Overview
PRISONERS’ RIGHTS
The United States Constitution guarantees civil rights for all. Civil rights litigation stands up for and protects the rights the law guarantees all people, including freedom from 14th Amendment due process violations, unreasonable searches and seizures, cruel and unusual punishment, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, excessive use of force, wrongful death or sexual assault, including for individuals in jail or prison.
Unfortunately, violations of the law and rights do occur during some encounters with law enforcement officers or institutions, and when they do, victims deserve justice. Romanucci & Blandin has significant experience with civil rights and prisoners’ rights lawsuits, and we possess deep expertise and understanding of the challenges and issues faced by incarcerated persons in jails and prisons.
Your prisoners’ rights claim
With headquarters in Chicago, the national prisoners’ rights attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin know the damage and devastation that can be caused when someone’s constitutional rights are violated by those who are supposed to protect and serve. Our team has experience and success in bringing justice to clients in some of the country’s most high-profile law enforcement cases, including serving on the legal team representing the family of George Floyd. The attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin are skilled at navigating sensitive and often high-profile cases, bringing justice to those involved.
National experience and results in prisoners’ rights matters
At Romanucci & Blandin, we approach a prisoner’s rights claim as a means to hold an individual or institution financially accountable for the physical or emotional damages that have resulted from their deliberate indifference to the civil rights of our clients. Victims of rights violations in jails or prisons can pursue civil litigation to potentially receive financial compensation for the harm they suffered.
Our law firm has a team of attorneys and staff with years of experience in civil rights and prisoners’ rights litigation. Our civil rights legal team includes partners who guide the process and share their deep knowledge of these lawsuits. Each client and each situation is different, and your claim is treated with great care and respect as the team investigates what happened and determines the best path to justice for you. We will obtain all necessary background information on the officer(s) or official(s) involved and, if appropriate, investigate the municipal or organizational history, training or patterns and practices that may have played a role. Holding government facilities and institutions, whether state or local, accountable for their officer(s)’ and official(s)’ conduct under a 42 U.S.C. §1983 Monell claim is an important part of civil rights law, and an area our team knows very well. We find the records, interview witnesses, utilize prison and medical experts and prepare thoroughly and meticulously for your case. Ultimately, we aim to obtain the most equitable compensation possible.
Managing media in prisoners’ rights cases
In some cases, victims of prisoners’ rights violations, or their families, are thrust into the media spotlight during a very stressful and emotional time. The team at Romanucci & Blandin has deep experience navigating the media for clients, managing the process and making sure messaging is strategic and protective of the legal case. Our expert, in-house communications team includes former journalists and crisis strategists who work closely with the legal team, help prepare clients for media interviews when necessary, and understand the complexities of the local, national, and international press. Not all cases involve media activity and each client has a unique path to justice.
Our results for prisoners’ rights and civil rights cases
Our results in civil rights and prisoners’ rights cases are a testament to our team’s fierce dedication to clients.
From the abuse of incarcerated people’s civil rights to excessive force and retaliatory solitary confinement to prisoner suicide, our team knows how the system works, how jails, prisons, and other correctional institutions, municipalities, local courts, and federal courts operate, and what judges, juries, or mediators need to see to understand your claim.
Justice beyond a verdict or settlement: change in laws
At Romanucci & Blandin, we are dedicated to securing justice for our clients, both in and out of the courtroom. We are actively working to create legislative change that addresses and mitigates the problems in our community that have impacted our clients. This involves engaging with lawmakers and advocacy groups, and potentially testifying before legislators to share our clients’ stories and drive change.
We have a history of being involved in criminal justice reform issues at both the state and national levels, including advocacy for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would create greater transparency and accountability in police departments nationwide.
Our civil rights attorneys are also actively involved in legislative reform within the correctional system. We have also advocated for a bill to reform Illinois state law related to unconstitutional practices in solitary confinement. Further, we continue to work alongside Illinois Senator Richard Durbin for investigations into prisoner treatment and conditions at federal prisons following the death of our clients’ son, Matt Phillips. Matt, who was Jewish, died after repeated attacks by inmates who were known to be antisemitic. It is our fervent hope that our advocacy efforts bring much-needed change to civil rights law for all citizens.
Types of prisoners’ rights claims
The following include, but are not limited to, the types of Section 1983 violations and other prisoners’ rights claims we handle for our clients:
- Cruel and unusual punishment
- Negligence and willful and wanton conduct
- Discrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, disability or another personal identity
- Excessive force
- Failure to provide medical care
- Failure to provide mental health or psychiatric care
- Intentional infliction of emotional distress
- Wrongful death and survival
- Due process violations
Free consultation on your case by Chicago-based prisoners' rights lawyers
The prisoners’ rights attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin have a proven track record of success in these types of cases. Please get in touch with our office at 312-458-1000 or click here for a free case evaluation. There is never a fee until you are compensated for your injuries at the end of the case.
Disclaimer: The content found on this page is not legal assistance and contacting the prisoners’ rights lawyers at Romanucci & Blandin’s law office for a free consultation regarding personal injury cases and police misconduct claims does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.
