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Mental Health Care in South Carolina Prisons Found Unconstitutional
Loaded on Aug. 28, 2015
by David Reutter
published in Prison Legal News
September, 2015, page 28
Filed under:
Guard Brutality/Beatings,
Pepper Spray/Tear Gas,
Restraints,
Mental Health,
Failure to Treat (Mental Illness),
Suicides.
Location:
South Carolina.
Mental Health Care in South Carolina Prisons Found Unconstitutional
by David M. Reutter
On January 8, 2014, a South Carolina state court entered judgment in a decade-long class-action lawsuit, finding that mental health care in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) exposed seriously mentally ill prisoners …
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More from this issue:
- Life Without Parole, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- News in Brief
- Legislation Removes Secrecy from Georgia Parole Board’s Proceedings, Decisions, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Delaware: Drop in Prison Phone Rates Called a “Drop in the Bucket”, by Derek Gilna
- Is Texas Poisoning Prisoners with Contaminated Water?, by Panagioti Tsolkas
- Texas County Pays Prisoner’s Family $214,500 for Wrongful Death
- Mandamus Improper Remedy to Challenge Illinois DOC’s “Violating at the Door” Policy, by David Reutter
- Prisoners Pay Millions to Call Loved Ones Every Year. Now this Company Wants Even More, by Ben Walsh
- Jails in Trouble as IRS Investigates Tax-Exempt Bonds, by Matthew Clarke
- Nevada: Federal Suit over Shackling of Pregnant Prisoner Settles for $130,000 and Policy Changes, by Matthew Clarke
- BOP Ordered to Pay Prisoner’s Attorneys $41,703 for Discovery Abuses, by Derek Gilna
- British Banking Giant Fined for Laundering Mexican Drug Money Through U.S. Banks, by Matthew Clarke
- Two Reports Find at Least 54 Countries Complicit in Secret CIA Prisons, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama: Settlement to Integrate HIV-Positive Prisoners Finalized, by David Reutter
- Former New York Prisoner Receives $3,375,000 Settlement for Wrongful Conviction, by Derek Gilna
- $290,000 Judgment for Failure to Treat Ruptured Appendix Affirmed, by David Reutter
- Mental Health Care in South Carolina Prisons Found Unconstitutional, by David Reutter
- Ninth Circuit Orders New Trial in “Pink Underwear” Lawsuit; Case Settles for $240,000, by Mark Wilson
- Social Impact Bonds in Criminal Justice: A Deal We Can’t Refuse?, by Jennifer R. Zelnick
- Oregon Workgroup Recommends Strategies to Deal with Prison Medical Care Costs, by Mark Wilson
- Federal Court Orders Cameras to Cover Blind Spots at North Carolina Prison, by David Reutter
- Rejecting Foreign Language Letters after Interpretation May Violate Prisoner’s Rights, by David Reutter
- $400,000 Settlement in New Jersey Juvenile Solitary Confinement Suit, by Derek Gilna
- Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Supervised Release Period Despite Sentencing Omission, by Derek Gilna
- Vermont Newspaper Defends Hiring Reporter with Sex Offense Conviction, by Matthew Clarke
- Former Illinois Drug Court Judge Gets Prison Time Following Fellow Judge’s Fatal Overdose, by Joe Watson
- How U.S. Prison Officials Rubberstamped a CIA Torture Chamber, by Carl Takei
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Fee, Names John Doe Plaintiffs, by Derek Gilna
- Fourth Circuit Finds Strip Searches and Delousing of Arrestees Constitutional, by Lonnie Burton
- Prison Legal News Wins FOIA Appeal Against BOP, by Derek Gilna
- Washington Prisoner Granted Injunction Ordering Outside Orthopedic Evaluation, by Mark Wilson
- Seventh Circuit: New Trial for Wrong Legal Standard in Jail Death Case, by Mark Wilson
- Texas Prisoner Held in Prison 35 Years after Conviction Vacated, by Matthew Clarke
- Corporations You’ve Never Heard of are Making Millions from Mass Incarceration, by James Kilgore
- Illinois University Faculty Member and PLN Contributor Fights for His Job after Opposing New County Jail, by Joe Watson
- Vice President’s Son Discharged from Navy Due to Drug Use, by Christopher Zoukis
- Michigan: Perjured Testimony at Trial Results in Habeas Relief, but Reversed on Appeal, by David Reutter
- Court Denies Challenge to D.C. Sex Offender’s Website on Registry Officials
- Terrorism Suspect Moves to Suppress Statements Made to FBI due to Torture Threats, by Matthew Clarke
- Tennessee Jail Considers Charging for Toilet Paper, Underwear, by Christopher Zoukis
- Automatic Placement of Death Row Prisoner in Segregation Does Not Violate Due Process, by David Reutter
- ACLU Awarded $50 Million to Help End Mass Incarceration, by Christopher Zoukis
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Verdict when Prisoner Not Allowed to Poll Jury, by Derek Gilna
- Liability against Taser for Negligence Upheld but $5.5 Million Damages Award Reversed, by David Reutter
More from David Reutter:
- Eight Circuit Reverses Denial of Partial Qualified Immunity in Detainee’s Pepper Ball Claim, Remands Excessive Force Claims, Sept. 1, 2026
- Nevada Prisoners, Families Call Out Predatory Tablet Program, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit: Error in Granting Judgment Prior to Adjudging Spoliation Motion, Sept. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity in Strip Searches Resulting from Anonymous Tips, Sept. 1, 2026
- Tenth Circuit: Colorado Governor Unentitled to Eleventh Amendment Immunity on Claim Related to DOC Religious Policies, Aug. 1, 2026
- Michigan Appeals Court: Witnesses Cannot be Forced to Wear Jail Clothes at Trial, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Affirms Denial of State-Law Qualified Immunity in Scabies Case, Aug. 1, 2026
- Fourth Circuit Revives Disabled Prisoner’s Claim for Denial of Out-of-Cell Exercise Time, Aug. 1, 2026
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026
- Florida Supreme Court Announces Rule 3.170(f)’s Good-Cause Plea-Withdrawal Standard Does Not Apply at Post-Appeal Resentencing, April 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Eleventh Circuit Upholds Most of Relief Ordered in Class-Action Lawsuit Challenging Unconstitutionally Inadequate Mental Health Care in Alabama Prisons, Oct. 1, 2026. Eighth Amendment, Staffing, Injunctions (PLRA), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- $700,000 Paid by West Virginia for Jail Death, Claims Against Wexford Health Pending, Oct. 1, 2026. Wexford Health Services, Restraints, Settlements, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Deliberate Indifference.
- Federal Court Orders Texas to Admit Incompetent Jailed Defendants to Mental Health Facilities Within 21 Days, Oct. 1, 2026. Staffing, Injunctions, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Competency.
- Last of Three Oklahoma Jail Death Settlements Totaling $66.5 Million Paid for Fatal Dehydration of “Cookie Queen”, Oct. 1, 2026. Diabetes, Settlements, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Deliberate Indifference.
- San Francisco Jail Survey Exposes Abuse, Malnutrition and Constitutional Violations, Oct. 1, 2026. Failure to Protect (General), Food, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Attorney Visits, Pretrial Detention and Detainees.
- Eighth Circuit Reverses District Court’s Denial of Motion to Dismiss Some Defendants from Lawsuit Over Missouri Prisoner’s Suicide, Oct. 1, 2026. Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Suicides, Deliberate Indifference.
- $3.75 Million Paid by Wisconsin After Mentally Ill Prisoner Dies of Dehydration, Oct. 1, 2026. Water, Settlements, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Deliberate Indifference.
- Fatal LAPD Arrests Show Systemic Failure in Handling Mental Health Crises, Oct. 1, 2026. Shootings, Restraints, Police--Excessive Force, Mental Health, Staff Training.
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Sept. 1, 2026. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Guard Misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Obstruction of Justice.
- Mississippi DOC Held Mentally Unwell Prisoners in Solitary, Many Died Because of It, Sept. 1, 2026. Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Staff Training, Deliberate Indifference.

