Western Reader
The mother of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Carolyn Pawlenty, has expressed distress after finding out about her son’s stabbing incident through media reports instead of official channels. Chauvin, who is serving a 21-year sentence for second-degree murder and violating George Floyd’s civil rights, was assaulted at the medium security Federal Correctional Institution in Tucson, Arizona. The incident took place on a Friday afternoon and left Chauvin seriously injured, requiring immediate life-saving measures by prison staff before he was taken to a local hospital.
Derek Chauvin the scapgoat. George Floyd died of an overdose of Fenanyl. He is not even human now. His family found about his stabbing on the media not from the prison. Maxine Waters encited violence if he wasn’t convicted. Free Derek Chauvin. Any thoughts on Chauvin and Maxine… pic.com/7TlSGzpiK4
— Matthew Nichol (@MatthewNichol5) November 27, 2023
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office provided a brief update on Saturday, confirming to NBC News that Chauvin was expected to survive but offering no further details. Pawlenty’s reaction to the news reflects a mother’s anguish as she grapples with her son’s vulnerability behind bars. She described her emotional struggle, including sleepless nights and constant worry, and expressed frustration at being kept in the dark while news agencies were informed of the event, despite being listed as an emergency contact.
He’s a political prisoner… Literally a human sacrifice
Do you believe Derek Chauvin should be freed? pic.com/j750dk5QcL
— A Man Of Memes (@RickyDoggin) November 27, 2023
Chauvin’s legal representatives have also struggled to obtain information about his well-being, with his attorney, Bill Mohrman, reporting unsuccessful attempts to reach the Bureau of Prisons for clarification. Gregory Erickson, who represented Chauvin in a civil case, criticized the lack of communication as “outrageous” and indicative of a poorly managed facility.
The incident has brought attention to the Tucson prison’s security and staffing issues, particularly given the high-profile nature of Chauvin’s case resulting from the widely publicized death of George Floyd in 2020. Chauvin’s case re-entered public attention when the Supreme Court declined to hear his appeal last week. As his family copes with the latest ordeal, they are left to rely on third-party reports for updates on his condition.
This situation underscores the need for transparency and proper communication protocols within the correctional system, especially when dealing with the families of those incarcerated. The safety and well-being of inmates, regardless of their crimes, remain a fundamental responsibility of the institutions charged with their custody.
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