Prison

A judge ruled Thursday that inmate Thomas Woodard will spend the rest of his life in prison for the brutal killings of nurse Lorena Schulte and correctional officer Robert McFarland. Woodard was sentenced to two life terms, served consecutively, for the murders of the prison staffers at the Anamosa State Penitentiary.

One of the men charged with killing two staffers at the Anamosa State Penitentiary in March pleaded guilty Friday. Inmate Thomas Woodard pleaded to two counts of first degree murder and one count each of second degree kidnapping and attempted murder.

Advocates are raising concerns about recent restrictions put in place in some of Iowa's prisons. The changes come in the wake of the killings of two staffers at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, allegedly by two inmates. Some loved ones worry the conditions behind bars may lead to further violence.

On a hot day in July, Darrell, who is serving time at the Clarinda Correctional Facility, pulled a black carrot out of the ground from one of the prison...

Incarcerated Iowans are once again being allowed to visit with their loved ones face-to-face, after 16 months of no in-person contact. Visits at state prisons resumed on July 10, though social distancing and other restrictions remain in place.

The trials of the two men accused of killing two prison employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary have been rescheduled. Inmates Michael Dutcher and Thomas Woodard are now slated to go on trial in August and September.

An Iowan widely photographed at the head of a crowd of rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges. Doug Jensen was arraigned in federal court Tuesday, and is seeking release from pretrial detention.

Iowa prison officials plan to resume in-person visits with incarcerated individuals beginning next month. But the state Department of Corrections will limit visits to only those inmates who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

The state Department of Corrections has named two new wardens to lead prisons in Iowa, including one to oversee the troubled Anamosa State Penitentiary. In March, two staffers there were killed, allegedly by two inmates who used prison-issued tools as weapons.

Activists in Des Moines are calling on state leaders to improve conditions in Iowa’s prisons. The organizers say they’ve been in contact with inmates and are sharing their concerns related to the coronavirus crisis and a new wave of restrictions behind bars.