Corrections Expertise

Even more than law enforcement, corrections officers must closely control, supervise, and house “society’s most anti-social and violent people in close proximity with one another.”  (Farmer v Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 858 (1994) (Thomas, J., concurring).    Corrections officials must constantly interact with prisoners, many of whom are dangerous, combative, manipulative and extremely litigious.  DeLand and Associates began working as  expert witnesses and litigation consultants to support the corrections profession back in the 70s.  With more than five decades of expertise working over 300 cases in more than 35 states, there is no group in the corrections field with comparable knowledge and experience.

Key Successes

  • Primary expert witness and consultant ending the most expensive corrections lawsuit ever (Ruiz v Estelle, $2 billion over 30 years)
  • Successfully defended high profile litigation following the Deer Lodge Montana prison riot (class action lawsuit with 100 individual lawsuits)
  • Key expert to terminate long standing and costly consent decrees and court orders including:
    •   Stewart v Gates  (Orange County CA)
    •   Spears v Cayatano (Hawaii PSD)
    •   Maynor v Morgan County (Alabama 17 year)

Primary Areas of Expertise

  • Prisoner Grievances
  • In-Custody Death
  • Use of Force and Restraints
  • Searches
  • Prisoner Communication
  • Religion and RLUIPA
  • Prisoner-on-Prisoner Assaults
  • Suicides
  • Conditions of Confinement
  • Administrative Liability
  • Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA)