Neglected prisoner gets $15.5 million after serving 22 months in solitary

[Tony_FLADEM]

Stephen Slevin spent 22 months in solitary confinement in a New Mexico jail. During that time, his mental health deteriorated, fungus grew on his skin, and he was forced to pull his own tooth after being denied access to a dentist. A recent settlement with Dona Ana County resulted in Slevin receiving $15.5 million.

Initially, Slevin was awarded $22 million by a jury, but Dona Ana County appealed. The two parties reached an agreement this week. According to NBC News, Slevin's attorney, Matt Coyte, said his client's "mental health has been severely compromised from the time he was in that facility. That continues to be the same. No amount of money will bring back what they took away from him. But it’s nice to be able to get him some money so he can improve where he is in life and move on."

During his 22 months in solitary confinement, Slevin developed bedsores and lost 50 pounds. The ordeal began in 2005 when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and stealing a car, which he says he borrowed from a friend. Slevin was never brought before a judge nor was he officially convicted of any crime. He said he wrote letters, begging for help with his depression. The before and after photos show the effect the 22 months of neglect had.

"Why they did what they did, I'll never know," Slevin told KOB4-TV. "Walking by me, watching me deteriorate day after day after day, and they did nothing at all to get me help."

Slevin's attorney said his client was battling depression at the time of his arrest. His health woes continue. He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He also suffers from post traumatic stress disorder due to his time in jail.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/neglected-prisoner-gets-15-5-million-serving-22-181425242.html

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended. On edit here are the before and after pics.

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/PDGA2ooctMPZ.5FJWXUkXA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/

Thanks for the thread, Tony_FLADEM.

[Nye Bevan]

2. OK, who here would take that deal? Go into solitary today,

come out in January 2015, and get a check for $15.5 million. I would consider this only if I had access to unlimited books of my choice (which probably would not be the case).

[Uncle Joe]

3. It depends on whether you could maintain your sanity and to be comparable

you couldn't/wouldn't know that you would, get 15.5 million not to mention ever get out of solitary confinement alive.

[Nye Bevan]

5. I would need the unlimited books to maintain my sanity.

Being left alone with only my thoughts for 22 months would be intolerable.

[malaise]

4. Neglected or tortured?

That was cruel and inhumane punishment and for what exactly????

[Uncle Joe]

6. He was never brought up for a judge nor convicted of a crime.

During his 22 months in solitary confinement, Slevin developed bedsores and lost 50 pounds. The ordeal began in 2005 when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and stealing a car, which he says he borrowed from a friend. Slevin was never brought before a judge nor was he officially convicted of any crime. He said he wrote letters, begging for help with his depression. The before and after photos show the effect the 22 months of neglect had.

[malaise]

7. Unfreakingbelievable

I know of one worse than that - this poor mentally challenged man was moved from a police lockup to the prison before a hurricane and they remembered him 22 years later. The Jamaican state had to pay millions.
As Marley says "Man to man in so unjust."

[Uncle Joe]

8. That's the truth.

As Marley says "Man to man in so unjust."