The book examines legal liabilities and some of the complex areas of the law, including: searches and seizures; access to the courts; use of force; punishment; health concerns such as AIDS and suicide; and questions of religion, mail, and visitation. The book is designed for the correctional officer working in an adult prison or jail. It does not address legal issues that may arise in juvenile institutions or programs. However, the book examines fundamental principles that would apply to juvenile facilities and programs. The book includes a short history of the courts and corrections and discusses: (1) types of lawsuits inmates file; (2) access to the courts; (3) inmate rights versus institutional interests; (4) the First, Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments; (5) suicide; (6) use of force; (7) the correctional employee and litigation; (8) officers' rights; (9) AIDS; and (10) The Americans With Disabilities Act. Each chapter includes a series of review questions and the book includes answers to the review questions. Case studies, notes