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jpak

(41,742 posts)
Tue May 17, 2016, 06:32 AM May 2016

Jail let mentally disabled man starve to death, lawsuit says

Source: cnn

(CNN)Arrested for stealing $5.05 of sweets and soda, a 24-year-old who doctors repeatedly diagnosed as psychotic and delusional was left to essentially starve to death over four months in a squalid Virginia jail cell, Jamycheal Mitchell's aunt alleged in a federal lawsuit.

By the time Mitchell died in August -- officially, of a heart condition "accompanying wasting syndrome of unknown etiology" -- jail staff had allegedly denied him many meals, cut off the water to his cell and left him naked with no bedding or shoes as he smeared feces on the window of his urine-covered cell, the lawsuit states, citing numerous inmates who served time with Mitchell.

Mitchell lost about 40 pounds during his time in jail, documents say. A medical examiner said he was "nearly cachectic," meaning his weight loss could not be reversed via nutrition.

Wasting syndrome and cachectic are terms most often used with sufferers of chronic disease such as cancer and AIDS.

<more>

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/16/us/jamycheal-mitchell-hampton-roads-virginia-jail-lawsuit/

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Jail let mentally disabled man starve to death, lawsuit says (Original Post) jpak May 2016 OP
Oh, God! GreenPartyVoter May 2016 #1
Truly shameful...Virginia has a lot to answer for with this... downeastdaniel May 2016 #2
We're animals to them. Remember that. (n/t) Iggo May 2016 #3
He shouldn't have been in prison in the first place. Bad Dog May 2016 #4
No surprise at all. Enthusiast May 2016 #5
My son is autistic. Bad Dog May 2016 #9
Of course, that is only natural. This country sucks, it really does. Enthusiast May 2016 #11
Fortunately I don't live in America. Bad Dog May 2016 #14
That has been my worry with my brother who has bi-polar. jwirr May 2016 #12
It's more empathy than worry. Bad Dog May 2016 #15
I hope "someone" makes them answer for this torture and murder. Enthusiast May 2016 #6
the prison guards should al be arrested and charged with manslaughter at the very least rdking647 May 2016 #7
Meanwhile at Guantanamo bay they force feed those going on hunger strike Victor_c3 May 2016 #8
Such wanton savagery... gregcrawford May 2016 #10
You may be partially correct but if these people live in an jwirr May 2016 #13
Sad, but true n/t gregcrawford May 2016 #16
Sick. n/t Little Tich May 2016 #17

Bad Dog

(2,025 posts)
4. He shouldn't have been in prison in the first place.
Tue May 17, 2016, 08:21 AM
May 2016

The governor (or whatever the American term is for prison chief,) should be charged with corporate manslaughter. But I bet he stays in post.

Just googled his image, and it's no surprise to find he's black.

Bad Dog

(2,025 posts)
14. Fortunately I don't live in America.
Tue May 17, 2016, 01:25 PM
May 2016

Our judicial system is a lot less punitive. Not that I'm particularly worried in that respect, my son's incredibly law abiding. More than me in fact.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
12. That has been my worry with my brother who has bi-polar.
Tue May 17, 2016, 01:16 PM
May 2016

Jails should at the very least be segregated if people who are sick are jailed.

Bad Dog

(2,025 posts)
15. It's more empathy than worry.
Tue May 17, 2016, 01:28 PM
May 2016

My son has an incredibly positive attitude it's just that in different circumstances who knows what could happen.

gregcrawford

(2,382 posts)
10. Such wanton savagery...
Tue May 17, 2016, 12:51 PM
May 2016

... is so common that you have to wonder if those they recruit as COs even qualify as human. Only psychotic monsters devoid of humanity could do something like this.

jwirr

(39,215 posts)
13. You may be partially correct but if these people live in an
Tue May 17, 2016, 01:24 PM
May 2016

area where it is common to think that mental illness is some kind of punishment from god or fake then these guards probably fit that definition. That stereotype is a very common thing that is behind many kinds of discrimination.

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