Colorado inmate death not reported for over a year

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

DENVER (AP) — Colorado prison officials waited nearly a year and a half to report the death of a mentally ill inmate to health officials, delaying an outside review into policies and procedures that may have led to the death.

The Denver Post (http://dpo.st/1qcd0zj ) reported Monday that state health officials launched an investigation this summer into Christopher Lopez’s death. He suffered two seizures and died on a cell floor at San Carlos Correctional Facility on March 17, 2013.

Prison cameras captured the incident, and guards could be heard laughing and discussing their views on Wal-Mart. Lopez’s family has filed a lawsuit saying the guards ignored his needs and that Lopez had bipolar schizoaffective disorder.

Corrections Department spokeswoman Adrienne Jacobson says it wasn’t reported because Lopez didn’t die in the clinic. Health officials say it must be reported because inmates get care in cells or the clinic.

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Read more: http://www.salon.com/2014/08/25/colorado_inmate_death_not_reported_for_over_a_year/

[ck4829]

1. Had he no family that fought for his memory, he would be an unperson.

[SoapBox]

2. How horrible.

Can you imagine the terror in your mind, that no one will help you and to be dying on the floor, even with voices and laughing near by?

[jwirr]

3. I had a young friend who ended up in prison here in NE MN and had siezures for years before. When

he went into the prison they decided he did not really have seizures and stopped his meds and would not give him assistance during a seizure. His mother took them to court and they had to comply. There is this terrible attitude toward the mentally ill and persons with seizures that somehow they are just pretending to be ill. In jail where the officials are not always well trained this becomes a real problem.

Fortunately my friend did his time and is now free and active again in the community.

[onecent]

4. This is so sick. I am so damn

sick of americans and their crap. My God this poor man. How sad for his family also. Shit those people should be put in prison. Dammit.

[dickthegrouch]

5. Yet again white collar criminals get off scot free

Damned disgusting

[Kelvin Mace]

6. How many more unreported deaths are out there?

I am beginning to think that we need a top to bottom, nationwide, review of all police and prisons.

[Fred Sanders]

8. Starting with the private prison industry, Americas shameful for profit abomination.

[Fred Sanders]

7. Wow, this non reporting is clearly a criminal act, did they report any arrests or suspects?

The BS about not being in the clinic does not pass the smell test, a prisoner is a prisoner is a prisoner.

[mackerel]

9. People get paid to answer like this?

"Corrections Department spokeswoman Adrienne Jacobson says it wasn’t reported because Lopez didn’t die in the clinic. Health officials say it must be reported because inmates get care in cells or the clinic. "

*************
That has got to be the stupidest answer.

What did they do with his body? His personal belongings?