Vermont Court Rules That Private Prison Contractors Are Subject To Public Record Laws

In January 2014, the Vermont Superior Court ruled that private prison contractors are subject to the state's Public Records Act (Act).  The ruling means that Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) must respond to a request for information about prisoners housed in CCA-run facilities filed by Prison Legal News (PLN) under the Act. On November 5, 2015, CCA agreed to a financial settlement to cover legal fees related to PLN's lawsuit that asked the court to determine if CCA was subject to the Act.

The suit started when PLN sued CCA in 2013 after CCA refused to comply . . .