Posted on 08/26/2006 10:06:46 PM PDT by jdm
An inmate at an Oxfordshire jail is suing the Prison Service after he cut himself falling from the top bunk in his cell.
The prisoner at Bullingdon near Bicester, told prisoners' magazine, Inside Time, bunk beds were "an accident waiting to happen".
He suggested inmates should not be compelled to sleep on the top bunk.
The Prison Service said it was trying to meet the needs of prisoners who felt unsafe sleeping on the top bunk.
'Bad gash'
A spokesman said: "Prisoners who sleep in bunk beds have been advised for some time on how to use them safely and are encouraged to report any concerns to prison staff."
He said meeting the needs of prisoners who do not wish to sleep on the top bunks would "not always be possible due to constraints imposed by population pressures and health and safety concerns".
The spokesman said rail guards could be used as ligature points by prisoners trying to commit suicide.
In his letter to Inside Time, the prisoner writes: "In November 2005, I turned over in my sleep and fell from the top bunk of my bed sustaining a bad gash to the head."
He was now pursuing a claim for negligence, he said, adding that the governor had denied any liability.
Earlier this year it emerged that compensation payments to prisoners doubled from £2.19m in 2004-05 to £4m in 2005-06.
In his letter to Inside Time, the prisoner writes: "In November 2005, I turned over in my sleep and fell from the top bunk of my bed sustaining a bad gash to the head."
"Inside Time"?
LOL!!!!
He must have seen this and wanted to capitalize.
One day our prisons will resemble country clubs and due to the high taxes necessary to maintain such prisons and other social programs that will result from such ridiculous policy pursuits, the country clubs will resemble today's prisons.
Perhaps he should sue Sir Isaac Newton..
Most of it's funny. However, you can bet that his lawsuit is being subsidized by the taxpayers, and there's nothing funny about that.
This already happens in places like New Zealand or Denmark. Have you heard that for a number of convicted offences like assault (first time) and the degree is deemed "light", prisoners can go home and sleep at night?
This guy should consider himself lucky. It's better than having your cellmate land on top of you when you're asleep...
I believe the proper British term is "Piss Off!"
I don't think they should be compelled to sleep anywhere.
Issue them a blanket and let them sleep on the concrete floor. They're in prison to serve a sentence, not on holiday at the Club Med.
If he wins this one, I'm going to sue the summer camp I attended when I was eleven. I too fell off the top bunk (I've always been an animated sleeper). True, I wasn't injured, but I'm sure my lawyer will be able to find a psychologist who will be able to figure out how this incident has deeply impaired me mentally to this day....
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