Inmate Paul Hack Died Following Attack By Another Inmate In Limon Correctional Facility In Lincoln County
LIMON, COLORADO (September 25, 2023) - An inmate identified as Paul Hack has tragically died after being attacked by another inmate at the Limon Correctional Facility in Lincoln County.
Lincoln County officials are saying that the incident took place on August 17. Paul Hack was attacked by another inmate under uncertain circumstances.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the inmate. Despite life-saving measures, Paul Hack died due to his injuries. The death is currently being investigated as a homicide.
Visitations to the Limon Correctional Facility have been temporarily suspended.
Liability For Jefferson County Inmate Deaths
Homicides are one of the main causes of inmate death in the United States. According to Statista, “In 2019, 143 inmates of state and federal prisons in the United States were killed by homicide. This is a significant increase from 2008 levels, when 40 inmates were killed in state or federal prisons in the United States.” While it is impossible for prisons to prevent all instances of violence, there are tangible steps that jails should take to protect inmates from being attacked.
- Violent inmates should typically be segregated from non-violent offenders.
- Jails should be adequately staffed by well-trained correctional officers.
- Jails should offer programs and counseling to help inmates resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner.
Depending on the facts of any case, a jail could face civil liability if an inmate is attacked or killed by another inmate. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the prospect that an inmate would be harmed, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. For deliberate indifference to be established, a plaintiff would need to show that jail officials had specific knowledge of particular threats and failed to take action to prevent harm. In some circumstances, correctional officers may have still acted with deliberate indifference even if they lacked specific knowledge of particular threats.
Consider, for example, Pierson v. Hartley. In that case, jail staff allowed an inmate with a known violent history to roam an open spaced dormitory. He was also previously convicted for possessing a weapon while incarcerated. He attacked another inmate causing him to be seriously injured. An appeals court looked at the facts of the case and found the actions of jail staff could constitute deliberate indifference. Several steps should be taken after any in-custody death.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Attacks inside of a jail are often predictable. They may involve an escalating series of conflicts between two or more people. Jails should be doing everything within reason to prevent inmate homicides, but this often does not happen. It is important that inmates and their families understand that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a constitutional claim.
Investigating Limon Correctional Facility Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Paul Hack. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that there is greater oversight at this jail so that similar tragedies may be averted.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at the Limon Correctional Facility in Lincoln County? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to assist you in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that constitutional standards at jails are being upheld. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any in-custody death we may be able to help. You can contact us anytime at 214-987-4100.