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Family files civil rights claim over prisoner's death

Sep 10, 2015 6:31 am
Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the family of a man with bipolar disorder allegedly murdered at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Dutchess County has filed a civil rights lawsuit. The complaint, filed earlier this week by the family of Samuel Harrell, includes causes of action against the state Department of Corrections and Community Services, Office of Mental Health commissioners and the state correctional officer union, in addition to a number of employees of the two agencies. Harrell’s death was detailed in a New York Times story last month. In addition to the civil rights case, fallout from the Times report has included the replacement of the Fishkill superintendent and the initiation of an investigation by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.