A Texas Prisoner Civil Rights Complaint for Federal Inmates (Givens) is a type of civil action that is filed by a federal inmate in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. It is a type of lawsuit that is used to seek damages for violations of the civil rights of inmates in federal prisons in the state of Texas. The types of civil rights that may be violated and the types of damages that can be sought in a Givens action include: cruel and unusual punishment, violation of the Eighth Amendment rights of federal inmates, denial of due process, violation of the First Amendment rights of inmates, denial of access to the courts, and racial discrimination. The complaint must be filed within three years of the alleged violation and can be brought by an individual inmate or by a group of inmates. If successful, the inmate(s) can receive compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees.