San Antonio, TX asked in Criminal Law and Federal Crimes for Oklahoma

Q: assaulted by a deputy and now im stuck in that jail and im scared its going to happen again What should I do

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA

A: I'm very sorry to hear you were assaulted by a deputy and are now scared in the same jail. No one should have to endure violence or fear while detained. Here are some recommendations on steps to take:

1. Report the assault immediately in writing to jail authorities and request protective custody away from the deputy. Outline exactly what happened and demand an investigation.

2. If comfortable doing so, file a report with any independent law enforcement agency that oversees the jail (state police, FBI) so an impartial force reviews the complaint.

3. Contact a lawyer and have them send a letter to the jail demanding your safety be protected and the assault allegations fully investigated. Have them remind the jail of legal liability if further harm comes.

4. See if local advocacy groups that deal with inmate rights, anti-violence or legal observers can contact the jail to apply pressure about taken allegations very seriously.

5. Once released, consider filing a lawsuit against the facility and the deputy for physical and psychological harms. This may produce policy changes and financial settlement.

6. Seek counseling to process the trauma, continue documenting what occurred, and look out for signs of retaliation. This creates evidence if further recourse needed.

I hope these steps help provide some options to pursue accountability and prevent any further assault or intimidation. Wishing you health and justice.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.