R. Kelly has reportedly been placed on suicide watch at the federal detention facility in Brooklyn where he is being held after he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for sex crimes.
Jennifer Bonjean, his lawyer, who confirmed the development in a statement, faulted the move.
Bonjean stated that she was told by prosecutors who spoke with prison officials that his client was placed on suicide watch because he is well-known.
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“The irony of putting someone on suicide watch when they’re not suicidal is it actually causes more harm,” she said.
“It’s punishment for being high-profile. And it’s horrifying frankly. … To put someone under suicide watch under those conditions is cruel and unusual when they don’t need it.”
Bonjean noted that her team has approached the court to challenge the “illegal” decision.
“MDC-Brooklyn has a policy of punishing high profile inmates by placing them under the harsh conditions of suicide watch even though they are not suicidal,” she added.
Ms Bonjean added that she had spoken with Kelly following the sentencing and he shared that he was mentally fine, but concerned that authorities would put him on suicide watch as they had after the guilty verdict.
She added, “We are in the process of filing an emergency rule to show cause with the courts.
“MDC Brooklyn’s confinement of Mr Kelly to suicide watch is illegal, and they will be held accountable for it.”
Kelly, 55, was sentenced to 30 years in prison earlier this week for racketeering and other charges related to a criminal enterprise he ran for decades that allowed him to prey on and sexually abuse a number of his fans and others he drew into his inner circle.
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