Bayview Correctional Facility Sex Abuse Lawyer

Those who are convicted of crimes and sentenced to prison understand that prison is not designed to be an easy experience. That also understand that their rights are substantially limited. They cannot move about in the same way as those who are not incarcerated. They also understand that there are many rules that they must follow. However, inmates do not give up all of their rights, including their human rights. Sadly, in prisons across the state of New York, including the now closed Bayview Correctional Facility, prisoners are routinely sexually abused by correctional officers. Not only is it illegal for correctional officers to have sexual contact with inmates, it often leaves the victims with emotional and physical scars. Under New York law, those abused by correctional officers while they were incarcerated at Bayview Correctional Facility have the right to pursue compensation through a sexual abuse lawsuit. If you were sexual abused while at Bayview, contact an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. With over 20 years of experience representing injured victims, we can help you get the compensation to which you are entitled.

Bayview Correctional Facility was a medium security women’s prison located in Manhattan. Due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, Bayview Correctional Facility was permanently shut down in 2012. However, the legacy that it left behind is a history of correctional officers raping the inmates. Furthermore, the abuse at Bayview by correctional officers was not a secret. Inmates and former inmates filed complaints. Still, little was done to prevent the abuse or hold the abusers accountable.

Even though Bayview has been closed for over 10 years, women who were victimized at Bayview still have the opportunity to seek justice and hold the correctional officers accountable. Thanks to the a new law known as the New York Adult Survivors Act which was signed into law on May 24, 2022, with the help of an experienced New York sexual abuse lawyer, Bayview sex abuse survivors can still haul their abusers into court and demand compensation.

Sexual abuse by corrections officers can result in serious personal injury such as contusions and internal injuries. Furthermore, the result of a rape can be an unwanted pregnancy and the physical pain and mental anguish that would go along with it.

Under the Adult Survivors Act, adult survivors of sexual assault have a year to sue their victimizers outside of the New York statute of limitations for such lawsuits. That one year window begins at the end of the November. Thus, anyone who was abused while at Bayview has a one-time opportunity to pursue a lawsuit.

Defendants in such a lawsuit would not only be the individual who committed the act of sexual abuse, but potentially others prison officials For example, the officials responsible for hiring, managing, and disciplining the abuser, may also be named in the lawsuit based on negligence, negligent hiring, failure to supervise, and violations of the civil rights of the inmate.

Damages would be based on the sexual abuse survivor’s physical injuries and pain and suffering. As an experienced sexual abuse attorney in New York will explain, in certain cases punitive damages may be awarded based on the circumstances of the abuse.

Committing a crime does not mean that it is acceptable for your human rights to be violated. In fact, the job of the corrections officers is to maintain order in prisons and to help ensure the safety of inmates. If instead the correctional officers and prison officials chose to victimize you, you have to right to hold them accountable. If you were sexually abused at Bayview Correctional Facility, the experienced sexual abuse attorneys serving New York at Stephen Bilkis & Associates can help. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent injured victims in Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County, Long Island, and Westchester County.