Cato Daily Podcast cover image

Cato Daily Podcast

Perttu v. Richards

Mar 12, 2025
Mike Fox, a legal fellow at the Cato Institute, dives into the pivotal case of Perttu v. Richards, where a prisoner claims sexual abuse by a jailer. He discusses the hurdles imposed by the Prison Litigation Reform Act on prisoners seeking justice. The conversation also touches on the rights of inmates and their access to jury trials in civil cases against the government. Additionally, Fox discusses police accountability through the lens of recent high-profile incidents, emphasizing the need for scrutiny in law enforcement tactics.
15:30

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Inmates like Kyle Richards possess a legal right to seek justice against sexual abuse, yet face obstacles that hinder their access to courts.
  • The troubling pattern of law enforcement using excessive force during routine interactions raises serious concerns about accountability and justice reform.

Deep dives

Legal Rights of Prisoners and Sexual Abuse Claims

Prisoners have a legal right to seek recourse if they face sexual abuse from corrections staff, as exemplified by the case of Kyle Richards, a Michigan inmate who alleges he was abused by a jail employee. Richards' attempts to file grievances were thwarted by the very individual he accused, complicating his ability to exhaust administrative remedies as required by the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA). This situation raises significant concerns about access to justice for inmates, particularly when they face retaliation for reporting such abuse. The case underscores the necessity for prisoners to maintain access to the courts even amid serious threats and allegations of misconduct within the system.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode