Inmate Suicide
Prison Inmate Suicide – New Jersey & Pennsylvania Prisoner Rights Lawyer
Suicide: The Leading Cause of Inmate Deaths
Prison is a violent place but the leading cause of inmate deaths is not murder, but suicide.
Every year, hundreds of inmates commit suicide in American jails and prisons—in fact, suicide is the leading cause of death in the U.S. penal system, far more common than murder. While corrections officers take certain precautions to prevent inmate suicides, including confiscating the shoelaces of detainees which can be turned into makeshift nooses—prison suicide remains a broad and deep problem.
The problem if inmate suicide can be exacerbated by inattentive, abusive or poorly trained corrections officers or prison medical staff.
If your loved one has committed suicide while in custody, jail or prison, you want to know the circumstances leading up to this tragic event. We will seek to uncover the facts surrounding your loved ones’ death:
- Was the person in need of psychiatric medication, and remained undiagnosed by prison doctors?
- Was he/she already on such medication, which was improperly withheld by those same doctors?
- Was the prisoner being bullied or sexually abused by other inmates, with the full knowledge of corrections officers?
- Did he/she repeatedly express the intention to commit suicide, but was not given adequate psychiatric care?
Prison staff can be held responsible for an inmate’s unnecessary death when certain facts can be proven. Our attorneys will work hard to get you the answers to these and other questions, and when negligence is involved, we will attempt to pursue civil justice for you.
Holding Prisons Accountable for Ignoring Warning Signs
Prisons and jails are responsible for providing inmates with adequate medical care and psychological help. When social workers at prisons have knowledge that inmates are considering or have previously attempted suicide, the facility must take appropriate precautions to prevent inmate suicides.
For more than 25 years, the law firm of Hill & Associates, P.C. has helped preserve individuals’ civil rights. We are committed to holding prisons and jails accountable for failing to address warning signs of inmate suicide. Our legal team wants to help your family fight back against the injustice.
Contact our law firm today for a powerful advocate on your side. Our trial lawyers offer a free initial case evaluation.
Philadelphia Metro: 215.567.7600 ● Toll Free: 1-800-731-4687
Helping Families Obtain Justice
Some prison deaths are preventable with the right medical attention and psychosocial care. Prisons are responsible for addressing inmates’ psychological or emotional needs. Often, inmates discuss their emotional concerns with the prison’s social workers.
Unfortunately, social workers are overworked with little time to address inmates’ concerns. In other circumstances, correctional officers and security guards have been known to simply ignore social workers’ recommendations for appropriate psychological care.
Our Pennsylvania law firm’s prison rights attorneys are prepared to hold prisons, jails and detention centers accountable for psychological medical treatment neglect. Whether a prisoner’s suicide stemmed from inadequate psychological treatment or failure to recognize warning signs, we will pursue civil justice for you.
Proving Fault and Seeking Maximum Compensation
Our law firm’s civil rights attorneys will subpoena your family member’s medical records and any statements given to the prison’s social workers. We are prepared to show appropriate medical and psychological care could have prevented your loved one’s suicide. Our legal team will pursue maximum compensation against the prison covering emotional, physical, and physiological damages.
Contact Us Today for a Free Initial Case Evaluation
Inmates have civil rights and if you lost a loved as a result of prison neglect, we will seek to help you obtain justice. The attorneys at our law firm handle inmate death and prison inmate suicide cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial case evaluation. You can also reach us at 215.567.7600 or 866.720.469 to discuss your legal needs with an experienced advocate. We welcome attorney referrals.
Our law firm investigates and litigates cases involving violation of inmate civil rights in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that lead to inmate suicide or wrongful death.
