Henrico County Prisoners’ Rights Lawyer

Between Henrico County Regional Jail East and Henrico County Regional Jail West, this area is often home to more than 200 incarcerated individuals. Regardless of the choices and circumstances that put these people into a regional jail, each one deserves to be treated humanely.

If you or a loved one is currently or has previously been incarcerated in these jails or in another, you may need the help of a prisoners’ rights lawyer — especially if your constitutional rights have been violated. 

No one deserves to experience unlawful confinement, inhumane treatment from prison personnel, or other unfair and unlawful conditions. With a lawyer for prisoners rights, you can fight for just treatment and regain your rights. Turn to the Commonwealth Law Group when you need a lawyer on your side.

Our team has a deep and fundamental understanding of civil rights and the Constitution. We also have vast experience in this area of law. Give us a call and trust us to fight tirelessly on your behalf.

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America’s prison system has three overarching goals:

1. To deter individuals from committing a crime
2. To punish those who have committed a crime
3. To rehabilitate the criminal

In their efforts to achieve those first two goals, many prison managers miss the mark on the third and final one. By falling short of their obligations, prison personnel may inadvertently (or even purposefully) deprive inmates of their inherent right to safety, dignity, and reasonable access to healthcare. 

When that happens, the inmate should begin the search for a prisoners’ rights lawyer near me. 

Because of the Eighth Amendment, all individuals within the United States are protected against punishment that is “cruel and unusual.” Essentially, that means prisoners have a right to be free from abuse, discrimination, and racial segregation. They also have the right to:

Receive Appropriate Medical Care

All incarcerated individuals have the right to receive adequate medical care throughout their imprisonment, as decided in the landmark case of Estelle vs. Gamble. Essentially, this means that if you can prove that prison officials have shown a “deliberate indifference” to your medical needs, you have the grounds for a lawsuit. 

Obviously, without the intervention of prison personnel, inmates do not have the ability to obtain medical care on their own. If indifference from prison personnel has left you sicker or injured, or in more pain than you otherwise would be, it’s time to call a prisoners’ rights lawyer near you.

Receive Appropriate Mental Health Care

Prisoners have the right to remain free from discrimination because of a mental illness. They also have the right to receive necessary treatments and accommodations for those illnesses. Failure to provide these types of services is a civil rights violation, and the prison or jail system must be held accountable.

Dwell in Humane Conditions

While in prison, a person has the right to humane conditions. Essentially this means that they cannot be deprived of basic human needs like food, water, shelter, exercise, sanitation, hygiene, and clothing. If the prison or jail fails to meet any of these needs, you should contact a prisoner rights lawyer at Commonwealth Law Group immediately.

File Complaints Regarding Inhumane Conditions

Prisoners have a legal right to file a complaint about prison conditions. They also have the right to take a complaint to court. 

If you believe your rights as a prisoner have been violated by the system, the prison, or a member of the prison’s staff, you should call a lawyer for further guidance. And you should know that you have the right to pursue all of your legal options without fear of retribution. 

You will find that a lawyer for prisoners' rights can be a valuable asset for anyone whose rights have been violated. To learn more about how the team at Commonwealth Law Group can help in Henrico County, contact us today.