The CNMI government and some former and current Department of Corrections officials have agreed to settle an inmate\u2019s lawsuit by paying him $500 in court costs and amending DOC\u2019s regulations on disciplinary sanctions and administrative segregation, among other terms.<\/p>\n
A copy of the settlement agreement in Jerry Ray\u2019s lawsuit, which was filed before the U.S. District Court for the NMI last Thursday, was obtained by Saipan Tribune yesterday. <\/p>\n
The defendants in the lawsuit all deny liability for the actions complained of in Ray\u2019s complaint.<\/p>\n
The remaining defendants in this case are the CNMI government, former DOC commissioner Vincent S. Attao, DOC director Gregory Castro, and classification officer Cynthia B. Santos.<\/p>\n
The co-defendants dismissed from the lawsuit are former acting DOC commissioner Georgia M. Cabrera, pre-trial operations captain Pius P. Yaroitemal, and operation commander David Deleon Guerrero. Cabrera is still a DOC official. <\/p>\n
Chief among the terms of the settlement is that DOC shall not impose on Ray solitary confinement, isolation, or administrative segregation and\/or loss of privileges and that DOC shall provide him with mental health treatment, care, or counseling.<\/p>\n
DOC shall follow the psychiatrist\u2019s recommendations regarding Ray\u2019s treatment and care.<\/p>\n
At the same time, DOC agrees to amend its regulations governing solitary confinement, isolation, or administrative segregation, with input from the Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems Inc.<\/p>\n
Until then, DOC shall not impose any sanctions or administrative segregation resulting in more than 15 days of consecutive solitary confinement, isolation, or administrative segregation.<\/p>\n
Periods of administrative segregation longer than 15 days shall be made only to maintain inmate and DOC staff safety, with the consultation of a DOC or Commonwealth Health Center\u2019s medical professional.<\/p>\n
DOC shall not impose restraints on Ray as a sanction or in any punitive fashion. Restraints are allowable as measures for inmate and staff safety.<\/p>\n
DOC shall not deny Ray the privilege of telephone calls and visitation with his family members for more than 15 days in succession.<\/p>\n
DOC shall provide Ray with outside work assignments, indoor and outdoor recreational activity, and at least one hour of \u201cfresh air\u201d daily.<\/p>\n
In his lawsuit, Ray demanded to be paid $100 a day, for a total of $65,000, for the period he was allegedly subjected to solitary confinement and provided with inadequate mental health treatment at DOC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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