Inmate Larry Jones Injured By Guard At Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 21, 2023) – An inmate identified as Larry Jones sustained a fingertip amputation after a guard at Men’s Central Jail closed the door on his hand.

The incident has been discussed by the victim’s wife in the San Francisco Bay View. It took place on September 19th. Larry Jones is an inmate at the Men’s Central Jail who relies on a cane and wheelchair.

A prison guard kicked a door closed directly onto his hand. Instead of immediately rendering aid, the guard inserted his key into the door and proceeded to lock it. Larry Jones was later taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery.

His wife said that the mistreatment has come as a consequence of her advocacy for better standards at the Men’s Central Jail. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

 

Liability For Excessive Force At The Men’s Central Jail

The Men’s Central Jail has one of the worst reputations among all jails in California. So far this year, 13 inmates have died in-custody at the Men’s Central Jail. But there has been systematic abuse and inmate neglect at prisons across Los Angeles County. According to The Guardian, “Los Angeles jail guards have frequently punched incarcerated people in the head and subjected them to a “humiliating” group strip-search where they were forced to wait undressed for hours, according to a new report from court-appointed monitors documenting a range of abuses.” There are many other inhumane acts inmates have been subjected to.

• Solitary Confinement: Many inmates have been subjected to indefinite solitary confinement and are isolated to small cells for 22 – 24 hours a day. This can lead to severe psychological harm.
• Overcrowding: Jails only have so much room and so many resources. But jails are repeatedly filled beyond capacity. This can lead to less access to healthcare and increased violence.
• Physical Abuse: Inmates are regularly the targets of excessive force. It is also common for inmates to be threatened if they speak out about their mistreatment.
• Inadequate Mental Healthcare: Inmates enter the prison system with a variety of different trauma and psychological issues. These issues are often made worse by jail conditions and a lack of proper mental healthcare.

Depending on the facts of any case, a jail could be liable for the excessive force of correctional officers. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There is simply no reason that jail officials should ever hit an inmate when they do not pose a threat to anyone. It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after any instance of excessive force.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Medical records related to any injuries should be preserved.
• Surveillance footage of the incident should be sought.
• Jail records of the incident should be reviewed.

Jails will often go to great lengths to cover up prisoner abuse. This may include blaming the victim for any use-of-force incident. It is important for victims of prison abuse to understand that they do have rights. Any person that is injured due to the excessive force of correctional officers may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

 

Investigating Prison Abuse At The Men’s Central Jail

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to Larry Jones and his family as he continues to recover. We strongly condemn the actions of the prison guard that perpetrated this act. There is no justification for this sort of senseless violence and cruelty. It is our sincere hope that greater oversight of this jail and the abuse that takes place there will lead to lasting reform.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured by prison guards. You may have legal recourse. Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We focus entirely on helping people who have been harmed by the unconstitutional actions of law enforcement and prison guards. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.