A lawsuit attempting to hold top corrections officials liable for the unconstitutional practice of imposing terms of post-release supervision on inmates has been certified as a class action.

Southern District Judge Shira Scheindlin (See Profile) certified the class of what could be more than 2,000 people in Betances v. Fischer, 11 Civ. 3200, which alleges that corrections officials knew they were violating clearly established law that requires a judge to impose terms of supervision on inmates leaving prison, not the executive branch.

Name plaintiff Paul Betances pleaded guilty in 2004 to first-degree robbery and violation of probation and was given five years in prison. He was released from prison on April 24, 2008, and corrections officials imposed a five-year term of post-release supervision (PRS).