Justice for Bipolar Inmate Beaten to Death by Correction Officers!

  • by: Chris Wolverton
  • recipient: NY Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions, U.S. Department of Justice

Witnesses at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York watched 20 officers kick and beat African-American inmate Samuel Harrell to death. Harrell was acting strangely due to his bipolar disorder, and announced he was going home despite having several years left to serve on his drug sentence.

Witnesses reported officers shouting racial slurs at Harrell during the beating. Other reports indicate severe police brutality out of proportion to Harrell's behavior. “Like he was a trampoline, they were jumping on him,” one inmate said.

None of the 20 officers involved in the incident were disciplined, even though an Orange County autopsy report ruled the death a homicide.

This is not an isolated case. Earlier in August, the New York Times documented similar abuse at the Clinton Correctional Facility in northern New York. It is time for officers to be held accountable for abusing inmates! Please sign the petition to urge the NY Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions and the Dept. of Justice to launch an investigation on inmate violence in New York's correctional facilities!

We, the undersigned, are concerned about trends of abuse at New York's correctional facilities.


As you may know, Witnesses at Fishkill Correctional Facility in New York watched 20 officers kick and beat African-American inmate Samuel Harrell to death. Harrell was acting strangely due to his bipolar disorder, and announced he was going home despite having several years left to serve on his drug sentence.


Witnesses reported officers shouting racial slurs at Harrell during the beating. Other reports indicate severe police brutality out of proportion to Harrell's behavior. “Like he was a trampoline, they were jumping on him,” one inmate said.

None of the 20 officers involved in the incident were disciplined, even though an Orange County autopsy report ruled the death a homicide.

This is not an isolated case. Earlier in August, the New York Times documented similar abuse at the Clinton Correctional Facility in northern New York. It is time for officers to be held accountable for abusing inmates! We respectfully urge you to launch an investigation on inmate violence in New York's correctional facilities. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.

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