Post by Anja on Jun 22, 2006 18:02:31 GMT -5
Miss. officials settle ACLU prison lawsuit
State officials have settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of 4 inmates who
claimed they were subjected to excessive heat, unsanitary conditions,
biting insects and the rants of psychotic prisoners at the Mississippi
State Penitentiary at Parchman.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in June 2005 on
behalf of 4 of the roughly 1,000 inmates in Unit 32 of the state prison.
The lawsuit's allegations included that inmates in the maximum security
unit were subjected to inadequate medical, mental health and dental care.
In 2003, the ACLU filed a lawsuit and won improvements in Unit 32 for
death row inmates.
The settlement, which was confirmed Wednesday, will allow inmates in Unit
32 to shower 6 days a week, receive a 32-ounce cup of ice 3 times a day
during the summer and exercise outside of their cells.
U.S. Magistrate Jerry A. Davis agreed to the settlement. Last week, Davis
closed the prior ACLU lawsuit seeking relief for the death-row inmates
housed in Unit 32-C.
Margaret Winters of the ACLU's National Prisons Project said the
settlement was the best possible solution.
"We would rather have the consent decree (settlement) than to have to go
to trial," Winters said. "The state wants to work with us to bring about
constitutional guaranteed rights for inmates."
Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said there was no problem signing the
settlement because most of the improvements have already been made.
"We want to treat all inmates properly, and we are not going to violate
anyone's constitutional rights," Epps said.
Epps has estimated the cost of carrying out the improvements for all of
Unit 32 at about $800,000. Unit 32 consists of 1,000 inmates housed in 5
separate buildings.
Winters said the state is making progress but there are still improvements
that need to be made. Epps acknowledged adequate mental health care is
still needed. He said people are being trained now to take care of the
problem.
Under the settlement, the ACLU will monitor conditions at the
penitentiary.
Epps said some of the cost as a result of the lawsuit will come out of the
inmate welfare fund instead of from taxpayers.
(source: Associated Press)
*****************
State officials have settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of 4 inmates who
claimed they were subjected to excessive heat, unsanitary conditions,
biting insects and the rants of psychotic prisoners at the Mississippi
State Penitentiary at Parchman.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in June 2005 on
behalf of 4 of the roughly 1,000 inmates in Unit 32 of the state prison.
The lawsuit's allegations included that inmates in the maximum security
unit were subjected to inadequate medical, mental health and dental care.
In 2003, the ACLU filed a lawsuit and won improvements in Unit 32 for
death row inmates.
The settlement, which was confirmed Wednesday, will allow inmates in Unit
32 to shower 6 days a week, receive a 32-ounce cup of ice 3 times a day
during the summer and exercise outside of their cells.
U.S. Magistrate Jerry A. Davis agreed to the settlement. Last week, Davis
closed the prior ACLU lawsuit seeking relief for the death-row inmates
housed in Unit 32-C.
Margaret Winters of the ACLU's National Prisons Project said the
settlement was the best possible solution.
"We would rather have the consent decree (settlement) than to have to go
to trial," Winters said. "The state wants to work with us to bring about
constitutional guaranteed rights for inmates."
Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said there was no problem signing the
settlement because most of the improvements have already been made.
"We want to treat all inmates properly, and we are not going to violate
anyone's constitutional rights," Epps said.
Epps has estimated the cost of carrying out the improvements for all of
Unit 32 at about $800,000. Unit 32 consists of 1,000 inmates housed in 5
separate buildings.
Winters said the state is making progress but there are still improvements
that need to be made. Epps acknowledged adequate mental health care is
still needed. He said people are being trained now to take care of the
problem.
Under the settlement, the ACLU will monitor conditions at the
penitentiary.
Epps said some of the cost as a result of the lawsuit will come out of the
inmate welfare fund instead of from taxpayers.
(source: Associated Press)
*****************