California Prisoner Threatened and Maltreated by Prison Guards Settles
by Christopher Zoukis
Christopher T. Jackson, a prisoner at Lancaster State Prison, California, agreed to settle his civil rights claim against a guard who allegedly retaliated against him with threats, insults, and excessive searches.
In 2005, Jackson had filed a lawsuit against several prison guards at Lancaster for their use of excessive force. Jackson alleged that since then, guards singled him out by trying to intimidate him with threatening actions and statements. In particular, Jackson claimed that prison guard Mark Dozier made racial remarks, threatened him with physical harm and subjected him to excessive searches.
On December 15, 2008, Jackson filed a pro se complaint in federal court against several wardens and guards of the Lancaster facility, including Dozier and David Priest. He argued that the guards' retaliatory treatment violated his rights of free speech and redress from the government, which are protected by the First and Eighth Amendments.
Between September 2010 and June 2011, all defendants were dismissed from the case except for Dozier by Judge David O. Carter. After a settlement was reached between Jackson and Dozier, Judge Carter dismissed the case on January 3, 2012.
See: Jackson v. Priest, et al., United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 2:08-cv-08112-DOC-JC (Dec. 23, 2011)
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Related legal case
Jackson v. Priest, et al.
| Year | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Cite | United States District Court for the Central District of California, Case No. 2:08-cv-08112-DOC-JC (Dec. 23, 2011) |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |