A federal jury has awarded $667,000 in damages to eight incarcerated men in Missouri who were pepper-sprayed by correctional officers while praying inside their cell. The men were holding a group prayer when they were pepper-sprayed, prompting them to file a civil rights lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections.
According to testimony presented in court, officers used pepper spray on the men during the prayer and later placed them in solitary confinement. The lawsuit argued that the force used by officers was excessive and violated the men’s constitutional rights. Attorneys for the men also stated that the prisoners were punished for engaging in religious activity.
Court records described the conditions the men experienced following the incident. While in solitary confinement, they reportedly lacked access to basic hygiene supplies and running water. Some of the men said they were forced to wash pepper spray residue from their skin using toilet water.
This case raises concerns about excessive force, religious freedom, and conditions inside correctional facilities. The settlement highlights how civil rights lawsuits continue to serve as one of the few mechanisms for accountability in cases involving alleged mistreatment of incarcerated people.
