New York Inmate Brutality

In New York state there are nearly 100,000 inmates. The statistics on the number on inmates who are brutalized by prison staff is staggering. In fact, the problem of brutality and degrading treatment of inmates has become so widespread not only in New York but across the country, that human rights organizations have demanded action. Fearing retaliation, many victims of inmate brutality are reluctant to speak up about the violence they have suffered. While some of the violence in prisons is caused by inmates, sadly, a substantial amount of it is caused by prison staff. If you or someone you care about has been the victim of violence at the hands of prison guards and other prison staff, immediately contact an experienced New York inmate brutality lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. We will review the facts of your case to determine the best course of action to ensure that your rights are protected.

Inmate abuse refers to prison or jail staff brutalizing or degrading prisoners or failing to protect them from being brutalized by other inmates. Examples of inmate abuse include:

• Assault
• Failure to provide medical care
• Sexual assault
• Psychological abuse
• Homicide
• Inhuman conditions
• Religious or racial discrimination
• Failure to protect from sexual assault
• Failure to control violent inmates
• Failure to act to prevent suicide
• Retaliation for reporting inmate abuse

As an experienced New York inmate brutality lawyer will explain, victims of inmate abuse suffer serious injuries including:

• Broken bones
• Black eyes
• Broken teeth
• Perforated eardrums
• Burns
• Organ damage
• Spinal cord injuries, including permanent paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Psychological damage
• Wrongful death

In addition, due to sexual assault, many inmates contract sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Female inmates become pregnant. Sexual assault occurs in all types of prisons and jails, including facilities for juveniles.

There are many reasons that inmate abuse occurs in prisons. In some instances guards are violent and unstable and probably should never have been hired. In other instances, poor staff training, understaffing, and lack of proper supervision contributes to the abuse. In still other instances the facility is disorganized, unsanitary, and poorly maintained.

Regardless of the reason for the abuse, if an inmate suffers a personal injury, the staff member who was negligent, reckless, or acted willfully, as well as the prison itself can be held liable in a civil action for their actions or inaction, and/or for civil rights violations. This means that the prison staff member responsible for the abuse and the facility would be required to pay the inmate damages related to their physical and emotional injuries. In addition, they may be ordered to pay substantial punitive damages. As an inmate brutality attorney in New York will explain, punitive damages are designed to punish someone for actions that are particularly egregious and that show a lack of regard for human life.

Of course, in cases where a prison guard or other staff member used excessive force against an inmate, raped an inmate, or committed some other criminal act, that person would be subject to not only discipline by the prison, but also criminal prosecution.

Regardless of the reason that a person ends up in prison, they retain their constitutional rights. If you or a loved one is in prison and has been the victim of abuse and brutality by prison staff, it is critical to immediately contact an experienced inmate brutality attorney serving New York to discuss your options and to answer your questions. Inmates have the right to communicate with counsel about abuse. Contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We have years of experience successfully fighting for maximum awards for victims, and we understand the law related to inmate rights as well as the challenges of going up against a government entity. We represent clients in the Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, and Westchester County.