The Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 26, is suing the Florence Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for discriminatory treatment that has led to his mental and physical decline.
In the handwritten lawsuit that was filed on December 22, 2020, Tsarnaev alleges that "the BOP has enabled the Unit Manager, A. Tuttoilmondo, to discriminate against me,” and that “The Bureau of Prisons has failed to protect me from the discriminatory actions of the Warden, Unit Manager, and other members of the Unit Team.”
Tsarnaev goes on to explain in his complaint that he has been consistently targeted and discriminated against by prison officials. Part of his allegations includes that he is only allowed three showers a week and two phone calls a month. Tsarnaev argues that because of his good behavior, he should be in what is described as “Phase Two.”
Phase two comes with the privileges of a daily shower and three phone calls per month. Tsarnaev explains, “The criteria to advance from Phase One to Phase Two varies, but generally, inmates on Phase One must have a year of “good conduct” and are expected to engage in educational programming. The inmates in H-Unit are evaluated on a biannual basis after which the Unit Team, comprising of the Unit Manager, the Warden, and others make their determination to advance the inmate in the Phase Two program or reject his advancement.”
Tsarnaev adds that “On May 14, 2020, I was reviewed by the Unit Team and was subsequently rejected despite the fact that I had done all that was required of me. I maintained more than a year of clear conduct and had committed to educational programs.” Tsarnaev goes on to explain that he was denied his advancement into Phase Two because the Warden did not like Tsarnaev’s “demeanor.” When asked to elaborate, Tsarnaev shares that he was told by a staff member that “He wanted me to smile at him and be courteous when he makes his weekly rounds.” Tsarnaev goes on to argue that he is being held to different standards and that he is being discriminated against because of it.
In his lawsuit, Tsarnaev also points to examples of discrimination after a bandana and a hat that belonged to him were confiscated because they were viewed as “disrespectful to the FBI,” according to Tsarnaev.
Because of the alleged mistreatment Tsarnaev has endured behind bars at the hands of Prison officials, Tsarnaev explains of himself that “This discriminatory action against me reflects an attitude that has inevitably brought about more prejudiced actions that violate my rights and have resulted in my mental and physical decline.” As a result of his experience, Tsarnaev is suing the U.S. government to fine the prison officials $250,000. Tsarnaev is also asking the courts to provide him with an attorney so that he can pursue the lawsuit.
Although Tsarnaev’s lawsuit has been issued to a judge, the judge explained earlier last week that the filing is insufficient because it lacks a “certified copy of prisoner's trust fund statement” and is missing the filing fee of $402.
Tsarnaev and his brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was killed in a police shootout, were both responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing that took place on April 15th, 2013. The bombing resulted in the deaths of three people, including an eight-year-old and an MIT police officer.
The bombing happened after the brothers placed two homemade pressure-cooker bombs near the Marathon’s finish line. The carnage injured 260 individuals with at least 17 individuals losing limbs. After being convicted and sentenced to death, Tsarnaev’s sentence was overturned last year because the judge hearing the case did not properly screen jurors to eliminate bias.
