Charleston Lawyers for Prison Brutality Cases
What is prison brutality?
No matter what type of crime an inmate was convicted of, they have the right to personal safety and humane treatment at all times while they are incarcerated. Prison brutality can take many forms. It might involve excessively rough treatment from guards or deliberate neglect such as when a prisoner requires medical care for a serious condition but does not receive it in a timely fashion, thus potentially causing the inmate to experience additional pain and suffering.
Common prison injuries resulting from brutality
Mistreatment and deliberate neglect in a correctional facility cause numerous forms of physical and mental harm to victimized inmates. Victims of excessive force might suffer broken bones or internal injuries. Sexual assault by guards is a widespread problem in jails and prisons across the country. Unsanitary conditions exist at many correctional institutions and can give rise to life-threatening infections,
particularly when an infected prisoner is denied access to medical care and becomes septic. Traumatic events and day-to-day inhumane treatment can cause or aggravate mental problems such as severe anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Often, mistreatment or deliberate neglect is fatal to the inmate, either directly or by facilitating an inmate’s foreseeable and preventable suicide.
Legal rights of inmates in West VirginiaCorrections officers have numerous legal ways to control those who are incarcerated. Still, guards sometimes cross the line and commit unlawful acts of violence or deliberate neglect against prisoners. At Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC, we are Charleston-based lawyers dedicated to protecting the rights of inmates against prison brutality and holding abusive individuals and institutions accountable. In West Virginia and other jurisdictions across the nation, we fight on behalf of forgotten victims and have obtained compensation for the mistreatment and violations they endured.
Under West Virginia law, in particular, inmates who suffer an illness or injury while in jail have the right to promptly access and receive necessary medical, dental, and psychiatric care provided by a licensed professional. Similar legal protections exist in other states and at the federal level. These rights can be traced to the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
What to do if you or someone you know suffers prison brutality
It can be very difficult for an incarcerated person to obtain justice after being brutalized or deliberately neglected by prison staff. Thorough documentation and timely reporting are critical in these cases. In any type of prison brutality case, filing a complaint to a supervisor or warden might prompt an inquiry, but it is also important to speak with a qualified attorney so that you are aware of your rights under the law.
How our Charleston lawyers help with prison brutality cases
It can be very difficult for an incarcerated person to obtain justice after being brutalized or deliberately neglected by prison staff. Thorough documentation and timely reporting are critical in these cases. In any type of prison brutality case, filing a complaint to a supervisor or warden might prompt an inquiry, but it is also important to speak with a qualified attorney so that you are aware of your rights under the law.
Contact a lawyer regarding a prison brutality claim
Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC in Charleston represents victims of prison brutality in West Virginia and other states. To discuss your legal options with a proven litigator, please call 304-400-6558 or contact us online.
