Sullivan Correctional Facility Abuse Lawsuit

Content Last Updated: March 3, 2026

Key Takeaways

Sullivan Correctional Facility was a New York state prison located in Fallsburg, New York, that permanently closed in November 2024.
After the serious injuries and wrongful deaths of numerous inmates in custody caused by corrections officers, Sullivan and its oversight agencies have faced multiple lawsuits and have spent millions of dollars settling claims of abuse.
Police brutality is a human rights violation. Let Police Brutality Center help you and your family pursue justice.

Sullivan Correctional Facility was a maximum-security New York state prison for men, located approximately 50 miles west of Poughkeepsie. Until it closed in 2024, the prison was repeatedly singled out for high rates of abuse by inmates and state watchdog groups. The prison operated under the authority of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, or NYSDOCCS, and was shuttered as part of the state’s budget plan to reduce the number of penitentiaries in New York.

Under state and federal law, detainees in New York correctional facilities are entitled to certain legal rights and protections. Over the past decade, numerous prison abuse lawsuits have been filed against NYSDOCCS for violations of those rights at Sullivan, including allegations of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Until one lawsuit was settled in 2020, many areas of the prison lacked security cameras. Meanwhile, facilities statewide are still in the process of rolling out body cameras for officers. Because of this, inmates at Sullivan were left without adequate legal protections for years.

What Are The Types of Abuse Alleged at Sullivan Correctional Facility?

The lawsuits allege the following types of abuse at Sullivan Correctional Facility:

Physical Abuse: Physical abuse in prisons can include the use of excessive force and unwarranted restraints, violent confrontations, and more. In 2022, an incarcerated man at Sullivan went to the medical unit for chest pain, but officers pepper-sprayed and assaulted him, dislocating his jaw and causing permanent hearing loss. The man has since filed a lawsuit.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse in prisons can include unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate touching, and sexual coercion by prison staff. In January 2023 at Sullivan, Ernastiaze Moore was in his cell when guards blasted him with pepper spray, burst in, beat him, and brought him to a frisk room where they groped and sexually assaulted him. Moore needed surgery to reconstruct his left eye socket after the beating, and he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit months later.
Psychological Abuse: Verbal and psychological abuse in prisons can include threats, intimidation, demeaning language, excessive use of solitary confinement, retaliation for reporting abuse, and more.
Medical Neglect: According to a 2016 report by Lawyers for Disability Rights New York, prisoners with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Sullivan were abused, neglected, and deprived of adequate mental health services. Medical neglect in prisons can also include the failure or refusal to adequately treat inmates with legitimate medical issues.

Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Sullivan Correctional Facility

The NYSDOCCS has faced multiple legal actions for alleged abuse by corrections officers at the Sullivan Correctional Facility before its closure—one of which resulted in a $5 million settlement for the victim’s family.

Karl Taylor: Wrongful Death Lawsuit

In 2018, Karl Taylor, a mentally ill man incarcerated at Sullivan, got into an altercation with two guards that led to his escort to the infirmary. By the time he arrived, he was being carried face down and was declared dead shortly afterward. Though guards testified that they did not hit or choke him in the hallway, other prisoners said they witnessed the abuse, and a forensic pathologist determined Taylor’s cause of death was a chokehold.

In February 2020, New York agreed to pay $5 million to settle a federal wrongful death lawsuit filed by Taylor’s sister after his death at Sullivan. The case spurred policy changes at the facility, and the state agreed to install video cameras and microphones throughout Sullivan.

Ernastiaze Moore: Civil Rights Lawsuit

In January 2023, Ernastiaze Moore was attacked physically and sexually by guards at Sullivan, leaving him with severe injuries that required reconstructive surgery. Moore’s internal complaints were deemed unfounded, and the guards were not punished. In response, he filed a federal civil rights lawsuit accusing the guards of sexual abuse, excessive force, and more.

What Are The Legal Rights of Victims at Sullivan Correctional Facility?

New York and federal laws both prohibit cruel and unusual punishment, shielding inmates from abusive treatment while incarcerated, including the following:

Eighth Amendment: The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. The amendment protects people convicted of crimes from government abuses of power and ensures punishment is proportionate to both the offender and the offense.

14th Amendment: The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution grants broad rights of national citizenship to Americans. Under this amendment, state and federal governments cannot deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny any person the equal protection of the law.

Section 1983 of the federal Civil Rights Act: Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, citizens can file lawsuits against federal, state, or local government officials or agencies for violating their constitutional or federal statutory rights.

New York law: Under New York law, inmates maintain certain rights even when incarcerated. A bill introduced in 2025 aims to amend corrections law in relation to the rights of incarcerated people by granting the protections of international human rights law.

What Are The Statutes of Limitations for Inmate Abuse Lawsuits in New York?

The statute of limitations for inmate abuse lawsuits in New York depends on numerous factors, including the type of claim, the severity of the abuse, and the defendants. Federal civil rights claims filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 rely on the state’s general personal injury statute of limitations, which is three years in New York.

For state tort claims, the statute of limitations is typically three years. However, for wrongful death cases, the time limit is only two years from the victim’s death. Meanwhile, the deadlines for claims against a government entity, such as the state of New York or the NYSDOCCS, are significantly shorter. Municipal claims require a notice of claim to be filed within 90 days of the incident, and lawsuits must be filed within one year and 90 days. For sexual abuse claims, inmates typically have three years to file a lawsuit.

Contact a New York City Prison Abuse Lawyer

Police Brutality Center aims to raise awareness of police brutality, racial profiling, and excessive force, striving to prevent further harm through our resources and support for victims while advocating for systemic change. With over 50 years of combined experience in civil rights cases like those involving prison abuse, our legal partners possess the skills and knowledge to fight for the justice you deserve.

If you have suffered from police brutality or have lost a loved one due to police misconduct, we can connect you with a civil rights lawyer to help you pursue justice. Contact Police Brutality Center today to explore your legal options.

Connect With an Experienced Attorney

Police Brutality Center is proud to partner with Alex Straus, Chair of the Civil Rights Department at Milberg LLC, to help victims of civil rights abuses. Throughout his career, Mr. Straus has represented clients across the country in cases involving police misconduct, racial discrimination, and abuse in correctional facilities.

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