Hastings & Hastings Grieves Over the Death of Kalief Browder

    PHOENIX, AZ, July 24, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Mr. Browder was imprisoned for stealing a backpack, which he was never found guilty of because his case never went to trial. He spent three years at the New York City jail complex, two of them in solitary confinement. In solitary confinement, Mr. Browder suffered extreme mental decline, including several suicide attempts and episodes of extreme paranoia. Also, Mr. Browder was repeatedly beaten by officers and fellow inmates, proven conclusively by security videos revealing the savage brutality. Browder insisted on innocence for his entire incarceration. He even refused a plea deal that would have resulted in his immediate release.

Eventually, he was released. However, Bowder suffered immense psychological damage in jail, and was never really able to recover. Once out of jail, Mr. Bowder basically recreated solitary confinement in his bedroom, shutting himself in his room for long periods of time. He preferred to avoid large groups of people and hardly ever went out.

It did seem, however, that a recovery was likely. He earned a GED and began attending community college. Bowder was even backed by several celebrities including Jay Z and Rosie O'Donnel. He was also invited to the "The View" where he received a laptop, and Senator Rand Paul referenced him in one of his campaign speeches during a call for criminal justice reform.

But despite the effort to support this unfortunate individual, Mr. Bowder's mental health completely deteriorated. He was hospitalized at Harlem Hospital Center in the psychiatric ward. But, unfortunately, Mr. Browder slew himself on Saturday, the sixth day of June, in 2015.

He wrapped a cord around his neck, tied it to an air-conditioning unit, and then shoved it out the second floor window of his parents' home. His mother had to bear the sight of her youngest child suffocated to death by his own hands.

"Our condolences go out to Mr. Browder's family. Hopefully, Browder's story can help someone in the future from suffering the same fate," said David Hastings, attorney at Hastings and Hastings.

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