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Massive judgment upheld against private prison over inmate murder

Everybody from Texas Prison Bidness to the New York Times is oohing and aahing that the 13th Texas Court of Appeals approved a $42.5 million judgment against the Geo Group (formerly Wackenhut), a private prison contractor over a murder in a South Texas Prison, for failing to protect inmates under their care. According to the opinion (pdf):This case involves the horrific and gruesome death of Gregorio de la Rosa, Jr. (?Gregorio?). Gregorio, an honorably discharged former National Guardsman, was serving a six-month sentence at a prison operated by Wackenhut Corrections Corporation for possession of less than 1/4 grams of cocaine. A few days before his expected release, Gregorio was beaten to death by two other inmates using a lock tied to a sock, while Wackenhut?s officers stood by and watched and Wackenhut?s wardens smirked and laughed...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on April 10, 2009 (boomark / email).