Woman neglected in jail went blind, begged for water before dying in Texas, lawsuit says

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A woman was in dire need of help and hospitalization while in a “medical observation” cell, but the pretrial detainee was neglected by guards and staff in a Texas jail, according to a federal lawsuit.

Help came “too late” for Holly Barlow-Austin, who died on June 17, 2019, after spending two months at Bi-State Justice Center in Texarkana, Texas, the lawsuit says. Jail staff is accused of causing her death.

Barlow-Austin, who entered jail at 46 with HIV, was denied her prescription medications, rapidly deteriorated and went blind, and begged staff for water while detained in “deplorable and inhumane conditions,” an amended complaint filed in federal court says.

Now, Barlow-Austin’s family has been awarded $7 million in a “historic” lawsuit settlement, before the case was set to go to trial, according to an April 27 news release from civil rights law firm Budge & Heipt PLLC based in Seattle. The firm’s attorneys Erik Heipt and Edwin Budge and Texarkana attorney David Carter represented Barlow-Austin’s mother and husband in the case.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-neglected-jail-went-blind-144611795.html

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. Private prison

Why didn't they even give her her meds?

ABOLISH PRIVATE PRISONS NOW!

[Midnight Writer]

2. Fines won't fix this. Prison time for the people in charge will.

Last edited Thu Apr 27, 2023, 05:03 PM - Edit history (1)

The executives, the supervisors who oversaw this abuse need to spend some jail time, perhaps in someone else's private prison.

This was not "neglect". It was not inadvertent. This was deliberate abuse and torture.

If "corporations are people", they should be held responsible for their actions the same as people would.

[RKP5637]

3. Hold them for premeditated murder! n/t

[Faux pas]

4. EFFERS