Link: D.C. Settles With Wrongly Imprisoned Man

In case you were wondering if the US needs to beef up its domestic human rights record for people with disabilities, The Washington Post reports that D.C. Settles With Wrongly Imprisoned Man:

"Heard — who is described as deaf, mute and mentally impaired - was jailed in 1999 on a trespassing charge from a year earlier, although a D.C. Superior Court judge had freed him, declaring him mentally unfit to stand trial, Moustakas said.

Prison officials then lost track of his records and he was not released until 670 days after his arrest, when officials were processing a transfer of prisoners to a federal facility.

Heard's case alleged that the city violated his civil rights by falsely imprisoning him, and neglected to supply him with an interpreter or teletype machine to allow him to communicate with his jailers. His case against the medical contractor, the Center for Correctional Health Policy Studies, alleges that the firm administered psychotropic drugs to him without his consent, Moustakas said."

Lost in the prison system for 670 days???????? That's almost two years. His settlement is for $1.1 million + lawyers fees. I think DC got off easy. (Via TalkLeft.)