A horrific video has emerged from the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, New Jersey, showing a violent attack on 22-year-old inmate Jayshawn Boyd. In the video, Boyd is seen being brutally beaten by other inmates with anything from a chair to a microwave. Of course, the tape has predictably angered many and raised questions about the issue of safety and management of inmates in such prisons.
I. The catastrophic event
caught on camera
The shocking footage, captured on September 23, 2021, shows Boyd being brutally attacked by six other inmates. At the beginning of the attack, Boyd tries to defend himself, but after several seconds, these attackers begin to overpower him and beat him with a broom stick, punches and feet until he falls to the ground, apparently unconscious. This further escalates to an assault when he gets up, wherein the attackers attack him with an industrial mop bucket, pour cleaning solution on him and finally, another inmate throws a microwave at his head.
Immediate Results
Boyd, a patient suffering from schizophrenia, was put into a medically induced coma, and is fighting for his life in a Newark hospital. However, his lawyers have identified that Boyd lived in a “designated gang unit” shortly before the attack, which certainly casts doubt on the prison’s protocols and why he was allocated a place amongst potentially violent gang members.
Seven inmates at the jail have been charged with counts including attempted murder, aggravated assault and third-degree riot in the attack. Essex County Correctional Facilities
II. Legal consequences and investigation
allegations against the attackers
Eleven inmates have been charged for the violence. They have been charged with third-degree riot, attempted murder, aggravated assault; the victim, aggravated resisting arrest; aggravated assault and attempt to cause bodily harm. The inmates accused in the video are cited as: Bayd Lockett, Darryl Watson, Isad Jackson, Tyshon Armour, Henry Asencio, Jacquill Anderson and Maurice Hutchins. They were charged in October, and their cases have not appeared before a grand jury.
Statements and claims by lawyers
Michael Thomas Licciardi, an associate attorney at Brooke Barnett representing Boyd, has focused on the brutality of the attack and the negligence of prison officers. As Licciardi explained, the video shows a “conscious lack of intervention” by correctional officers who stood by without reacting during the lengthy attack.
A notice of claim has been filed against the Essex County Department of Corrections for negligence and improper training in the attack. The claim alleges violations of Boyd’s constitutional rights against cruel and unusual punishment, for which he seeks compensation for ongoing and undetermined injuries.
The video shows inmates attacking an unarmed inmate and beating him with multiple objects, including a microwave. Essex County Correctional Facilities
III. Background and context
jayshawn boyd
Boyd, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was being held on $175,000 bail after a bench warrant was issued for failing to appear for sentencing on charges related to two domestic disputes — one with his mother and one with his brother — in 2020. He was looking at five years of probation for those offenses. His attorneys report that Boyd is not affiliated with any gangs, which makes no sense as to why he would thus be placed in their gang unit.
Institutional breakdown
The film makes sure that the brutality of the inmates in the prison is on display for all to see. However, not only that, security failure leads the prison to where it should have gone. At no point did anyone from the correctional authority step in or take action to prevent any violence. This was definitely a callout to a much deeper problem or issue than the lack of updated staffing or training in emergency scenarios.
IV. Wider implications and community response
Public outrage
The video has outraged citizens, advocacy groups, and legal experts. The heinous nature of the attack and the apparent negligence on the part of prison officials have sparked widespread investigation and calls for reform within the correctional system. Community leaders and activists are demanding accountability and measures to ensure the safety of prisoners, especially those with mental conditions like Boyd.
Jayshawn Boyd is in critical condition in a coma after the beating, according to the jail. Essex County Correctional Facilities
Calls for reform
At the same time, the incident revived the debate over the treatment of prisoners and the conditions of correctional facilities. Accordingly, activists demand the following:
Better mental health care: Ensuring that people with concerns related to mental illness are properly cared for and not placed in harmful environments. Better security measures: Through training and protocols given to correctional officers to minimize such incidents. Holding them accountable: Prison officers should be held accountable for negligence and failing to protect inmates.
The fight caught on camera at Essex County Correctional Facility happened on September 23, 2021. Essex County Correctional Facility
V. Conclusion
The case of Jayshawn Boyd at the Essex County Correctional Facility is a grim reminder of the internal violence and lack of care that is central to this prison system. While Boyd remains in a coma, the legal process and investigation continue to ensure that he receives justice and that the systemic issues exposed by this tragic incident are addressed. The safety and dignity of all inmates, especially mentally disabled inmates, must be seriously considered in correctional facilities across the country.
