Cheryl's Dilemma Revisited

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Briefing Doc: Civil Rights Complaint of Gerald Ruffin

Record Number: 398577-LWC

Date of Submission: Not specified in provided excerpt.

Date of Incident: October 21, 2019

Summary: This report details a potential civil rights violation experienced by Cheryl, a woman under the guardianship of the complainant, Gerald Ruffin. The incident involves the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) and Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in Delaware.

Main Themes:

• Denial of Medical Care: Cheryl, suffering from complications after an ovarian cyst surgery, was arrested by WPD despite her visible illness and the complainant's pleas to take her to the hospital. Her condition worsened in custody, leading to a two-week coma at Christiana Hospital.
• Lack of Communication and Transparency: The prison refused to communicate with Mr. Ruffin, her legal guardian, for three weeks. The hospital also couldn't contact him due to her custody status.
• Potential Abuse/Neglect in Custody: Cheryl's condition upon arrival at the hospital – comatose, bruised, and with matted hair – suggests potential neglect or abuse within the prison.
• Difficulty in Seeking Justice: Mr. Ruffin has struggled to find legal representation to pursue this case, highlighting a potential barrier to justice for vulnerable individuals.

Most Important Ideas/Facts:

• Cheryl's Deteriorating Health: Cheryl was visibly ill and unable to keep food down for days before the arrest. Mr. Ruffin was actively attempting to take her to the hospital when she was apprehended.
• WPD's Disregard for Medical Needs: Despite pleas from Mr. Ruffin about Cheryl's condition, the WPD arrested her and detained her, potentially exacerbating her health crisis.
• Baylor Women's Correctional Institution's Lack of Communication: The prison's refusal to acknowledge Mr. Ruffin's guardianship and provide information about Cheryl's condition raises concerns about their treatment of inmates and their families.
• Evidence of Potential Neglect/Abuse: Cheryl's physical condition upon arrival at the hospital – including bruises and matted hair – requires investigation as it suggests possible neglect or mistreatment within the prison.

Key Quotes:

• Mr. Ruffin describing Cheryl's condition: "She couldn't even hold down water after a while." "I expressed how sick she was and needed to take her to the hospital..."
• Mr. Ruffin describing the WPD officer's response: "He smirked and said his hands were tied."
• Mr. Ruffin describing the prison's lack of communication: "When I contacted the prison, they wouldn't speak to me because they said they didn't know who I was and could not proove my relationship to Cheryl. —about 3 weeks passed w/o them providing me with any information.."
• Mr. Ruffin describing Cheryl's condition at the hospital: "The doctors said Cheryl had been admitted to the hospital from prison in a Coma and had not been unconscious for two weeks...She was completely lost mentally. Her physical appearance was horrible. She had bruises all over her arms and legs while strapped to the bed. Her hair was completely matted to her skull."

Next Steps for DOJ Civil Rights Division:

• Investigate the allegations of denial of medical care by both the WPD and Baylor Women's Correctional Institution.
• Examine the prison's communication protocols and their handling of Mr. Ruffin's requests for information.
• Investigate the possibility of neglect or abuse based on Cheryl's condition upon hospitalization.
• Potentially recommend further investigation or legal action based on the findings.