Fighting for People Who Have Been Harmed by the Jail and Prison System
The attorneys at Ives & Flores can help if you or a loved one has suffered mistreatment while incarcerated.
People in jails and prisons have rights, both before trial and when serving a sentence after conviction. Just because someone is incarcerated does not mean that they can be abused. When the government takes away a person’s liberty, the state and federal constitutions require that the incarcerated person be protected and provided with adequate care.
Abuse by prison and jail officials can take many forms, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect of an inmate’s basic needs. Some common types of abuse include:
- Excessive force—beatings, chokeholds, Tasing, pepper spray, and use of restraint chairs.
- Sexual assault of an inmate by correctional employees—this can include sexual exploitation, as in a correctional setting, inmates are not able to freely give or withhold consent.
- Failing to protect an inmate from assault or sexual assault by other inmates.
- Medical neglect.
- Detaining inmates beyond their lawful sentence.
- Failing to prevent inmate suicide.
- Inhumane conditions of confinement—including the improper use of solitary confinement.
- Not allowing inmates to practice their religion.
- Inadequate or improper nutrition.
At Ives & Flores, we care about people who have been incarcerated, and we have a proven track record of fighting for their constitutional rights. Our attorneys have won judgments and settlements for clients who have been raped and attacked in prison, for family members of inmates who have died by suicide, for individuals who have been deprived of medical and mental health care, and for inmates who were subjected to excessive periods of solitary confinement, among many others. In addition, our attorneys continue to help enforce a class-action settlement that has compelled the joint City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center to improve conditions for all inmates at the jail.
If you or someone you love has been abused by the correctional system, [email protected] or call 505-364-3858 for a free evaluation. We’ll listen to what happened, consider the evidence, and help you explore your legal options.