Jail officials faulted over epileptic trans woman’s death

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for the family of a transgender woman who died from an epileptic seizure at New York City’s Rikers Island says she never should have been placed in a solitary unit.
Lawyer David Shanies said Wednesday that it’s “hard to imagine” the decision to place 27-year-old Layleen Polanco in restrictive housing.
Polanco was found unresponsive in her cell in June. She had been in custody since mid-April, unable to post $500 bail after an assault arrest.