PA Prisoner Strike Index-Newest Edition to the PA DOC website!

[egs]

Now, this is really something. The PA DOC has now created a new "sub" website that lists all PA prisoners who has been deemed to have submitted 3 or more frivilous law suits under the criteria found in the PLRA [Prison Litigation Reform Act]. With each person's name you can click on that name and then a list of their cases will come up. If highlighted you can actually pull up the case.
To locate this go to http://www.cor.state.pa.us/ and click on "Inmate Strike Index" [located on the left side of the home page]. This website also provides info. about both the federal and state PRLA laws.

Here is what is said as to the reason and purpose of this newest edition to the PA DOC website:

In 1996, the federal government enacted a statute that significantly modified prison conditions litigation, commonly referred to as the Federal Prison Litigation Reform Act (Federal PLRA). In 1998, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted similar legislation, commonly referred to as the State Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (State PLRA). Both statutes recognize a prisoners right to access to the courts and provide for the privilege of obtaining in forma pauperis status. However, both statutes contain an abusive litigation provision that allows a Court to deny or revoke the in forma pauperis privilege if the inmate has on three or more prior occasions had a prison conditions civil action dismissed as frivolous, malicious, or for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted.

The process of tracking abusive litigation to date has been inefficient and cumbersome. The Federal District Courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are statutorily defined into the Eastern District, the Middle District, and the Western District. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals oversees all three districts. Similarly, the State Courts within Pennsylvania are statutorily divided into 60 Judicial Districts. The State Courts also include the Superior Court, the Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court. Each federal and state court has its own docketing system for tracking cases that fall within their respective jurisdictions. Accordingly, given the number of courts involved, the ability to track decisions involving prisoner civil litigation, and in particular, inmates litigation that constitutes a PLRA strike, requires a level of coordination that is challenging and time-consuming.

In an effort to make the process of tracking abusive litigation more efficient, the Department of Corrections, Office of Chief Counsel has developed this website.