When a loved one dies by suicide while in jail or prison, family members and friends are left with grief and seemingly endless questions. Tragically, prison suicides are often not isolated incidents. They can often be the result of neglect, lack of oversight, and failure to follow proper mental health protocols. In fact, prison suicide is often preventable.
Inmates have constitutional rights, including the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. This includes a facility’s duty to protect them from self-harm. When a correctional facility fails to take appropriate steps to protect a vulnerable inmate, the people who allowed the tragedy to happen may be held liable.
The Zeiger Firm fights for families who have lost a loved one due to jail or prison negligence. Brian Zeiger, an aggressive and experienced prisoner suicide attorney, is committed to uncovering the truth and holding responsible parties accountable.
If your loved one died by suicide while in custody, you may be entitled to compensation. With our help, you may be able to hold negligent parties and facilities accountable. Contact our Pennsylvania prisoner rights lawyer today to schedule a complimentary consultation and explore your options.
How Prison Negligence Leads to Inmate Suicides
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 63 percent of inmates with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated. More than half of inmates who were taking medication for mental health conditions do not continue to receive that medication once they’re incarcerated.
Prison officials have a duty to ensure the safety of their inmates. However, across the country, jails and prisons continue to fail at protecting inmates from suicide, often due to clear and avoidable negligence. Inmate suicides frequently result from systemic failures.
Negligence in correctional facilities can take many forms, including the following:
- Failing to conduct mental health screenings during intake
- Ignoring signs of suicidal ideation or prior suicide attempts
- Inadequate staff training in suicide prevention and response
- Delayed or denied access to mental health professionals
- Improper placement of at-risk inmates in isolation or segregation
- Broken or unmonitored surveillance systems
These acts of prison negligence can be fatal. If your loved one died by suicide while in custody, their death may have been preventable. An experienced prison neglect lawyer can help you investigate and demand accountability.
How a Prisoner Suicide Attorney Can Help
When a loved one dies by suicide while incarcerated, getting answers can be difficult. Correctional facilities are rarely forthcoming with information, while internal investigations often fail to hold anyone accountable. An experienced prisoner suicide attorney can help you investigate and hold negligent facilities accountable.
The Zeiger Firm takes an aggressive approach to investigating prison suicide cases. We move quickly to preserve evidence, interview witnesses, and obtain records that institutions may try to withhold or destroy. This includes the following:
- Surveillance footage from cells and common areas
- Inmate mental health and medical records
- Staff logs and incident reports
- Prior complaints or violations at the facility
We work with medical and correctional experts to determine what went wrong and whether protocols were followed. If the evidence reveals negligence, we can pursue a lawsuit to hold the facility and its employees accountable under state and federal law.
If you’re ready to take action, contact a skilled inmate suicide lawyer at The Zeiger Firm today.
Legal Rights of Inmates and Their Families
Prisoners have rights while incarcerated, and correctional facilities have legal duties to protect inmates. The following are examples.
The Prison’s Duty to Protect Inmates from Self-Harm
The Eighth Amendment protects inmates from cruel and unusual punishment. This includes the right to adequate medical and mental healthcare and protection from known risks, including suicide.
For pretrial detainees, the Fourteenth Amendment ensures due process protections. Courts have interpreted this to include reasonable safety from self-harm while in custody.
When correctional staff knows or should know that an inmate is at risk and they fail to act, that behavior may rise to the level of deliberate indifference. This standard was established in Farmer v. Brennan. Under this standard, prison officials can be held liable if they disregard a substantial risk of serious harm to an inmate.
When a jail or prison fails to uphold these obligations, families may have grounds for a lawsuit for jail suicide. Both state and federal claims may apply, including actions under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which allows people to seek damages for violations of constitutional rights.
Legal Obligations for Mental Health Screenings and Suicide Prevention
Pennsylvania law requires that prisoners undergo health (including mental health and suicide risk) screenings within 24 hours of arrival. They must provide healthcare and mental healthcare, including emergency services.
Facilities must also ensure that staff are properly trained to recognize the warning signs of suicidal ideation and how to respond. This includes taking threats seriously, removing potential means of self-harm, and providing access to licensed mental health professionals.
If you believe your loved one’s suicide was due to prison negligence, a jail suicide lawyer at The Zeiger Firm can investigate the circumstances and determine whether you’re eligible to file a lawsuit.
Who Is Responsible for a Prisoner Death Caused by Suicide?
Multiple parties may be liable, depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death. Commonly responsible parties include the following:
- Prison guards
- Mental health providers
- Facility administrator
- Private prison contractors
- Municipal jails
- State and federal prisons
Both deliberate indifference and systemic failures may be responsible for failing to prevent a prison suicide. If The Zeiger Firm takes your case, we will investigate your loved one’s death and pursue accountability from every responsible party.
Contact Brian Zeiger for Your Free Consultation Today
If your loved one died by suicide while in jail or prison, you deserve answers and accountability. At The Zeiger Firm, our attorneys know how to investigate matters of jail liability for prisoner suicide and wrongful death in prison. We use our experience, relentlessness, and tenacity to seek to hold correctional institutions accountable for preventable tragedies.
As a seasoned prison suicide lawyer, Brian Zeiger understands the law and the emotional toll these cases take on the surviving loved ones. Whether you’re pursuing a lawsuit for jail suicide or demanding institutional reform, we’re here to help. Call us today for a free consultation.
