New York Pays $2 Million to Mother of Fatally Beaten Inmate

New York City will pay $2 million to the mother of a man who was killed while serving time in Rikers Island jail. According to the Associated Press, the man was killed by inmates, who officials said sometimes worked as enforcers for corrupt guards. The 18-year-old man was in jail because of a parole violation. He was beaten to death by a group of inmates in 2008 in an area of the prison reserved for teenagers. Prosecutors said the group was part of a gang that worked with prison guards to keep control over the jail.
The enforcement, called “the program” by some, served as an intimidation technique. The gang was known for stealing from other inmates, taking their phone time and even governing who was allowed to use the chairs in common areas of the prison. The mother of the teenager said she believed the multi-million settlement was acknowledgement from the city that something had gone awry in the jail but added that no amount of money could ease the pain of losing her son.
The Law Relating to Inmate Safety
Prisons and jails are government-run facilities and they are held to certain safety standards with regard to maintaining and operating their facilities. The Federal Tort Claims Act says that the government can be held responsible for any injuries an inmate suffers while being incarcerated. Many states in the nation also have similar rules. The law requires that all government agencies must exercise due care to ensure the safety of inmates. This means if a prison guard or some other official learns that the safety of a certain inmate is threatened, they must act accordingly to protect the prisoner. Officers should break up all prison fights and attacks promptly and guards should maintain reasonable control over inmates.
Proving Fault and Liability
Proving whether or not a government agency was responsible for any injuries that occurred in a prison or jail can be challenging. Injured victims or their families in such cases would be well advised to contact a personal injury attorney who can help conduct an investigation and determine fault and liability.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please call our offices 24 hours a day,7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: The Associated Press