The Prison Litigation Reform Act

The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), enacted in 1996, aims to limit frivolous and repetitive lawsuits by prisoners to reduce burdens on the legal system and promote responsible filing. It requires inmates to exhaust all administrative remedies before going to court, imposes filing fees and thresholds for federal lawsuits, and grants courts the authority to dismiss cases lacking merit or justified by evidence. The act seeks to balance prisoners' rights with efficient court management, ensuring that only serious, well-founded claims proceed while preventing abuse of the legal process.