RantCrush Top 5: July 26, 2017

Last week, a prisoner in a Michigan correctional facility named Rodriguez Montez Burks was killed by his cellmate. Now, fellow inmates claim that Burks had repeatedly asked to be separated from his killer, and that Burks was killed because he was gay. The cellmate, who has not been named, also said he wanted to be transferred from a cell with Burks because of his sexual orientation. But according to their fellow inmates, the prisoners’ requests were flat-out ignored by prison guards.

Treatment of LGBTQ prisoners in the U.S. is particularly indefensible. Not only do studies indicate that LGBTQ individuals are more likely to be incarcerated, but they are more likely to be mistreated and assaulted while behind bars.

The exact circumstances of Burks’ death are still under investigation.

Inmates: Michigan prisoner killed by cellmate for being gay, guards ignored repeated pleas for help https://t.co/VngFh1FKv1

— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 26, 2017

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.