State of Kansas mistakenly kept a man in solitary confinement for 1,000 days

On June 19, 2010, James Jamerson was prepared for battle.

He had heard the rumors around his cell block at Lansing Correctional Facility. Matthew Astorga, an inmate with a history of violence, was threatening to kill him. Astorga believed he was a rat. Even guards had heard the threats, the rumors said.

So, on that day, Jamerson taped a 10-inch knife to his right hand. Magazines were attached to his body as makeshift armor, in case Astorga had a knife of his own.

Around 7:30 p.m., two guards saw what they first described as horseplaying. Astorga had his hands to his side, nursing stab wounds to his arm and lower back. Jamerson was ordered to the ground. Faced with the possibility of pepper spray, he complied, turning over his weapon.

Read more: http://cjonline.com/news/crime-courts/state-government/2017-02-26/state-kansas-mistakenly-kept-man-solitary-confinement