COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two federal lawsuits claim South Carolina corrections officials violated prisoners' constitutional rights by failing to prevent a riot in which seven inmates were killed last year.
The wrongful death lawsuits were filed Tuesday by representatives for the estates of two male prisoners killed in the April 2018 insurrection at Lee Correctional Institution. Attorneys provided advance copies to The Associated Press.
The lawsuits say security officers and corrections department employees knew about such problems as broken door locks, overcrowding and widespread contraband use but did nothing to fix them.
No charges have been filed in connection to the riot, which raged for hours in Bishopville, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of Columbia.