Prison Guards Kill Prisoner With Shower

[Shofercia]

Yes, it really happened: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prison-guard ... 04831.html

Four prison guards who are alleged to have killed a schizophrenic inmate by effectively boiling him to death have escaped charges. Darren Rainey was forcefully held in a scalding hot shower for hours after he smeared faeces on himself at the Dale Correctional Institution in Miami, Florida, in 2012. Rainey, 50, had refused to stand under the shower but was told by Officer Roland Clarke that he could not leave until he washed. After starting to wash, Rainey said, “No, I don’t want to do this,” and leaned on a wall away from the water, according to Officer Clarke.

Officers continued to check on him, and the decision was made to take Rainey out of the shower after around two hours but he was found lying face up in about 8 centimetres of water with no pulse and not breathing. Another inmate, Harold Hempstead, alleged that he had heard Rainey yelling and kicking at the shower door, saying, ”I’m sorry. I won’t do it anymore” and “I can’t take it no more” while the guards laughed. Several witnesses said Rainey’s skin appeared to be peeled back or reddish in some spots and looked like a “boiled lobster”. However, an autopsy found this “slippage” was most likely caused by friction or pressure on his moist and warm skin that was applied in an effort to revive him.

Prosecutors have now concluded Hempstead was an unreliable witness and concluded Rainey had died partly because of undiagnosed heart disease and suffered no scalding injuries. Dr Emma Lew, Miami-Dade’s medical examiner, said Rainey did not suffer any burns of any kind and there was no evidence of trauma. She said his death was down to a combination of his schizophrenia, heart disease and confinement in the small shower space. Dr Lew said that schizophrenic people can have nervous system reactions that trigger a heart attack if they have an underlying condition. Prosecutors said that the guards did not commit murder or manslaughter, writing in a memo: ”Placing an inmate who has defecated upon himself in a shower to decontaminate himself is not conduct that is criminally reckless.

“There was no evidence of any intent to harm Rainey.” The conclusion ends a nearly five-year probe into the death Rainey, who was serving a two-year sentence on a cocaine charge. Milton Grimes, the layer for Rainey’s family, said in a statement that the family is “disappointed and heartbroken” that no charges will be brought. He added: ”This is not justice for Darren, for his family, nor for the mentally ill who have been subject to similar abuse and mistreatment,” Mr Grimes said. The prosecutors determined that corrections officers did not commit murder or manslaughter in Rainey’s death and that taking him to the shower was appropriate under the circumstances.

Long story short: someone serving a two year cocaine sentence shit his pants. He was schizophrenic. The prison guards likely knew of his condition, and yet made him stand in the shower, debatable whether the shower was hot or not, for 2 hours. He died of an undiagnosed heart condition, and because his schizophrenia triggered by being left in a tiny sport, with water dropping all over him, as he's screaming, caused a complication.

So, are the prison guards guilty or not? What say ye, NSG?

I think that this is yet another reason for reforming the prison system, especially when it comes to minor offenses.

[Ethel mermania]

Yes, it really happened: https://www.yahoo.com/news/prison-guard ... 04831.html

Four prison guards who are alleged to have killed a schizophrenic inmate by effectively boiling him to death have escaped charges. Darren Rainey was forcefully held in a scalding hot shower for hours after he smeared faeces on himself at the Dale Correctional Institution in Miami, Florida, in 2012. Rainey, 50, had refused to stand under the shower but was told by Officer Roland Clarke that he could not leave until he washed. After starting to wash, Rainey said, “No, I don’t want to do this,” and leaned on a wall away from the water, according to Officer Clarke.

Officers continued to check on him, and the decision was made to take Rainey out of the shower after around two hours but he was found lying face up in about 8 centimetres of water with no pulse and not breathing. Another inmate, Harold Hempstead, alleged that he had heard Rainey yelling and kicking at the shower door, saying, ”I’m sorry. I won’t do it anymore” and “I can’t take it no more” while the guards laughed. Several witnesses said Rainey’s skin appeared to be peeled back or reddish in some spots and looked like a “boiled lobster”. However, an autopsy found this “slippage” was most likely caused by friction or pressure on his moist and warm skin that was applied in an effort to revive him.

Prosecutors have now concluded Hempstead was an unreliable witness and concluded Rainey had died partly because of undiagnosed heart disease and suffered no scalding injuries. Dr Emma Lew, Miami-Dade’s medical examiner, said Rainey did not suffer any burns of any kind and there was no evidence of trauma. She said his death was down to a combination of his schizophrenia, heart disease and confinement in the small shower space. Dr Lew said that schizophrenic people can have nervous system reactions that trigger a heart attack if they have an underlying condition. Prosecutors said that the guards did not commit murder or manslaughter, writing in a memo: ”Placing an inmate who has defecated upon himself in a shower to decontaminate himself is not conduct that is criminally reckless.

“There was no evidence of any intent to harm Rainey.” The conclusion ends a nearly five-year probe into the death Rainey, who was serving a two-year sentence on a cocaine charge. Milton Grimes, the layer for Rainey’s family, said in a statement that the family is “disappointed and heartbroken” that no charges will be brought. He added: ”This is not justice for Darren, for his family, nor for the mentally ill who have been subject to similar abuse and mistreatment,” Mr Grimes said. The prosecutors determined that corrections officers did not commit murder or manslaughter in Rainey’s death and that taking him to the shower was appropriate under the circumstances.

Long story short: someone serving a two year cocaine sentence shit his pants. He was schizophrenic. The prison guards likely knew of his condition, and yet made him stand in the shower, debatable whether the shower was hot or not, for 2 hours. He died of an undiagnosed heart condition, and because his schizophrenia triggered by being left in a tiny sport, with water dropping all over him, as he's screaming, caused a complication.

So, are the prison guards guilty or not? What say ye, NSG?

I think that this is yet another reason for reforming the prison system, especially when it comes to minor offenses.

edit: i was read this story this morning


i am not real happy about this, miami dade is ususally better than this

another article has more detailed, and much uglier story. Now NPR is a highly bias source, but its not looking good

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/ ... o-wrongdoi

[Major-Tom]

Our prison system is among the worst in the developed world. We need to significantly overhaul the entirety of it and offer rehabilitation - not prison, for drug related offenses.

This goes against my values, american values, and christian values.

[Washington Resistance Army]

What the shit?

Yeah, the guards seem pretty guilty.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

Just going by OP's summary it sounds like a pretty cut and dry case of negligent manslaughter.

Also of fucking course it'd be here in Miami.

[Baltenstein]

The first image that popped into my head when reading the title was that of an angry prison guard beating a prisoner to death with a metal shower head.

I'm not sure if the actual cause of death is better or worse.

[Pope Joan]

Oh wait, upon further reflection, it must have been suicide.

All prison deaths are suicides, everyone knows that.

[Socialist Nordia]

Just going by OP's summary it sounds like a pretty cut and dry case of negligent manslaughter.

Also of fucking course it'd be here in Miami.

Oh, a fellow Miamian?
Anyway, this is pretty messed up. I will be very disappointed if that guard gets off with anything less that a manslaughter charge.

[Nirvash Type TheEND]

Just going by OP's summary it sounds like a pretty cut and dry case of negligent manslaughter.

Also of fucking course it'd be here in Miami.

Oh, a fellow Miamian?
Anyway, this is pretty messed up. I will be very disappointed if that guard gets off with anything less that a manslaughter charge.

Originally from Tampa, but yeah.

[Ethel mermania]

Just going by OP's summary it sounds like a pretty cut and dry case of negligent manslaughter.

Also of fucking course it'd be here in Miami.

Oh, a fellow Miamian?
Anyway, this is pretty messed up. I will be very disappointed if that guard gets off with anything less that a manslaughter charge.

this happened 4 years ago. the reason it is in the news now is that the prosecutor just announced he was not pressing charges against the guards.

[Salus Maior]

The first image that popped into my head when reading the title was that of an angry prison guard beating a prisoner to death with a metal shower head.

I'm not sure if the actual cause of death is better or worse.

Same, actually.

Why was the shower so hot?

[Saiwania]

It is no good if the water was scalding hot, but unless if the nozzle covers the entire area of the room, there are still ways to avoid getting wet in a shower. Simply go right underneath the nozzle so you're out of its way, or cling closely against a portion of wall that isn't getting hit with much water.

[Luziyca]

...I'm shocked.

[Anollasia]

The first image that popped into my head when reading the title was that of an angry prison guard beating a prisoner to death with a metal shower head.

I'm not sure if the actual cause of death is better or worse.

That's what I pictured too.

Anyway, this is awful. The guards are definitely guilty on this one. People with mental illnesses should receive proper treatment, even if they're prisoners.

[Luziyca]

The first image that popped into my head when reading the title was that of an angry prison guard beating a prisoner to death with a metal shower head.

I'm not sure if the actual cause of death is better or worse.

That's what I pictured too.

Anyway, this is awful. The guards are definitely guilty on this one. People with mental illnesses should receive proper treatment, even if they're prisoners.

Indeed.

But knowing America, it is clear that they don't give any fucks about that. They just care about locking them up, and throw away the key, and let them waste to death.

[Fartsniffage]

It is no good if the water was scalding hot, but unless if the nozzle covers the entire area of the room, there are still ways to avoid getting wet in a shower. Simply go right underneath the nozzle so you're out of its way, or cling closely against a portion of wall that isn't getting hit with much water.

You're really trying to defend something like this?

[Internationalist Bastard]

Our prison system is a disgrace, but I can't bank on it improving anytime soon

[Minzerland II]

I'm not going to lie, when I saw 'Prison Guards Kill Prisoner With Shower' my first thoughts were of the Holocaust.

[Liriena]

That is horrifying. The guards deserve to face justice for what they did, even if it was not their intention to kill that man.

Also, this is yet another reason why the United States really need to do a whole bloody lot of soul searching on the issue of using the prison system to "treat" mental illness, and the issue of the war on drugs as well. This sort of thing cannot and must not happen again.

[FelrikTheDeleted]

From the title I would have thought the Prison Guard had somehow drowned the prisoner; with an intent to kill of course.

[Saiwania]

You're really trying to defend something like this?

If it were me anyways, I think I'd survive this, regardless of if the water was too hot or cold. Unless if the guards want to come in and hold me, but they'd probably get wet as well. I can stay up on the corner of a ceiling like a ninja if need be.

It is to be expected that if you're the typical inmate, that everyone is going to treat you like dirt. The US prison system is one where you have to fit in, or you'll be destroyed by your fellow inmates if not the guards.

There are rules that you need to follow to keep guards happy, and then there is a separate prison code that is difficult to definitively define which gains you respect or disrespect from other inmates. It also partially has to do with why you're in prison to begin with. But not needlessly upsetting the other inmates, is what primarily makes the difference between a pleasant and miserable stay. I do know that behind bars that prisoners voluntarily segregate by race. If you're White for example, you had better stay in the White section of the yard. Always has been that way in prison, always will be.

[Internationalist Bastard]

You're really trying to defend something like this?

If it were me anyways, I think I'd survive this, regardless of if the water was too hot or cold. Unless if the guards want to come in and hold me, but they'd probably get wet as well. I can stay up on the corner of a ceiling like a ninja if need be.

It is to be expected that if you're the typical inmate, that everyone is going to treat you like dirt. The US prison system is one where you have to fit in, or you'll be destroyed by your fellow inmates if not the guards.

There are rules that you need to follow to keep guards happy, and then there is a separate prison code that is difficult to definitively define which gains you respect or disrespect from other inmates. It also partially has to do with why you're in prison to begin with. But not needlessly upsetting the other inmates, is what primarily makes the difference between a pleasant and miserable stay. I do know that behind bars that prisoners voluntarily segregate by race. If you're White for example, you had better stay in the White section of the yard. Always has been that way behind bars, always will be.

He didn't break any rules. He was mentally ill and had an episode. Additionally, he did try to avoid water, but they kept spraying him

[Hallistar]

I recall reading about a similar case years ago (2008 or 2010 or something) where a Florida prison guard (I believe it was a facility for those with mental disorders) forced a 50-ish year old black male prisoner who smeared feces on the wall after defecating on himself into a shower with no controls and locked him in there. The shower was set to scalding hot and there was no room for the prisoner to move. When they opened the shower two hours later the skin of his dead body had literally peeled off.

What a world we live in.

EDIT: to clarify, the shower in the story I'm referring to was some kind of portable shower that there was basically no way to move out of the water, and I'm pretty sure even in a bigger shower the shear amount of steam would've have made it hard to breathe that he might have just passed out anyways

[Gauthier]

Just goes to show prisons are the de facto mental institutions in today's country.

[Neutraligon]

I recall reading about a similar case years ago (2008 or 2010 or something) where a Florida prison guard (I believe it was a facility for those with mental disorders) forced a 50-ish year old black male prisoner who smeared feces on the wall after defecating on himself into a shower with no controls and locked him in there. The shower was set to scalding hot and there was no room for the prisoner to move. When they opened the shower two hours later the skin of his dead body had literally peeled off.

What a world we live in.

EDIT: to clarify, the shower in the story I'm referring to was some kind of portable shower that there was basically no way to move out of the water, and I'm pretty sure even in a bigger shower the shear amount of steam would've have made it hard to breathe that he might have just passed out anyways

That is this case. The reason this is news now is because the prosecutor is not going to follow through on this case.