Florida Prison Suicide Lawyer Fighting for Compensation
When a person becomes incarcerated, they do not immediately forfeit their basic rights as a human being. Prisons and other institutions that house incarcerated individuals are required to provide them with essential medical care. When they fail to do so, and that failure results in the inmate’s death, the establishment responsible may have violated the constitutional rights of the incarcerated person. At Lauer & Currie, P.A., each Florida prison suicide lawyer specialize in championing the rights of people who were denied necessary medical care while incarcerated. A common form of mistreatment that we encounter is the neglect of inmates that are suicidal suffer from other psychiatric disorders.
Inmate Suicide: A National Crisis
According to a recent article published by USA Today, suicide in the United States penal institutions are increasing at an alarming rate. Consider the following:
- While suicide has long been the number one cause of death in United States, suicide while in jail reached at all-time high in 2014 with 50 cases per every 100,000 inmates (latest information available)
- Suicide while in jail happens 2.5 times more frequently than suicides in state prison and 3.5 times more frequently than that of the general population
- Approximately ⅓ of the inmates that either committed suicide or attempted suicide did so due to staff denying them drugs they had been prescribed for mental illness
- 2014 federal statistics report 372 suicides among 3,000 jails surveyed
- More than ½ of suicide attempts in jail occur during the first seven days of incarceration
Florida Jail Suicide Lawyer Explains an Inmates Right to Medical Attention
Many inmates suffer from mental illnesses (some very severe), which is often a contributing factor to a prisoner committing suicide while incarcerated. Some suicides occur in prison or jail unnecessarily and where the inmate only committed a very minor crime and may be released back to their family after a short time. However, instead of being released back to their family for a second chance at life, some inmates never make it out alive from their stay in prison or jail because they committed suicide due to severe mental health issues.
Many suicidal inmates need medical treatment for their mental illnesses, but they never receive the treatment they desperately need. Providing medical care for inmates is a requirement, not an option. Once an individual is incarcerated, the inmate and his or her family no longer have the ability to provide for the inmate’s care.
“Suicide Risk” Identifiers
Institutions such as jails and prisons have a duty to provide adequate medical care and protection for inmates, especially those who are suicidal. Institutions should have medical protocols in place to identify inmates who are at risk of committing suicide.
Various signs and symptoms a prisoner may exhibit that may indicate that the prisoner is a suicide risk include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Sense of hopelessness
- Self-harm
- Suicidal thoughts
- Substance abuse issues
Once prison staff identifies symptoms and warning signs of suicide for an inmate, they should execute a safety protocol to protect the inmate such as ensure that the inmate is properly monitored, is placed in an environment that is safe (without access to items that can contribute to self-harm), and that emergency intervention is available if needed. Where a prison or jail fails to identify symptoms and implement appropriate safety protocols to protect inmates from suicide, the prison or jail may be held legally responsible for a death of the inmate when the death results from suicide. A Florida jail suicide lawyer can help you and your family if this is a situation you are in.
When to Reach Out to a Florida Prison Suicide Lawyer for Help
Inmates battling severe mental illnesses should receive adequate medical care and should not have to suffer in jail or prison without treatment. An institution’s indifference to the medical needs of an inmate that results in death is unacceptable. A Florida prison suicide lawyer at Lauer & Currie, P.A is standing by to help families secure justice and vindicate the rights of their loved ones who committed suicide because of the neglectful care received while in prison or jail. Our team of Florida inmate wrongful death lawyers have years of experience handling inmate suicide cases and are here to help your family.
What a Florida Prison Suicide Lawyer Will Do For You
The attorneys at Lauer & Currie, P.A. hold prison institutions accountable for the flaws in their system that lead to inmate deaths from suicide. When a loved one dies inside of a prison as a result of suicide, their loved ones may be able to obtain damages by filing a wrongful death case against the prison. Filing a lawsuit and navigating through the complexities of litigation and the law can be challenging.
If you are a loved one of an inmate who committed suicide inside of a prison or jail, a Florida jail suicide lawyer at Lauer & Currie, P.A can help you obtain compensation for the death of your loved one that may include compensation for:
- Funeral costs
- Lost future wages
- Emotional pain and suffering
Although receiving compensation for the wrongful death of your family member will never replace your loved one, it can help provide some assistance to your family to begin the process of recovering financially and emotionally to move forward. Our attorneys are here for your family and can help you with your case every step of the way from the very beginning to the very end of your case.
Let a Florida Jail Suicide Lawyer Help
If you have suffered significant damages due to neglect while incarcerated, or if a loved one has died due to neglect while imprisoned, call our firm today to speak with a lawyer who is dedicate to prison suicide cases. Our team of Florida inmate wrongful death lawyers have years of experience handling cases of this magnitude. Our attorneys are especially adept at ensuring those responsible for perpetrating these atrocities are held responsible financially. We serve clients throughout Florida’s jails, including those in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade County. You can reach us online or by calling 954-533-4498.