Legal Procedures and Rights Flashcards

Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), what must an inmate do before filing a federal lawsuit about prison conditions?

Answer: Exhaust all available administrative remedies

The PLRA requires inmates to exhaust all available administrative grievance remedies before filing a federal civil rights lawsuit about prison conditions.

Which court case established that inmates retain constitutional rights while incarcerated, except those necessarily restricted by the fact of imprisonment?

Answer: Wolff v. McDonnell

Wolff v. McDonnell affirmed that inmates retain constitutional rights and that the state must respect those rights to the extent they are not inconsistent with incarceration.

A correctional facility wants to restrict inmate mail. Under Turner v. Safley, the restriction is valid if it is:

Answer: Reasonably related to a legitimate penological interest

Turner v. Safley established a four-factor 'reasonableness' test; the key factor is whether the restriction is rationally related to a legitimate penological interest.

Which due process rights must be provided to an inmate facing disciplinary segregation that could result in loss of good-time credits?

Answer: Written notice of charges, right to call witnesses, and a written statement of evidence relied on

Wolff v. McDonnell held that disciplinary hearings affecting good-time credits require written notice, opportunity to call witnesses and present evidence, and a written statement of reasons.

An officer witnesses a supervisor ordering an inmate to be beaten. The officer does not intervene. The officer may be held liable under the doctrine of:

Answer: Failure to intervene

Officers have a duty to intervene when they observe a fellow officer using excessive force; failure to do so can result in personal liability under § 1983.

Qualified immunity protects a correctional officer from civil liability unless:

Answer: The officer's conduct violated a clearly established statutory or constitutional right

Qualified immunity shields officers unless the violated right was clearly established at the time of the conduct, such that a reasonable officer would have known the conduct was unlawful.

Which of the following is NOT a factor in the Turner v. Safley test for evaluating prison regulations that restrict inmate rights?

Answer: Whether the regulation has been approved by the state legislature

Turner's four-factor test focuses on rational connection, alternative means, impact on others, and availability of alternatives—legislative approval is not a factor.