January 30, 2013

Correctional Officer Sues Inmate With HIV in Oregon

A correctional officer in Oregon is asking for $700,000 in a civil lawsuit against an inmate who allegedly spit blood with HIV at him, the Statesman Journal reports. Jeffrey Parnell is suing Nickolas John Hainz for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Parnell claims Hainz bit the inside of his cheek until it bled so he could spit his HIV-positive blood at him. The Association of Oregon Correctional Employees says this is the first of several suits to come in an attempt to stop inmates from throwing urine and feces at officers, as well as spitting on them and hitting them.

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Previous Comments:

Mark Vinette, St. Petersburg, 2013-02-08 15:29:28
elizajane it is not a matter of educating people about the chance of getting HIV. Prisoners throw feces, vomit, snot and actually make mixtures of all of these substances to throw. There is a slight risk of getting HIV from someone spitting their blood (no matter how small) if it should land on a cut or get in the eye of the recipient. This is not about blood it is about protecting corrections officers from all kinds of diseases.

Mark Vinette, St. Petersburg, 2013-02-08 15:25:26
There needs to be a higher penalty for prisoners throwing bodily fluids. It is unlikely this inmate has $700,000. The law needs to be changed. Mandatory 10 years extra prison time. For lifers it should be mandatory 1 year in solitary. We have to protect the men and women who are there to protect us.

tj, Oakland CA, 2013-02-06 14:01:06
If the guy is in jail.. where will the $700,000 come from? I don't understand how a lawsuit helps?

elizajane, boston, ma, 2013-01-30 11:31:52
When will the discrimination end? When will people finally become informed about the infection routes of HIV in the prison system? I am so discouraged by yet another lame-ass law suit and HIV. Perhaps Oregon could spend money on keeping incarcerated folks busy so they don't have the time to be throwing body fluids...and mandatory trainings for staff about HIV, Hepatitis...just sayin.