ALFRED (AP) – A York County Jail inmate claims his constitutional rights were violated when he and two other inmates were forced to clean up a bloody cell without adequate training and safeguards.

Zach Heiden, an attorney for the Maine Civil Liberties Union, said he represents Mike Mellen, one of three inmates with trustee status who were allegedly forced to clean up the mess that was left after another inmate attempted suicide Nov. 7.

The inmates, he said, weren’t issued proper clothing or instructed on the proper way to clean blood. They were given rubber gloves, brushes, bleach, a mop and a pail, he said.

“They were allegedly forced to clean up a biohazard site without training,” said Heiden. “The unsafe conditions these inmates were subjected to constitute cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment.”

A state inspector planned to visit the jail on Tuesday to look into the matter, according to Department of Corrections chief inspector Ralph Nichols.

Mellen’s fiance, Kelly Greene, said Mellen and the other inmates were told to clean a cell that was spattered with blood after an inmate apparently stabbed himself with a pencil and struck a vein. They were told they would lose their trusty status and reduced jail time for good behavior if they refused to clean the cell, Greene said.

“Mike just wants to do his time and come home so he did as he was told,” Greene wrote. “Mike stated to me he had never seen so much blood and he had it all over him, his arms and pants and boots were covered in it, and he said every time he scrubbed the walls with the brush he was given, it would spray back in his face.”

Mellen is in jail on a probation violation for driving while his license was suspended, Greene said.

Heiden said he has been in contact with jail officials and that they have been cooperative. The inmates have now been seen by the jail’s medical provider, he said.

Jail Superintendent Michael B. Vitiello declined to comment. He said the matter had been referred to the county attorney.

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Information from: Journal Tribune, http://www.journaltribune.com

AP-ES-11-20-06 0900EST