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Horrific Deaths, Brutal Treatment: Mental Illness in America’s Jails
Loaded on May 2, 2019
by Gary A. Harki
published in Prison Legal News
May, 2019, page 1
Filed under:
Disabled Prisoners,
Americans with Disabilities Act,
Wrongful Death,
Mental Health,
Failure to Treat (Mental Illness),
Suicides.
Location:
United States of America.
by Gary A. Harki, The Virginian-Pilot
Bradley Thomas had bipolar disorder and was in a severe depressive episode when he was arrested for a misdemeanor in Oregon. He had spit on his landlord’s face and threatened her husband with a sword.
While in jail, Thomas refused meals and medication. His …
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Former Angola Major Found Guilty – Twice – in Excessive Force Case, by Scott Grammer
- Report and Video of Arizona Prison Riot Released, by Matthew Clarke
- New York Prisoner Harassed and Assaulted by Guard Loses in Court of Claims
- Long-Term Recidivism Studies Show High Arrest Rates, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Affirms Denial of Summary Judgment in Failure to Protect Case
- Two-Year Investigation, Litigation and Settlement Ends Segregation, Mistreatment of LGBTQ Prisoners at California Jail, by Derek Gilna
- Major Prison Telecom Merger Canceled; Victory for Campaign for Prison Phone Justice!
- Kansas Federal Court Awards Prisoner $250,000 for Guard’s Excessive Force, by Matthew Clarke
- BOP Official Who Ordered More Prisoners Sent to Private Prisons Hired by GEO Group, by Scott Grammer
- Meek Mill and Michael Rubin Start Criminal Justice Reform Organization, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Sixth Circuit Rejects Qualified Immunity for Jail Guard Accused of Sexual Abuse, by Matthew Clarke
- Federal Court Awards $3,750,000 in Damages for Sexual Assault by Prison Guards, by Chad Marks
- Prison Policy Initiative Issues Report on State of Prison Phone Justice, by Matthew Clarke
- Settlement Provides for Improved Competency Procedures for Jailed Mentally Ill in Washington State
- Delaware: No Convictions in Second Vaughn Riot Trial, by Kevin Bliss
- Landlords Challenge Ordinance that Protects Former Prisoners’ Rental Rights, by Douglas Ankney
- Federal Prison Employee Sentenced for Defrauding Prisoners’ Families, by Scott Grammer
- Continued Problems with Mental Health Care, Suicides in Alabama DOC, by Kevin W. Bliss
- New Mexico Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Over Policy of Denying Transport to Medical Appointments During Lockdowns, by Matthew Clarke
- Judge Initially Plays Pass-the-Buck with Proposal to Hire Suicide Prevention Expert
- Kansas Slaps Corizon Health with Millions in Fines for Contract Violations, by Chad Marks
- Florida Fleeces Prisoners with High Canteen Prices, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Eleventh Circuit Agrees Prosecutor is Entitled to Qualified Immunity in Retaliation Case, by Chad Marks
- “Free” Prisoner-Made Furniture Gets Ohio Prison Industry Officials in Hot Water, by Chad Marks
- New York: 58-Month Prison Sentence for Former Jail Union Boss Who Took Bribes, by Chad Marks
- Lack of Outdoor Recreation for D.C. Jail Prisoners “Dehumanizing”, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Private Halfway Houses Plagued with Escapes, Drugs, Sex and Violence, by Chad Marks
- $625,000 Settlement for Virginia Jail Prisoner’s Death from Untreated Ulcer
- Oklahoma: Sovereign Immunity Prohibits Lawsuits Over Prisoner Medical Care
- New York: Liability Established in Claim Over Assault by Prison Guard, by Matthew Clarke
- $301,000 Awarded in Lawsuit Over Suicide at Illinois Jail, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Cell Phones Sold in Commissary at South Carolina Jail, by Scott Grammer
- Oregon: Knowledge of Injury and Defendants’ Causal Role Required for Accrual of § 1983 Claims, by Mark Wilson
- Search for Mental Health Care Ends Tragically at Florida Jail, by David M. Reutter
- New Jersey Prisoner Who Suggested Date to Nurse Has Disciplinary Action Reversed
- Illinois Agrees to Sweeping Prison Health Care Reforms, by Matthew Clarke
- HRDC Files Censorship Suit Against Tennessee County Jail
- Prisoner’s Death from Methadone Over-Prescription Results in Summary Judgment, Settlement, by David Reutter
- $525,000 Settlement for Loss of Federal Prisoner’s Eye
- $10 Million Awarded Against Corizon and Oregon County for Jail Detox Death, by Matthew Clarke
- Wrongful Death, Whistleblower Suits Filed After Prisoner Dies at New Orleans Jail, by David M. Reutter
- New York: $775,000 Judgment for Prisoners Searched in Freezing Weather
- Cancellation of Illinois Prison Debate Class Debated in Court, by Kevin W. Bliss
- Washington State: Jury Awards $549,000 to Prisoner Denied Pain Medication, by Chad Marks
- States Rack Up Tens of Millions of Dollars in Prison Guard Overtime Pay, by Matthew Clarke
- Private Prisoner Transport Firm Closes After Escape; Problems Continue to Plague Industry, by Matthew Clarke
- Beating of Michigan Jail Prisoner Results in $36.6 Million Verdict,$12.9 Million Settlement, by Chad Marks
- Wisconsin Pays Largest Civil Rights Settlement in State’s History –$18.9 Million – for Juvenile Offender’s Suicide Attempt, by Chad Marks, Derek Gilna
- Unlicensed Interns to Perform Psych Tests on Utah Prisoners, by Scott Grammer
- Hospice Programs Provided in Pennsylvania Prisons, by Ruth Hoskins
- CoreCivic Creates Nonprofit Foundation, Ostensibly to Reduce Recidivism, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Vacates Dismissal of Suit by Civilly Committed Sex Offender, by Matthew Clarke
- Claim Denied; No Proof New York Prison Guards Acted Within Scope of Their Employment
- Inspector General: California Prison Guards Violate Use of Force Policies Half the Time, by Steve Horn
- Staffing Shortage at Ohio Legislative Oversight Committee has Interns Inspecting Prisons, by Matthew Clarke
- Humane Treatment for Terminally Ill Prisoners, by Kevin W. Bliss
- The Uphill Road to Prisoners’ Rights, by F.T. Green
- Virginia Court Improperly Denied Transgender Prisoner’s Name Change, by Matthew Clarke
- Attorney-Client Privilege Under Attack in Jails Across the Nation, by Douglas Ankney
- Incarceration Decrease? Drop in Prison Numbers Called “Anemic”, by Ted Gest
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Vermont Prisoner Sexually Abused at Private Prison in Michigan Receives $750, by Steve Horn
- Horrific Deaths, Brutal Treatment: Mental Illness in America’s Jails, by Gary A. Harki
More from Gary A. Harki:
More from these topics:
- America’s Deadliest Jails: Tarrant County Edition, Nov. 1, 2025. Wrongful Death, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Medical Neglect/Malpractice, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- Tenth Circuit Ruling Paves Way for $2.7 Million Settlement for Intellectually Disabled Jail Detainee Raped by Sheriff, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Jail Misconduct, Americans with Disabilities Act.
- CDCR Held in Contempt, Fined $112 Million in Longstanding Litigation Over Mental Health Care, Aug. 1, 2025. Staffing, Mental Health, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- Multiple Prisoner Suits Accuse Guards of Violence at Virginia BOP Lockup, Aug. 1, 2025. Racial Discrimination, False Charges (Disciplinary Hearings), Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Discrimination (Transgender).
- Washington Jail Settles DOJ Allegations of ADA Noncompliance in Failure to Treat Opioid Use Disorder, July 15, 2025. Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Americans with Disabilities Act, Drug Treatment/Rehab.
- $550,000 Settlement After Juvenile’s Suicide at Charlotte Jail, July 15, 2025. Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides, Failure to Protect (Juveniles).
- Washington’s Continuing Competency Crisis Strains Jails, June 1, 2025. Medication, Systemic Medical Neglect, Conditions of Confinement, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Retired California Prison Guard Killed in Colorado Jail, June 1, 2025. Failure to Protect (General), Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).
- Watchdogs Fault Nebraska Prisons for Suicide Response, Overpaid Staff, June 1, 2025. Suicides, Guards/Staff, Staff Training.
- $500,000 for Colorado Detainee Dropped On His Face by Jailers, June 1, 2025. Jail Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness).

