Missouri Corrections Director Gets Qualified Immunity on Appeal

The director of the Missouri Department of Corrections is entitled to qualified immunity after she relied on staff to investigate and address sexual assault allegations against a prison guard, the Eighth Circuit ruled Wednesday.

Teri Dean, one of the victims, sued multiple individuals including the director, Anne Precythe, whom Dean alleged was deliberately indifferent to her safety, the court said.

The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a district court’s order denying Precythe qualified immunity, saying constitutional law didn’t “clearly require her to do more.”

Dean was among the prisoners at Chillicothe Correctional Center who accused a ...