ACLU files 3 lawsuits on behalf of families of inmates who committed suicide at ACI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island said it has filed three lawsuits on behalf of families of inmates who committed suicide while incarcerated at the Adult Correctional Institutions.

The ACLU said all three suicides occurred within a five-month span in 2023, and that the lawsuits allege that Department of Corrections supervisors and staff were “deliberately indifferent to the decedents’ known suicide risk” and did not intervene in time.

The lawsuit also alleges that two of the inmates were in solitary confinement.

ACLU lawyers said that the three individuals who committed suicide were 39-year-old Dana Leyland, 27-year-old Brian Rodenas, and 35 years old Peter De Los Santos.

“These three deaths were tragedies, and they highlight all too unfortunately the critical need to vastly limit the cruel and too-extensive use of solitary confinement at the ACI,” ACLU of Rhode Island Executive Director Steven Brown. “The loss of these lives is only compounded by the lack of transparency surrounding their passing.”

Brown added that the Department of Corrections has been “without a permanent medical director for almost two years.”

Department of Corrections Chief of Information and Public Relations J.R. Ventura released the following statement on the lawsuit:

Our top priority has been, and will always be, the safety and security of everyone under our purview, staff and inmates alike. As for the particulars of the case itself, we are unable to discuss ongoing litigation.

The department also announced that it promoted Deputy Warden Lynda Aul and Acting Warden Kathy Lyons to the permanent roles of Warden.

“I am extremely proud of the high caliber professionals we have within our ranks, and Wardens Aul and Lyons have had an exemplary career at RIDOC, and continue to show outstanding leadership in any role they undertake,” RIDOC Director Wayne Salisbury said. “I would like to congratulate them both on their hard-earned and well-deserved promotions.”

Another inmate died at the ACI on June 30, which has not been ruled a suicide.