Corrections officers are duty-bound to protect the individuals in their care. While convicts can be denied “luxuries” as a routine part of their incarceration, they should not live in fear of their lives. 39-year-old Luziano Hinks has filed a lawsuit alleging that corrections officers failed to protect him from an inmate assault in New York City even after he pleaded to be transferred to a more secure facility.
The attack took place after the victim had been repeatedly threatened by his assailant. In fact, Hinks was granted a transfer to a different part of the prison facility after an initial altercation with his attacker but, either through negligence or disregard for his safety, the assailant (Steven Shaw) was transferred into the same area within a month’s time.
It was then that the victim was slashed repeatedly with a scalpel, suffering lacerations to his face, arm, and back. The lawsuit alleges that the attacker was not put through a metal detector prior to his transfer inside Rikers Island and that those “lax procedures” directly contributed to Hinks’ injuries. This was just one of roughly 150 slashing attacks inside the walls of Rikers Island every year.
Peter Thorne, a spokesperson for the Department of Corrections said that the majority of corrections officers “carry out their duties with care and integrity.” When pressed, he said that the DOC was continuously working to ensure that all staff members follow suit.
But for victims of violent attacks inside prison walls, those changes are too little too late.
If you’ve been injured while in Rikers Island, especially after you bring a dangerous situation to the attention of correction officers, you could have the basis for an inmate assault lawsuit in New York City. To protect your interests and recover the compensation you are entitled to, contact an experienced inmate assault attorney in New York City at the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel