1979) said a New York prison restriction against pretrial detainees' receiving hardcover books did not violate the First Amendment as it was...

• Cooper v. Pate (1964)

  In Cooper v. Pate (1964), the Court decided that the Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, applied to prisoners and reinstated the claim of a Muslim...

• Cruz v. Beto (1972)

  Cruz v. Beto (1972) said trial courts could not dismiss a prisoner's First Amendment claim without a finding of facts. Cruz claimed he faced discrimination for...

• Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005)

  Cutter v. Wilkinson (2005) upheld a law that strengthened the ability of prisoners to practice their religion in face of a challenge that it violated the First...

• Dahne v. Richey (2019)

  Dahne v. Richey (2019) declined review of an appellate holding that prisoner had a First Amendment-based right to use disrespectful language in a grievance...

• Holt v. Hobbs (2015)

  Holt v. Hobbs (2015) ruled that prison officials violated the First Amendment religious liberty rights of a Muslim inmate by refusing to allow him to grow a...

• Johnson v. Avery (1969)

  In Johnson v. Avery (1969), the Supreme Court affirmed that inmates retain the First Amendment right to petition the courts for a redress of grievances...

• Jones v. North Carolina Prisoners' Union (1977)

  In Jones v. North Carolina Prisoners’ Union (1977), the Supreme Court upheld state prison restrictions on union meetings, distribution, and soliciting...

• Murphy v. Collier (2019)

  The Supreme Court in 2019 granted a stay of execution to a Texas prisoner who claimed prison rules denying him access to his Buddhist spiritual advisor violated...

• O'Lone v. Estate of Shabazz (1987)

  O’Lone v. Estate of Shabazz (1987) held that inmate religious rights may be restricted for security concerns without being in violation of the First Amendment...

• Overton v. Bazzetta (2003)

  Overton v. Bazzetta (2003) upheld prison non-contact visitation bans, reaffirming that prisons have broad discretion in disciplinary that affect inmates’...

• Pearson v. Callahan (2009)

  Pearson v. Callahan (2009) involved a Fourth Amendment search and seizure issue but has had a profound impact on much subsequent First Amendment litigation...

• Pell v. Procunier (1974)

  In Pell v. Procunier (1974), the Court upheld a ban on face-to-face media interviews with inmates, rejecting arguments that it interfered with First Amendment...

• Procunier v. Martinez (1974)

  Procunier v. Martinez (1974) established a protective standard of inmate First Amendment rights. Specifically, reviewed the constitutionality of inmate mail...

• Ramirez v. Collier (2022)

  The Supreme Court in Ramirez v. Collier (2022) said that a death row inmate's religious rights claims would likely prevail after Texas rejected his request for...

• Shaw v. Murphy (2001)

  In Shaw v. Murphy (2001), the Supreme Court said that a prison inmate law clerk did not have a First Amendment right to assist another prisoner in legal matters...

• Thornburgh v. Abbott (1989)

  Thornburgh v. Abbott (1989) held that federal prison restrictions relative to incoming publications or letters did not violate the First Amendment right to free...

• Turner v. Safley (1987)

  Turner v. Safley (1987) determined that restrictions on inmates’ constitutional rights, including those of the First Amendment, were subject to a rational...

• Wolff v. McDonnell (1974)

  Wolff v. McDonnell (1974) said prisoners can receive confidential attorney correspondence, but the correspondence can be opened to ensure that the letters...