Man spends 2 years in solitary after DWI arrest

msnbc.com ^ | 01/25/2012 | Elizabeth Chuck

[The KG9 Kid]

A New Mexico man who said he was forced to pull his own tooth while in solitary confinement because he was denied access to a dentist has been awarded $22 million due to inhumane treatment by New Mexico's Dona Ana County Jail.

Stephen Slevin was arrested in August of 2005 for driving while intoxicated, then thrown in jail for two years. He was in solitary at Dona Ana County Jail for his entire sentence and basically forgotten about and never given a trial, he told NBC station KOB.com Tuesday night.

"'[Jail guards were] walking by me every day, watching me deteriorate," Slevin said. "Day after day after day, they did nothing, nothing at all, to get me any help."

[dragnet2]

Wouldn’t that mean nearly half the prison population are in the joint for non-violent issues? Throw in county/city jails, that number is probably closer to 60 percent non-violent.

[Nifster]

And what statistics are you looking at? The DoJ stats show almost a million prisoners in state prisons for major felonies less than 260,00 for drug related crimes....

Like the other fellow perhaps you are thinking of jail rather than prison.

And most of those 260,000 folks in prison were probably major pushers, king pins, or other scurulous louts.

[Nifster]

And so I site DoJ population statistics from 2009 and 2008 and you site ‘if I recall correctly”.... glad you are the reliable source

[wideminded]

We live in a police state, simple as that. With about 1 in 90, to 1 in 60 (about 1-1.5%) of our population in prison at any given moment, and having more prisoners than anyone in the world (By a factor of 5, compared to the runner up, communist China), it’s necessary to keep the money rolling in. Bloated government has to be funded somehow.

It's not clear to me how prisoners are funding government. The high number of prisoners is certainly funding private companies that run prisons.

[TheConservativeParty]

Ping

[JDW11235]

There’s ample room at the feeding trough, I assure you. I don’t have time at the moment to go further into detail. I’ll try and post later this evening.

[TChad]

The $22 million settlement, awarded by a federal jury Tuesday, is one of the largest prisoner civil rights settlements in U.S. history, according to KOB.com.

Is the court transcript available? It might answer some questions about how this happened.

[SaraJohnson]

NOT ONE PROFESSIONAL doing his prison job like an American? They all acted like sadistic Soviets at the prison camp?

This is seriously troubling. I am glad he got 22 million. It should have been enough to close the prison down for lack of funding. I want to know the names of all the animals posing as humans who were in on this crime.

Abusers of police authority should go on a registry like the sexual pervert registry so they don’t get hired for a job with exposure to human beings and surely not with any power over other human beings.

[Osage Orange]

With about 1 in 90, to 1 in 60 (about 1-1.5%) of our population in prison at any given moment, and having more prisoners than anyone in the world

Part of that is "We" have laws. And when they are broken we do something. Period.

Comparing us to China is laughable.

Are you an Amnesty International supporter?

Oh, I agree...that some shouldn't be warehoused...they should be shot.

And some should never have been thrown in jail. A couple joints, an ounce of personal pot. Nope.

The three strikes rule should be thought about again....some perps don't deserve it...for sure.

But.....overall, we throw people in jail who deserve it.

This is an isolated case..and tragic, IF true.

[Thank You Rush]

“”I wonder what the story is about how he finally got noticed and released?””

Me too! How long has he been out? His attorney doesn’t sound too swift but if this guy has some good advisors, he could do a lot of good with his award money for others in the same situation. It doesn’t sound as tho’ he has much zeal for life and who could blame him, but he’d probably jump at the chance to reveal and unveil similar atrocities committed under the color of law enforcement.

Hope he can find some peace and bless those who helped and supported him through the trial.

A wretched story and bitter sweet ending.

[Thank You Rush]

“”I would gladly take 22 million smackers for being in confinement for 2 years.””

With fungus growing under your skin, teeth rotting in your head, never showering, toenails curling into your skin?? And you would plan on keeping your sanity how???

[mamelukesabre]

Curious you didn’t say anything about drunk drivers and bar brawlers. I think drunk drivers should not do time unless they cause an injury or property damage...and as far as bar brawlers go...if both sides are willing participants and no one was disfigured or maimed and bar damages are paid for, just give them a fine and community service.

[Osage Orange]

Well........I was in a rush.

Yeah, I don't think, and I know here in Oklahoma..you aren't getting prison for just a plain DUI..neither for a fight in a bar, unless someone is seriously injured.

But it's going to cost you some bucks!!!!

[familyop]

So? ...looks like he had a great public defender, who was working for the government employees, pensioners and government-linked businesses in his area. [Little irony and sarcasm there.] That sort of thing happens in many local jurisdictions around the country due to decades of bipartisan, so-called law-and-order politics. The Fourth Amendment is now violated daily.

IMO, in the end, the default process will have been a good thing.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I suspect he really wants a drink now!

[Jack Hydrazine]

That first drink is going to be the best!

[starlifter]

The greatest proportion of prisoners are there for bullshit drug crimes.

[starlifter]

“I would gladly take 22 million smackers for being in confinement for 2 years.”

Super...as if he made a knowing decision.

Here's an idea: let's take you mother/wife/daughter and throw them in prison indefinitely without trial. They'll probably get some money out of it.

[mamelukesabre]

It depends on how many offenses...for both infractions.

[A_perfect_lady]

The article notes that his friends and sister have been supportive. Query as to where these people were when he was in jail for two years? I would think that a lawyer could have put a quick stop to this before two years passed. This is, no doubt, an egregious story, but the missing details make it seem odd.

Yes... this is very odd. I was reading just the excerpt above, thinking "Where is this guy's family? Friends? Boss? SOMEONE must have been aware...?"