A settlement was reached Monday in a lawsuit filed by inmate James J. Ramirez against the Jackson County Detention Center in downtown Kansas City.  Ramirez was the victim of a jailhouse beating that left him with nine broken ribs, fractured wrists and a collapsed lung.  His lawsuit was one of many filed by inmates of the center alleging unsafe and unclean conditions over the past few months.  The county has agreed to pay out $437,500.  

Image Courtesy of The Kansas City Star

Allegations of corruption have also been made against jailhouse officials, including the acceptance of bribes by officers and distribution of contraband. Approximately two hundred law enforcement officers searched the Jackson County Detention Center in Kansas City for several hours this week as part of an ongoing investigation.Ramirez’s case was the catalyst in the FBI’s decision to look into the conditions of the center, as were at least three inmate-to-inmate sexual assaults and one inmate death.  Consulting firms have been brought in to take a closer look at the facility and some of the findings from their audits are expected to be released to the public next month, which may include ways to improve security measures for the nearly 900 inmates and staff, and possible plans for expansion.

Sources:

Jailhouse beating that FBI investigated ends in large settlementFormer Jackson County inmate says guard didn’t stop rape, supplied attacker with drugs