Reviewed on: April 03,2026

My Inmate Was Injured and the Jail Won't Give Me Information

Inmate aid, I spoke to my inmate's lawyer when my inmate hadn't called me in a day and a half. It was on his sentencing day so i was worried. His lawyer told me that he was beat up. His jaw was broken and also a few ribs. I'm the only person he communicates with on the outside. I called the jail (south central regional jail, Charleston wv) and they aren't allowed to tell me if he's still in the hospital or if he was brought back to south central. I'm worried of course. I would like an update on his health if that's possible in any way. With a broken jaw I would imagine he wouldn't be able to speak. Is there anything you or I could do to find out more info? They wouldn't even give anymore info to his lawyer. Thank you Anne

Asked: August 31, 2013
Author: Anne
Ask the inmate answer
1

When a facility goes silent after an inmate is injured, the frustration for families is compounded by the fact that the people who are supposed to be responsible for your loved one's safety are the same ones refusing to communicate. Here is what you can actually do.

Contact the chaplain. This is often the most overlooked and most effective channel available to families. Prison and jail chaplains operate somewhat outside the standard chain of command and are generally more willing to assist families in distress than administrative staff. They can sometimes provide a welfare update or at least confirm that the inmate is being cared for. Call the facility and ask specifically for the chaplain's office.

Push the attorney harder. If the attorney already knows enough to tell you your family member was injured, they have a source inside the facility or within the system. An attorney has legal standing to demand a status update on their client's medical condition and whereabouts that a family member does not. If the attorney is telling you they cannot get information, that deserves more follow-up. They have tools available that you do not.

Email the warden directly. Wardens and jail administrators respond differently to written communication than phone calls, particularly when the situation involves a serious injury to someone in their custody. Keep the email factual, calm, and specific. State who your family member is, what you were told happened, and what information you are requesting. Put it in writing and keep a copy.

Contact the state oversight agency. Every state has a department of corrections or a jail oversight body that handles complaints about facilities. A formal inquiry about an inmate's medical status after a serious injury is exactly the kind of thing those agencies exist to address.

Persistence matters here. Do not stop at the first no.

https://www.inmateaid.com/ask-the-inmate/my-inmate-was-injured-and-the-jail-won-t-give-me-information#answer
Accepted Answer Date Created: September 01,2013

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