James Everett Died In Thomson Prison After Being Found Unresponsive

Inmate James Everett Died In-Custody At The United States Penitentiary, Thomson After Being Found Unresponsive

James Everett Died In Thomson Prison After Being Found Unresponsive

WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS (March 20, 2020) – An inmate identified as James Everett has tragically died in custody at the Thomson prison after he was found unresponsive.

Will County police officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday at the maximum security federal lockup. Prison officials found James Everett unresponsive in some part of the prison.

Paramedics and emergency responders were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, James Everett died not long after he was found.

This is the sixth inmate death at the Thomson prison in the last two years. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In Thomson Prison In Custody Deaths

Far too many people die every year in custody at jails and prisons across the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), there were around 1,120 inmate deaths in 2018 alone. That amounts to around 154 deaths for every 100,000 people in jail. The vast majority of these deaths were totally preventable and due to numerous factors including:

  • Inmate suicides
  • Inmate on inmate violence
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Drug overdoses

Depending on the circumstances of any case, a prison could potentially be liable for the death of an inmate. All prisons have a legal responsibility to provide inmates with reasonably adequate healthcare and a safe environment. Failure to do this is a deprivation of their right to due process and equal protection under the constitution. Many inmates die when they are going through some type of mental health crisis or medical emergency. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.

  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Prison records should be examined.
  • A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.

The family of any victim that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the unexpected expenses that come with the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. Sadly, though, prisons will often fight hard to deny liability for any in custody death. An Illinois wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A Thomson Prison In Custody Death

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of James Everett. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of all who have lost so much. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies at this prison.

Do you need more information about an incident that took place at the Thomson prison? Our team of experienced inmate advocates are here to answer any legal questions that you may have. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that inmates are treated fairly and humanely. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a particular incident we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.