An attorney for former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin criticized the federal prison system over the weekend, alleging a “lack of institutional control” and dismal communication with his client’s family after another inmate stabbed Chauvin in prison last week.
Chauvin, who is currently serving a 20-plus year sentence for second-degree murder after he was found guilty in the highly-publicized case concerning the death of George Floyd, was stabbed at Federal Correctional Institution, Tucson — a medium-security prison — on Friday, resulting in serious injury.
Gregory M. Erickson, the lawyer, slammed the Federal Bureau of Prisons in a statement following the attack, claiming the law enforcement agency has neither provided any updates on Chauvin’s condition or current location.
“As an outsider, I view this lack of communication with his attorneys and family members as completely outrageous,” Erickson reportedly said. “It appears to be indicative of a poorly run facility and indicates how Derek’s assault was allowed to happen.”
“How the family members who are in charge of Derek’s decisions regarding his personal medical care and his emergency contact were not informed after his stabbing further indicates the institution’s poor procedures and lack of institutional control,” he added.
Federal authorities confirmed that an inmate was assaulted at the correctional institution in Arizona at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Responding employees at the prison “contained the incident and performed ‘life-saving measures'” before the inmate was transferred to a local hospital for further treatment and evaluation, the Associated Press reported. The bureau did not name the inmate in the incident, but a source told The Associated Press that Chauvin was the victim in the attack, adding that he was stabbed during the assault. The outlet later noted that a Minnesota attorney general’s spokesperson said they “heard” Chauvin was expected to survive.
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Carolyn Pawlenty, Chauvin’s mother, reportedly told Alpha News that she was “worried and scared,” claiming the prison had not contacted her following the attack.
“How the hell do these news agencies know, and his own mother doesn’t even know?” she reportedly asked. “And that [prison] has an emergency contact number [for me].”
Erickson said the third-party reporting appeared to be the only source of information Chauvin’s family has received to assume he is stable, but they remain “understandably doubtful because of the lack of transparency that has permeated this ordeal.”
“I hope you all find it strange and troubling, as we do, that the media has been provided more information than Derek’s attorneys or immediate family,” he said. “I would like you all to imagine how you would feel if this was your son, brother, or father who was stabbed and forced to suffer alone, his location concealed from you.”
“This is completely unacceptable,” Erickson added. “If this is standard procedure, the procedure must be changed.”
The latest incident in the federal prison system marks the latest high-profile attack on a prisoner in the last five months and another attack on an inmate in the Tuscon facility in the previous year, according to The Associated Press.
In November 2022, an inmate reportedly accessed a firearm and attempted to shoot a visitor in the head. No injuries were reported.
Erickson noted that after reading the report, he “concluded that this institution is suffering from a complete lack of institutional control.”
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told an ABC affiliate that all prisoners serving time deserve safe conditions, regardless of their accusations.
“Anyone who’s assaulted like this, regardless of what they’ve been accused of, deserves to be safe, and that’s certainly not cause for any celebration,” O’Hara said.
In the aftermath of the attack on Chauvin, the prison stopped visitations to the facility, which staffing shortages and security lapses have reportedly plagued.
Eric Nelson, another attorney for Chauvin, argued last year that his client “spends much of his time in solitary confinement, largely for his own protection,” suspecting Chauvin would be a target due to the “intense publicity surrounding his case.”
Attorney William Mohrman filed an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court on Chauvin’s behalf earlier this year, arguing, in part, that his client was denied the right to a fair trial. However, the high court declined to hear the appeal last week.
Amanda Prestigiacomo contributed to this report.