Without a doubt, correction officers are expected to use some degree of force when dealing with inmates that are aggressive or that pose a threat. However, officers sometimes go too far and end up seriously hurting inmates. Some examples are listed below:

• Fighting with inmates – instead of just restraining inmates, they engage in a full-blown fight with the inmate.
• Using excessive force – they use more force than what is necessary in the situation with the inmate.
• Excessive use of weapons (like batons, tasers, and firearms) – they immediately resort to weapons before trying to deescalate situations in other ways.
• Sexual assault (including rape) – they abuse their position of power and sexually assault inmates.
• Helping inmates assault other inmates – they facilitate assaults between inmates.

Of course, this could all result in injuries to inmates. Inmates can suffer countless injuries, including but not limited to head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, facial injuries, broken nose, broken teeth, eye injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, fractured ribs, broken bones, impaling injuries, stabbing injuries, crushing injuries, injuries to genitals, injuries to reproductive organs, sexually transmitted infections, etc.

If you or a loved one was harmed by a correction officer or prison guard at a California prison, it is important that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. You could certainly have the right to file a lawsuit for the harm suffered. For more information about your legal options, contact us today.

Yes – even in prison, everyone has rights. Under the eighth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, prisoners have protections against cruel and unusual punishment; this extends to assault at the hands of prison guards and correction officers. What does this mean? This means that if you or a loved one were assaulted or attacked by a prison officer, there was a civil rights violation. That is, the officer violated your civil rights by using excessive force, tackling you, beating you, or failing to intervene when another inmate was beating you, etc. Of course, harsh conditions are expected in prisons; still, these conditions must not violate the basic civil rights of the inmates.

Yes – you can sue if you or a loved one was physically attacked (or sexually abused) by a correction officer at a prison. As mentioned above, assault at the hands of a prison officer is considered cruel and unusual and is a violation of the eighth amendment. Because of this, you can file a lawsuit against the state. For more information about your right to sue, contact the team here at our law firm as soon as possible.

Yes – if a member of your family lost his or her life as a direct result of injuries that occurred at the hands of a prison guard or correction officer, you could file a wrongful death claim against the state. For more information on this matter, contact our inmate injury lawyers immediately.

All claims are subject to a statute of limitations or a deadline to file. For incidents that occur in state-run prisons, claimants must file government claims. These claims are subject to strict six-month deadlines with very few exceptions. Depending on the response to the government claim, claimants can either have six months or two years to file their claim. If claimants fail to file their claims on time, they can lose their right to sue entirely. Because of that, it is essential that anyone considering filing a claim for an incident that occurred in a prison to seek legal assistance as soon as possible and file on time.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Inmate on Inmate Injury Lawyers
Failure to Provide Medical Attention to Inmates in California Prisons
Visitor Injury While at Prison/Jail