The 8th Amendment of the U.S. Consitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishments by the federal government.
Yet, attorney for Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill, Marissa Goldberg, says they'd looked into the allegations against their client for more than half a yea r and "found zero criminality that has arisen."
Sheriff Hill, according to a federal indictment, ordered his employees to use excessive force against four pretrial detainees at the Clayton County Jail in 2020. He is alleged to have ordered employees to strap detainees into a restraint chair, causing physical pain and bodily injury, and keeping them there for hours in violation of their constitutional rights.
Tuesday, Hill pleaded not guilty and is free on bond.
Another Hill attorney, Drew Findling, calls the allegations confusing. "This Department of Justice", according to Findling, "has taken a backseat and remained mute on what seems to be the daily killing of American citizens by law enforcement across this country and you see no such cases. Yet, you see this case of flimsy allegations against Sheriff Hill."
Findling calls the indictment an attempt to circumvent the will of the people of Clayton County, who overwhelmingly support Victor Hill.