Nevada Prison Lawsuits Costing Taxpayers Millions

The State of Nevada has paid out millions of dollars in recent years to settle lawsuits filed by inmates, with the cost to taxpayers rising sharply.

A review of records obtained from the Attorney General’s Office reveals that while the state spent nearly $1 million to settle three inmate lawsuits in January, that figure represents only a fraction of the growing liability from claims against the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) and other state agencies.

In 2022, NDOC settled 38 claims totaling $332,138.95. The following year, that number jumped to 53 cases costing $4,736,599.19. In 2024, NDOC settled 61 claims for a total of $6,366,441.82.

Settlements for 2025 are still pending, but initial estimates indicate the total cost to taxpayers will exceed the combined costs of the previous three years.

One of the largest payouts involved the family of Christian Walker, who alleged correctional officers beat him to death. The Walker family received $4.6 million, the largest wrongful death settlement in Nevada history.

Funds for these settlements come from the state tort claims fund. Budget records show the Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly requested additional funding as the fund nears depletion. State law, however, prohibits lawmakers from allocating more money to the fund outside of the legislative session.

Analysis suggests many lawsuits could be avoided, with inmate complaints about inadequate medical care recurring in multiple cases. Improving healthcare in prisons has been a focus of Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has called for reforms to reduce both risk to inmates and costs to taxpayers.