Gillette Wrongful Death in Jail Attorneys

Advocates for Family Members Who Have Lost a Loved One While in Jail

If your loved one died while incarcerated in Wyoming, you deserve to know what happened. If the death was caused by negligence or wrongdoing, you deserve to know who is responsible. You may be entitled to seek justice for your loved one and hold responsible parties accountable in a Gillette wrongful death claim for compensation. Call Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. at (307) 257-7800 to schedule a free case evaluation.

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What Is the Prison System Like in Wyoming?

The Wyoming Department of Corrections prison system is composed of several different institutions. These include:

• Wyoming State Penitentiary: This is a high custody facility, located in Rawlins. To get there, you take Exit 214 off Interstate 80 at Higley Boulevard.
• Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution: This facility is designed to serve as the main intake and assessment center for male inmates not facing a death sentence. It is a primary education and treatment center for inmates who have been determined to require high levels of protective custody and treatment for medical, dental, substance abuse, or mental health issues.
• Wyoming Women’s Center: Located in Lusk, the Wyoming Women’s Center houses 261 in the main facility, with an additional 32 beds in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The facility is 140,000 square feet and includes an Aquaculture building where tilapia fish are raised.
• Wyoming Honor Farm: Classified as a minimum custody facility, the Honor Farm is located one mile north of Riverton. The Wild Horse Program at the Honor Farm is designed to teach respect for animals and people through working with horses.
• Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp and Wyoming Boot Camp: The Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp (WHCC) contains three dorms that house 238 minimum security inmates, plus a fenced in boot camp building that houses 56 inmates. The Boot Camp is a youthful offender program for first-time male offenders under the age of 25, which provides opportunities for sentence reduction and serves as an alternative to long-term incarceration.

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What Actions Can Lead to Wrongful Death in a Wyoming Jail or Prison?

In Wyoming, wrongful death is a death that results from another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default, under circumstances for which the deceased could have filed a personal injury claim had he or she survived. Wrongful death can have different causes in prison or jail, many of which may involve the negligence or wrongdoing of guards or staff, for example:

• Medical neglect
• Drug withdrawal
• Alcohol withdrawal
• Failure to administer required medications
• Excessive use of force
• Suffocation and asphyxia from restraints
• Illegal use of tasers or chokeholds
• Failure to protect against violent attacks from fellow inmates

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What Are Inmates’ Rights?

Inmates in our country have certain rights, including freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, sex crimes, sexual harassment, and discrimination. They have a right to adequate medical care and accessible accommodations. They also have a right to freedom of speech and religion and to voice their complaints about prison conditions.

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Who Can Be Held Accountable for Wrongful Death in Jail or Prison?

Parties responsible for wrongful death of an inmate in jail or prison will depend on the surrounding circumstances. Potentially liable parties may include detention centers, jail staff members or medical personnel, municipalities or government agencies that operate jails, and correctional healthcare corporations. Damages may be awarded for several types of losses, including lost income the deceased would have likely earned had he or she lived.

Our Campbell County trial attorneys at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C. can demand documentation, depose officers and jail or prison personnel, and work closely with experts to uncover what happened to your loved one. If your family member has died in jail or prison under circumstances you believe are suspicious, call us at (307) 257-7800 to schedule a free case strategy session. Don’t wait to contact a Gillette wrongful death lawyer until the statute of limitations for filing a claim expires.

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