When overcrowding becomes a violation of the Eighth Amendment rights of prisoners, the Supreme Court can rule that states must release prisoners, as they did with 30,000 inmates in 2011 in which state

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In 2011, the Supreme Court ordered California to reduce its prison population by 30,000 inmates due to overcrowding, ruling that it violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. This decision was based on a lawsuit brought by prisoners who argued that overcrowding led to inadequate access to medical and mental health care, resulting in preventable deaths and suffering.

When Overcrowding Becomes a Violation of the Eighth Amendment Rights