Suicide is the leading cause of death in jails, which often cannot provide the mental health care inmates need. But, every jail can ensure officers meet minimum safety standards. These articles show the severity of the problem and consequences of noncompliance.
February 2023
Feb. 25, 2023. Wife of man who hanged himself in Justice Center jail cell files lawsuit Syracuse.com. Syracuse NY
Feb. 24, 2023. Family Sues After Nuclear Physicist’s Death In Virginia Jail. U.S. News. Falls Creek, VA.
Feb. 23, 2023. Officials Investigate incarcerated man’s death in Yavapai County Jail. AZ Central. Yavapai AZ
Feb. 23, 2023. Report: Death in custody are a crisis but federal data is a black hole: NPR.
Feb. 23, 2023. Children of Man Left to Die in Sacramento County Jail File Federal Civil RIghts Lawsuit. GlobeNewsWire. Sacramento, CA
Feb. 22, 2023. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office faces wrongful death lawsuit. News Channel 3. Memphis, TN
Feb. 22, 2023. She was arressted over $40. Three weeks later he died at the Walker County Jail. CBS 42. Jasper, AL
Feb 22, 2023. Family filed federal lawsuit after Louisville Metro Corrections inmate dies by suicide. WDRB.com. Louisville, KY
Feb. 14, 2023. A Walker Co. mother suing the sheriff after her son dies while in custody. WBRC6. Birmingham, AL
Feb 13, 2023. FBI announces investigations into deaths at Harris County Jail. The Texas Tribune. Harris County, TX
Feb 6, 2023. New Lawsuit over Oklahoma County jail inmate called twice for help for his dying cellmate. Nobody Came. The Oklahoman
January 2023
Jan 30, 2023. Clayton County inmate death ruled homicide after jailer struggle. Alive. Clayton County, GA
Jan 30, 2023. CLERB may ask the sheriff for internal records on jail deaths. The San Diego Tribune. San Diego, CA
Jan 30, 2023. Harris County Jail Population, deaths swell in 2022. Community Impact. Houston, TX
Jan 30, 2023. KARE 11 Investigates: Beltrami Jail poses “imminent safety” risk. Kare 11. ST. Paul, Minn
Jan 29, 2023. After 19 in-custody deaths, a Sheriff’s oversight commission must be established. Yahoo news. California
Jan 17, 2023. Biden Justice Department needs to stop the epidemic of prison and jail deaths. The Hill
Jan. 1, 2023. Inmate Takes Own Life At Niagara County Jail, Sheriff Investigating. WYRK. Niagara County, NY
December 2022
Dec. 28, 2022. Jail inmate dies of apparent suicide. Radio Pacific, Inc. Port Angeles, WA.
Dec. 28, 2022. Dekalb Jail announces two more inmate deaths; at least seven deaths reported this year. WABE. DeKalb County, GA
Dec. 28, 2022. Deputies: Pursuit suspect committed suicide in Holmes County Jail | Western Panhandle. Spot on Florida. Holmes County, FL
Dec. 23, 2022. Prisoner’s death spotlights solitary confinement injustices in Louisiana. The Guardian. Louisiana
Dec. 19, 2022. 2022 was deadliest year in Solano County jails in 24 years. Vallejo Sun. Solano County, CA
Dec. 18, 2022. A Seattle man began the night in crisis. Then, a sudden death in restraint. Seattle Times. Washington
Dec. 16, 2022. 20-year-old woman dies by apparent suicide at Milwaukee County Jail. CBS- 58. Milwaukee, WI
Dec. 5, 2022. Lewis and Clark County Detention Center looks for solutions after rise in suicides. Helena Independent Record. Helena, MT
Dec. 2, 2022. Man who killed Polk County detective Kristen Hearne kills himself in prison. Rome News-Tribune. Rome, GA
Dec. 1, 2022. Family of Brieon Green accuses county of negligence in jail suicide. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Milwaukee, WI
November 2022
Nov. 28, 2022. Death by suicide suspected in Mineral County jail. Nonstop Local. Montana
Nov. 19, 2022. Cook County Jail detainee dies by suicide. Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois
May 2022
May 7, 2022. Wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Carlos Patino Regalado as a result of his suicide in the Monterey County jail. PRNewsWire. Salinas, CA.
May 6, 2022. Inmate Henry Bost at the Bertie Correctional Center in Windsor, North Carolina died of apparent suicide. Public Radio East. Windsor, NC.
May 5, 2022. Inmate Derek Geter died by apparent suicide at the Mecklenburg County detention center. WSOCTV. Charlotte, NC.
May 5, 2022. Male inmate booked into the Rockingham County Jail and committed suicide almost 24 hours later. It is the third suicide at the facility in 14 months. WFMY News 2. Reidsville, NC.
May 4, 2022. Death row inmate commits suicide at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida. First Coast News. Raiford, FL.
May 4, 2022. Man dies in suspected suicide while awaiting trial in Oakland County, Michigan. Fox 2 Detroit. Oakland, MI.
May 1, 2022. Federal lawsuit filed in South Carolina alleges that the Richland County jail is deficient in its treatment of mentally ill inmates, including not properly supervising those on suicide watch. The State Newspaper. Columbia, SC.
April 2022
April 19, 2022. Anthony Steven Spurgeon died by apparent suicide at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. KTVO. Anamosa, IA.
April 19, 2022. William Rhinesmith hung himself in the Mecklenburg County jail four days after being taken into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle. The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC.
April 18, 2022. A federal lawsuit has been filed against Mecklenburg and Rockingham Counties in North Carolina by the family of a 17-year old who hung himself in the Mecklenburg County Jail in November, 2020. The lawsuit alleges that after the teen’s death, the jail staff manipulated documents to make it appear that they checked on him more often than they did. The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte, NC.
April 14, 2022. Red River County, TX has agreed to pay the family of Christopher Wayne Cabler $825,000 to settle a lawsuit arising out of Cabler’s suicide by hanging at the jail in May, 2019. Texarkana Gazette. Clarksville, TX.
April 10, 2022. After being arrested for drug charges and driving on a suspended license, Douglas Kennedy was in the Bullitt County Detention Center for one week before committing suicide by hanging himself with bed sheets. WDRB.com. Shepherdsville, KY.
April 7, 2022. Jason Thomas Hager died by suspected suicide in the Kane County jail. He had been found incompetent to stand trial the day before, and was waiting for a bed to open up in the state hospital for him to be treated and returned to competency. St. George News. St. George, UT.
April 7, 2022. Mackenzie Catalano died by suicide by hanging at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Perryville, Arizona. She was due to be released three months later. She is the sixth person to commit suicide in an Arizona prison since July, 2021. The Arizona Republic. Goodyear, AZ.
April 7, 2022. The family of Michael Kozletsky has filed a lawsuit against Menard County, TX alleging wrongful death after he committed suicide by hanging in May, 2020. Related to this case, the Texas Commission of Jail Standards found that the jail was not in compliance with several regulations. San Angelo Standard Times. San Angelo, TX.
April 4, 2022. A federal judge has allowed a wrongful death lawsuit to continue against two separate Colorado counties for the suicide of an inmate who hung himself and remained undiscovered for two hours, despite being on suicide watch. Since Archuleta County had an agreement to house its inmates in La Plata County, the judge ruled that Archuleta County had an obligation for the safety of its detainees even after they left the jurisdiction. Colorado Politics. Colorado.
April 3, 2022. Dustin Dunkling, 29, dies of apparent suicide at the Northeast Correctional Complex. VTDigger. St. Johnsbury, VT.
April 3, 2022. Autopsy determines that Kyung Pil Chang committed suicide by hanging himself at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Patch. Fairfax, VA.
April 2, 2022. Federal lawsuit filed against Alameda County and twelve individuals for failure to prevent the suicide of a mentally ill inmate. It notes that there were 14 suicides at the same jail between 2015 and 2019. Bay City News. Santa Rita, CA.
April 1, 2022. Lawsuit filed against Gallatin County, Montana and 10 jail employees. The lawsuit claims that jail staff knew that Daniel Keith Ross was suicidal after being booked into jail on a non-violent parole violation, but they did not take appropriate action to monitor him. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Butte, MO.
April 1, 2022. Inmate dies of apparent suicide at the Hampton Community Corrections Center. Virginian-Pilot. Hampton, VA.
April 1, 2022. Judge awards $1.375 Million to the family of an inmate who hung himself despite being in a medical observation unit. Honolulu Civil Beat. Honolulu, HI.
March 2022
March 15, 2022. Inmate in Dallas County jail commits suicide while on suicide watch. Officers were unaware of the crisis until another inmate alerted them. Dallas Observer. Dallas, TX.
March 10, 2022. King County, WA has agreed to pay $750,000 to the family of an inmate who killed himself in a Seattle jail. US News & World Report. Seattle, WA.
March 8, 2022. Inmate Timothy Larson died of apparent suicide in a state prison in Tucson, AZ. Huron Daily Tribune. Tucson, AZ.
February 2022
Feb. 3, 2022. Inmate Daniel Herbert died of apparent suicide in the Yuba County Jail. The Union. Yuba County, CA.
Feb. 3, 2022. The family of Lee Creely, an inmate who died in the Chatham County jail, has filed a lawsuit against the jail’s administrators and its medical staff. The lawsuit alleges that the jail’s officers did not carry out security checks on time, and may have falsified logbook entries. Reuters. Savannah, GA.
Feb. 3, 2022. A federal class action lawsuit has been filed by the ACLU and others against the County of San Diego and the county Sheriff’s Department following a scathing report on county jail deaths released by the California State Auditor. Some examples in the report include serious lapses in inmate safety checks. Fox 5 San Diego. San Diego, CA.
Feb. 3, 2022. Inmate committed suicide by hanging. Officers were notified by another inmate who requested medical attention. Wisconsin State Journal. Rock County, WI.
Feb. 3, 2022. Inmate Johnny D. Everett Jr., 27, attempted suicide by hanging after being in Ascension Parish Prison approximately two days. The Advocate. Donaldsonville, LA.
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Jan. 27, 2022. The Medical Examiner reports that the November 20, death of inmate Christopher Jerome Endicott was a result of suicide by asphyxia. The Bimidji Pioneer, Brainerd, MN.
Jan. 23, 2022. Inmate Michael Walton, 39, died by apparent suicide by hanging in the Arizona state prison in Tucson. 12News, Tucson, Arizona.
Jan. 23, 2022. Inmate Gerald Holbrook committed suicide by hanging in his single cell in the Hancock County jail. WISH, Greenfield, Indiana.
Jan. 21, 2022. A 31-year-old inmate committed suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet in his single cell in the Calhoun County jail. Fox17, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Jan. 21, 2022. The family of Jermelle Madison, Jr. has filed a lawsuit against the Clackamas County Jail. Mr. Madison committed suicide in jail, and the DA’s office later found that the jail did not place Mr. Madison on suicide watch, despite proof of his recent suicidal ideations and schizophrenia diagnosis. KOIN, Portland, Oregon.
Jan. 20, 2022. As part of a settlement agreement, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office must record the exact times inmates with serious mental illness leave and return to their cells on a strict weekly out-of-cell time schedule. This information must then be reported to the inmates’ lawyers every two weeks. USA Today, Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
Jan. 20, 2022. Inmate dies of apparent suicide at the Granite County Detention Center. KRTV, Philipsburg, Montana.
Jan. 19, 2022. Inmate Jeffrey Jacobs died of suspected suicide at the Bertie Correctional Institution. WPDE, Raleigh, North Carolina.
Jan. 17, 2022. Inmate Jonas Mooneyham, housed in drug detox unit, was found and pronounced dead from suspected suicide at the Marion County Justice Center. Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Jan. 12, 2022. North Carolina Bureau of Investigation investigating death of inmate Andrew Franklin Hodge at Rutherford County, NC jail, where the jail is also investigating four non-fatal inmate overdoses the previous day. US News & World Report, Rutherfordton, North Carolina.
Jan. 12, 2022. In-custody death of Austin Bishop on 1/11/22 at Oklahoma County Jail under investigation. Last month, the 12/26/21 suicide of inmate Gabriel Yalartai at the jail resulted in an officer’s termination because required 30-min. checks were not conducted. The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Jan. 8, 2022. Inmate died after apparent hanging suicide on 1/6/22 at Escambia County Jail. Pensacola News Journal, Pensacola, Florida
Jan. 7, 2022. Twenty-eight-year-old inmate Antonio DeJesus Espinoza hanged himself with a blanket in his single cell in the Pierce County Jail. The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA.
Jan. 1, 2022. Inmate died after apparent hanging suicide at Middle River Regional Jail in Augusta County, VA. Staunton News Leader, Staunton, Virginia.
December 2021
Dec. 31, 2021. A 41-year-old inmate at Middle River Regional Jail killed himself Friday night, according to a release from the jail. Yahoo News, Augusta County, Georgia.
Dec. 29, 2021. An inmate at Tabor Correctional Institution died of an apparent suicide, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety. WECT, Tabor City, North Carolina.
Dec. 26, 2021. A detention officer at the Oklahoma County jail was fired Monday, one day after an inmate was found hanging in his cell due to suicide. The officer failed to conduct required cell checks during his shift. Newsbreak, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
Dec. 24. 2021. Miller County jail staffers were conducting cell checks when a deputy found Richard Harley, 33, of Fouke hanging inside his cell due to an apparent suicide. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Miller County, Arkansas.
Dec. 21, 2021. North Carolina state inspectors find that the Forsyth County jail staff failed to make timely inspections around the time inmate James Michael Anderson committed suicide. Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Dec. 21, 2021. Wayne A. Maynard, 52, an inmate at the Oneida County Jail committed suicide while in custody Tuesday morning. Wisconsin State Journal, Oneida County, Wisconsin.
Dec. 17, 2021. Elnan Edinson Oganda, 47, was found dead from an apparent suicide less than a week after he was arrested. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Dekalb County, Georgia.
Dec. 17, 2021. A 38-year-old inmate at the Onondaga County Justice Center died by suicide late Thursday night, deputies said. Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.
Dec. 16, 2021. Evan Held, an inmate at Bexar County Jail, was found unresponsive in his cell Wednesday morning after committing suicide. News 4 San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Dec. 14, 2021. Tippecanoe County Jail inmate Calvin E. Miller, 25, died by suicide early Tuesday in the Tippecanoe County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office. Journal & Courier, Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
Dec. 12, 2021. A man has died at a local hospital after he reportedly attempted suicide while in the Smith County Jail. CBS 19, Smith County, Texas.
Dec. 10, 2021. An inmate who died last spring at San Diego Central Jail intentionally killed himself by drinking so much water his body shut down, authorities reported Friday. Times of San Diego, San Diego County, California.
Dec. 10, 2021. The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suicide of an inmate who is said to have jumped from the second tier of a housing unit at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center. Loudoun Times-Mirror, Loudoun County, Virginia.
Dec. 10, 2021. Scotland Correctional Institution offender Pliney R. Purser has died after an apparent suicide after being found unresponsive in his cell. Newsbreak, Scotland County, North Carolina.
Dec. 9, 2021. The parents of a man who hanged himself in a San Francisco jail in January are suing the city and jail medical officers, saying they ignored clear signs that he was mentally ill and suicidal and kept him in solitary confinement for most of his final months, with virtually no monitoring or treatment. San Fransisco Chronicle, San Bruno, California.
Dec. 9, 2021. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office said prison staff reported finding 47-year-old Leon Demel Latham unresponsive Tuesday morning in his private cell at the William Donaldson Correctional Facility due to an apparent suicide. WCRB, Jefferson County, Alabama.
Dec. 8, 2021. The woman who died by suicide Saturday at Louisville’s jail had been placed in a holding cell when she hung herself. The death could have been prevented if the jail had been adequately staffed, the head of the labor organization representing corrections officers said. WLKY, Louisville, Kentucky.
Dec. 4, 2021. Lodi Giacomini Jr., a prisoner in the Orange Theo Lacy facility, died on suspicion of suicide. California News-Times, Orange County, California.
Dec. 3, 2021. The family of an inmate who struggled with mental illness for nearly 20 years before killing himself in a Pendleton prison has filed a lawsuit against the Indiana Department of Correction. Legal Reader, Pendleton, Indiana.
November 2021
Nov. 27, 2021. A Mohave County Jail inmate has died after being transported from the facility to a Las Vegas hospital in an attempted – and ultimately successful – suicide. Havasu News, Mohave County, Nevada.
Nov. 23, 2021. The Carbon County Coroner says 38-year-old Aaron Stevens died by suicide Monday. WFMZ, Carbon County, Pennsylvania.
Nov. 23, 2021. The death of a 23-year-old inmate in Pasco late Friday has been ruled a suicide. Tri-City Herald, Franklin County, Washington.
Nov. 18, 2021. A female inmate hospitalized after she hanged herself in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility last month died, the county coroner’s office reported Thursday. Times Leader, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Nov. 15, 2021. An inmate, Lawrence Pilla, 61, was found dead in a New Hampshire prison last week was a suicide, prison officials said. WHDH, Concord, Massachusettes.
Nov. 10, 2021. Madison County and a community health organization are facing a wrongful death lawsuit over the 2020 suicide of a jail inmate. Iowa Capital Dispatch, Madison County, Iowa.
Nov. 9, 2021. A Riverside Regional Jail inmate has died of injuries in a suspected suicide, five weeks after a state jail board voted to allow the 1,300-inmate facility to remain open under a two-year agreement that arose from an investigation of three inmate deaths in 2019 and 2020. Richmond Times-Dispatch, Prince George County, Virginia.
Nov. 8, 2021. The estate of a Coaldale woman who died in 2020 in Schuylkill County Prison is suing the county, the prison and others for her death. The suit says Redclift was “confined to prison without adequate surveillance, supervision, or proper care and/or psychological/psychiatric treatment resulting in hanging and her death.” Times-News Online, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
Nov. 8, 2021. Authorities in western Massachusetts have determined the death of an inmate at the Berkshire County House of Correction Sunday was a suicide. WAMC, Pittsfield, Massachusettes.
Nov. 5, 2021. An inmate of the Marion County Jail was found unresponsive in his cell after an apparent suicide attempt, authorities said. He later died. The Oskaloosa Herald, Marion County, Iowa.
October 2021
Oct. 29, 2021. An inmate died after he was found unresponsive at the Oklahoma County Detention Center, the jail said Friday. According to a jail news release announcing the death, staff checked on Weeks “several times” in the hours before his suicide. KOCO News, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
Oct. 29, 2021. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that an active investigation is being conducted regarding the apparent suicide of an inmate at the Taylor County Jail. Perry News-Herald, Taylor County, Florida.
Oct. 26, 2021. The Lewis and Clark County Detention Center saw its second suicide attempt by an inmate in a little more than a month Sunday evening. Independent Record, Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
Oct. 26, 2021. About 2:40 p.m. Monday, staff with the Boulder County Jail found the inmate, who appeared to have hanged himself inside his cell, according to a news release from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Daily Camera, Boulder County, Colorado.
Oct. 23, 2021. An unidentified inmate died Saturday morning in the Niagara County Jail, in what the Sheriff’s Office called “an apparent suicide,” and the investigation has been turned over to state officials. Buffalo News, Niagara County, New York.
Oct. 22, 2021. A Citrus County Detention Facility inmate died in an apparent suicide. An investigation of the death is underway. Citrus County Chronicle, Citrus County, Florida.
Oct. 20. 2021. Detectives with an interagency unit are investigating the apparent suicide of an inmate, Darrell Joe, 23, at the Yakima County jail Tuesday. Yakima Herald, Yakima County, Washington.
Oct. 18, 2021. The jury in a federal civil case has awarded more than $1.7 million to the family of a man who took his own life in 2016 while on suicide watch at the Santa Rosa County Jail. Pensacola News Journal, Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Oct. 16, 2021. Texas Rangers are investigating the in-custody death of a man at the Van Zandt County Jail. It is a suspected suicide. KLTV, Van Zandt County, Texas.
Oct. 16, 2021. Capt. Rebecca Hillman, 38, appeared in the Manhattan Supreme court on Friday. She was charged in April with criminally negligent homicide over the suicide of inmate Ryan Wilson, 29, who died last November. Knowledia, Manhattan, New York.
Oct. 13, 2021. A North Carolina jail violated regulations requiring guards to observe inmates at least twice an hour, according to a state agency probing the deaths of two inmates last spring. Huron Daily Tribune, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Oct. 13, 2021. Authorities are investigating after an inmate died in a suspected suicide at Lee Correctional Institution. The Post and Courier, Bishopville, South Carolina.
Oct. 9, 2021. The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the suicide of an inmate inside the Clayton County Jail. KWWL, Clayton County, Iowa.
Oct. 6, 2021. Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin reported Wednesday that two inmates at the Montana State Prison died by suicide in separate incidents. KULR 8, Deer Lodge, Montana.
Oct. 6, 2021. A New Jersey man who was imprisoned at the Bucks County Correctional Facility died by suicide, authorities announced Wednesday. Levittown Now, Bucks County, New Jersey.
Oct. 4, 2021. The Trumbull County Sheriff’s office is currently investigating the death of an inmate taking place Saturday morning. 21-year-old inmate, Miambo Maombi’s death is currently being investigated as an apparent suicide. WFMJ, Trumbull County, Pennsylvania.
Oct. 2, 2021. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after an inmate apparently died by suicide Wednesday at the Guilford County jail in High Point. News & Record, Guilford County, North Carolina.
Oct. 1, 2021. Billy Dunn, 47, a male Harris County Jail inmate has died after apparently hanging himself according to a Harris County Sheriff’s Office press release. Katy Times, Harris County, Texas.
September 2021
Sep. 30, 2021. An investigation into the death of a 19-year-old Painesville man at the Lake County Jail is ongoing. The man was found in his cell, and his death appears to be a suicide. News-Herald, Lake County, Ohio.
Sep. 29, 2021. An inmate at the Newton County Detention Center died by apparent suicide Sunday, Sept. 26. Rockdale Citizen, Newton County, Missouri.
Sep. 28, 2021. Jail officials found an inmate dead in his cell early Tuesday. Officials said Mark Simon, 43, was found in his cell “sitting on the toilet with what appeared to be his bedsheet tied to the ventilation grate and other end tied around his neck.” Knox Pages, Ashland County, Ohio.
Sep. 23, 2021. Kenneth Gleason was found dead in his cell early Wednesday, after apparently committing suicide by hanging, according to a report. Fox News, Angola, Louisiana.
Sep. 22, 2021. An inmate of Forsyth County jail, James Michael Anderson, 48, of Lexington, was found unresponsive in his cell. Journal Now, Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Sep. 22, 2021. A 39-year-old man incarcerated at the Virginia Beach city jail died by suicide Friday, according to the city’s sheriff’s office. The Virginian Pilot, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Sep. 22, 2021. Matthew Culley, an inmate at the Penitentiary of New Mexico was found hanging in his cell Monday. Santa Fe New Mexican, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sep. 20, 2021. An inmate died from an apparent suicide Tuesday morning at a Florida Keys jail, officials said. U.S. News, Key West, Florida.
Sep. 20, 2021. Tadeusz Domagala, an inmate at Bucks County Prison died over the weekend. His death was later ruled a suicide by the coroner. Courier-Times, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Sep. 20, 2021. An inmate at the Lewis and Clark County Detention Center died after he was found unresponsive in his cell after a suicide attempt by hanging. Montana Right Now, Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
Sep. 18, 2021. An inmate at the Tarrant County Jail died by suicide after he was found hanging by a mattress cover in his cell. Star-Telegram, Tarrant County, Texas.
Sep. 17, 2021. A Northumberland County Prison inmate was found dead in his cell earlier this week. It was ruled a suicide. WKOK, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Sep. 9, 2021. A 27-year-old woman who hanged herself by a bedsheet Friday at the Onondaga County jail has died, sheriff’s deputies said. Newsbreak, Onondaga County, New York.
Sep. 9, 2021. An Arizona prison inmate who was serving a 22-year sentence for second-degree murder has died after he apparently hanged himself in his cell, prison officials announced Thursday. Your Valley, Buckeye, Arizona.
Sep. 6, 2021. Operators of Youngstown’s privately run prison say an inmate has died following an apparent suicide attempt. WFMJ, Youngstown, Ohio.
Sep. 6, 2021. Authorities in North Carolina are investigating after they say that a prison inmate, identified as Tyler Lanier, 26, died from an apparent suicide. WNCT, Laurinburg, North Carolina.
August 2021
Aug. 30, 2021. Segundo Guallpa, A 57-year-old Rikers Island inmate died in an apparent suicide early Monday after he was found unresponsive in his cell. Tales Buzz, Rikers Island, New York.
Aug. 30, 2021. Arizona Department of Corrections officials said Monday that 43-year-old Mario DeLuna died from an apparent act of self-harm by hanging. Your Valley, Florence, Arizona.
Aug. 29, 2021. Morgan’s family says Nevada prison officials failed to take appropriate precautions and provide proper care while she was incarcerated, leading to her death by suicide at age 25 in 2018. The Nevada Independent, Carson City, Nevada.
Aug. 27, 2021. 30-year-old Keyot D. Turnbow died Friday morning after deputies found him unresponsive in a cell at Marion County Jail. WTHR, Marion County, Indiana.
Aug. 26, 2021. A 35-year-old inmate at the Bristol County House of Correction died by an apparent suicide Wednesday night, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office. Taunton Gazette, Bristol County, Massachusettes.
Aug. 23, 2021. Thomas Biggs, 40, a Sarasota County Jail inmate died in his cell Sunday night, the sheriff’s office said. Based on a preliminary investigation, investigators believe Biggs’ death may have been a suicide. ABC7, Sarasota County, Florida.
Aug. 19, 2021. The third inmate death this year at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center is under review by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Stanley James Fowler, 66, was found unconscious inside the jail following a suicide attempt. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cobb County, Georgia.
Aug. 18, 2021. A man being held at Western Virginia Regional Jail died Wednesday in what authorities said appeared to be a suicide by hanging. The Roanoke Times, Roanoke County, Virginia.
Aug. 17, 2021. An inmate, Robert Lee Henderson, 41, from Miller County was found dead Monday morning inside his cell at the East Arkansas Regional Unit in Brickeys, the victim of an apparent suicide. Magnolia Reporter, Miller County, Arkansas.
Aug. 17, 2021. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a local jail after officials said an inmate died days after attempting suicide. Newsbreak, Woodbury County, Iowa.
Aug. 16, 2021. Macomb County will likely pay $1 million to the parents of a man who committed suicide in the Macomb County Jail. The Macomb Daily, Macomb County, Michigan.
Aug. 14, 2021. A 25-year-old man, Brandon Rodriguez, arrested on Staten Island early this month for allegedly assaulting and strangling a pregnant woman died by alleged suicide in a Rikers Island prison cell on Tuesday. Silive, Richmond County, New York.
Aug. 13, 2021. Michigan State Police are investigating after officials say a prisoner, 39-year-old Natasha Marie Roark, who was serving time for a Livingston County crime, died after reportedly hanging herself Wednesday at the state’s only prison for women. WHMI, Washtenaw County, Michigan.
Aug. 11, 2021. The family of a man who died by suicide in the Vista jail has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county of San Diego, alleging that jail medical staff failed to take seriously Joseph Morton’s threats to harm himself. The San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego County, California.
Aug. 8, 2021. The Iowa Department of Corrections, Sunday, said 28-year-old inmate Anthony William Geltz was pronounced dead due to apparent suicide. Newsbreak, Cherokee County, Iowa.
Aug. 7, 2021. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death of an inmate, Thomas Pollacci, at the Monterey County Jail Friday morning. Pollacci’s death is being investigated as a suicide after he was found hanging in his cell. KION, Monterey County, California.
Aug. 5, 2021. Correctional officers found Wallace, alone in his jail cell, unconscious and not breathing. Preliminary evidence indicates Wallace committed suicide by hanging himself. Clinton County Daily News, Tipton County, Indiana.
Aug. 2, 2021. The death of an inmate, Heather D. Carter, 28, at the Aiken County detention center on Thursday has been ruled a suicide. Aiken Standard, Aiken County, South Carolina.
July 2021
July 27, 2021. Michael Aston, 43, was found unresponsive by jail deputies. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said preliminary information shows Aston’s death was suicide by hanging. WTHR, Marion County, Indiana.
July 27, 2021. 39-year-old inmate, Kevin Lee Parsons, was found unresponsive in his cell after an apparent suicide attempt. Staff tried to take life saving measures but were unsuccessful. WNEM, Tuscola County, Michigan.
July 26, 2021. Inmate, Kevin McDonald, 42, died after a suicide attempt in his cell. WDAM7, Jasper County, Mississippi.
July 24, 2021. The family of an Iberia Parish inmate who committed suicide while in custody, filed a federal lawsuit. Raymond Bonnette killed himself in the jail July 21, 2020; the family are claiming the jail staff failed to provide adequate medical care. KATC, Stauton, Virginia.
July 19, 2021. The Lucas County Coroner’s Office confirmed Monday an inmate at the Lucas County Corrections Center died by suicide Friday. The Deputy Coroner said 36-year-old Joshua Maldonado died from hanging. 13 ABC, Lucas County, Ohio.
July 19, 2021. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and GBI are investigating after an inmate, 55-year-old Tracy McCook, suicide at the jail. 13 WMAZ, Milledgeville, Georgia.
July 18, 2021. Custody staff at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail conducting routine security checks discovered 35-year-old Kean Ardie San Juan Pinon of Santa Maria unresponsive in his housing unit. Pinon was alone and hanging from a bedsheet fashioned as a ligature in an apparent suicide attempt. EDHT, Santa Barbara County, California.
July 16, 2021. A 51 year-old Pennsylvania inmate, Jack Lazar, died after authorities said he tried to take his own life in a cell at the Harford County Detention Center in Bel Air. He was taken to the hospital, where officials said he died four days later. Patch, Harford County, Pennsylvania.
July 14, 2021. A deputy sheriff in San Diego failed to carry out a compulsory safety check on prisoners who died from drug overdose last year, an independent investigation found. California News Times, San Diego, California.
July 13, 2021. MMA fighter Travis Fulton, 44, died in an Iowa jail in an apparent suicide, officials said. NBC News, Linn County, Iowa.
July 9, 2021. Gavin Wallmow, age 20, was an inmate who died by suicide in his cell last week in Oneida County Jail. News Break, Oneida County, Wisconsin.
July 7, 2021. Christopher Lapp, 62, was an inmate at the Alexandria jail, who killed himself after jailers discontinued his psychotropic medication, according to his lawyer. KSL, Falls Church, Virginia.
July 6, 2021. Hinds County jail officials found a yet-to-be-identified detainee hanging and unresponsive in his cell. It will be the second hanging in the detention center in 2021. Jackson Free Press, Hinds County, Mississippi.
July 4, 2021. Family members of two men who hanged themselves within 24 hours of each other at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility last month say their loved ones wouldn’t have died if the state prison near Los Lunas was properly run. Daily Magazine, Los Lunas, New Mexico.
June 2021
June 30, 2021. 20-year-old Michael Lee Alexander, Jr., an inmate at Cascade County Detention Center, died from an apparent suicide. Alexander was founding hanging in his cell at about 9 p.m. KPAX8, Cascade County, Montana.
June 29, 2021. Andrew S. Ladd, 42, was an inmate at the McHenry County Jail found unresponsive in his cell. The manner and cause of death were determined to be suicide by hanging. Patch, McHenry County, Illinois.
June 28, 2021. An 18-year-old woman took her own life in the Allen County Jail Sunday. She was found unresponsive and ruled to have died from hanging herself. WPTA 21, Allen County, Indiana.
June 28, 2021. A judge on June 25 excoriated federal prison officials for refusing to admit an inmate needing mental health care who later killed himself in a local jail cell. Virginia Lawyers Weekly, Alexandria, Virginia.
June 23, 2021. A male inmate was found unresponsive in his cell after an apparent suicide in the Otsego County Jail. The Daily Star, Ostego County, Michigan.
June 19, 2021. Christopher Dunn, a 41-year-old inmate was found dead of an apparent suicide by hanging Friday at the Varner Supermax Unit. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Grant County, Arkansas.
June 17, 2021. Jacob Gammons, 24, an inmate at Crockett County Jail in Alamo, TN was found dead from an apparent suicide by hanging. Crockett County Times, Crockett County, Tennessee.
June 14, 2021. Arizona Corrections Department officials said Monday that 67-year-old Michael L. Ring died last Thursday “from an apparent act of self-harm by a laceration.” KGUN 9, Tuscon, Arizona.
June 11, 2021. Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputies located 54-year-old Bryan Dearden unresponsive in his cell during a routine check of adults in custody, according to the sheriff’s office. In a March letter from the jail to a judge, Dearden pleaded for help with his mental health. His death was ruled a suicide. Pamplin Media Group, Columbia County, Wisconsin.
June 10, 2021. Lamorris W. Rivers, a 33-year-old inmate died by apparent suicide Wednesday at Central Prison in Raleigh less than a week after he was admitted to the facility. CBS 17, Raleigh, North Carolina.
June 5, 2021. Shaun Duncan Morrison, 39, a man with a history of mental illness and self-harm died May 23 after he disemboweled himself while in custody at the Montana State Prison. Morrison was part of a group of prisoners who were involved in a lawsuit against the Montana Department of Corrections and the state prison concerning the treatment of incarcerated people with mental illness. KTQV, Deer Lodge, Montana.
June 4, 2021. Jesse M. Clark, an inmate in the Clark County Jail died Thursday at an area hospital due to injuries sustained in what Clark County Sheriff’s Office officials described as a suicide attempt. Clark County Today, Clark County, Washington.
June 3, 2021. David S. Crawford, 62, an inmate at the state prison in Yuma has died of an apparent suicide. The agency said that prison staff found him hanging in a shower. The Albuquerque Journal, Yuma, Arizona.
June 2, 2021. Inmate, 32-year-old Kyle Bailey, at the Lawrence County Jail was found unresponsive after committing suicide by hanging. WBIW, Lawerence County, Indiana.
May 2021
May 28, 2021. A 47-year-old inmate, Juan Ramon Rodriguez-Barbosa, was found hanging in his cell. Improper staffing and staff response failed him. Antelope Valley Press, Mendota, California.
May 27, 2021. A Hudson County inmate died of what county officials believe were self-inflicted injuries on Wednesday, officials said. Daily Voice, Hudson County, New Jersey.
May 25, 2021. An inmate at the Curry County Adult Detention Center attempted suicide Sunday, and was treated at Plains Regional Medical Center. The Eastern New Mexico News, Curry County, New Mexico.
May 23, 2021. Inmate John Davin Haley, 41, was found unresponsive in his cell and declared dead after an apparent suicide attempt. The Coastland Times, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
May 22, 2021. An inmate at Duchesne County Jail died Friday after apparently taking his own life, officials said. Gephardt Daily, Duchesne County, Utah.
May 21, 2021. A northern Virginia inmate has died by suicide after his lawyer says his jailers discontinued his psychotropic medication. NBC 12, Falls Church, Virginia.
May 20, 2021. A 35-year-old Port Huron man Kevin Schram hanged himself May 13 with bedding provided by the jail. The Detroit News, Detroit, Michigan.
May 20, 2021. Christopher Lapp, 62, an inmate at the Alexandria Detention Center died after an apparent attempt to take his life, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office. Patch, Alexandria, Virginia.
May 19, 2021. 57-year-old Brent Anglin, an inmate at the Island County Jail died from an apparent suicide on May 14, the Island County Sheriff’s Office reported. Herald Net, Island County, Washington.
May 17, 2021. Mark W. Robinson, 45, was being held in jail and awaiting transfer to the state Department of Corrections when he was found dead during a routine cell check due to an apparent suicide. Odessa Record, Lincoln County, Washington.
May 13, 2021. Gregory S. Roddy, 53, a Washington County jail inmate hung himself in his cell Thursday just hours after he appeared in court on charges he assaulted his wife this month in Cecil Township. Observer-Reporter, Washington County, Pennsylvania.
May 13, 2021. Kyle Joseph Nadwodny, 37, an inmate at Dauphin County Prison, was found in his cell after committing suicide by hanging himself. ABC 27, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
May 11, 2021. 40-year-old Deland Meadows died of “an apparent suicide” while in custody at the Williamson County Jail in Franklin on Monday. Franklin HomePage, Williamson County, Tennessee.
May 10, 2021. Donnie Matthews, an inmate serving time for a probation violation used his bed linens to commit suicide within the single cell block where he was housed. The Mount Airy News, Surry County, North Carolina.
May 5, 2021. The 29-year-old inmate made true his suicide threat when he hanged himself in his room at the watch of an officer whom, after several attempts to calm Wilson, called on Hillman to open the deceased’s cell. She allegedly refused, claiming that Wilson was fine and was “playing.” Your Black World, New York City, New York.
May 4, 2021. A northern Michigan correctional facility is facing a lawsuit after Benjamin Shimmel, an inmate, died by suicide. The court document shows the employees failed to check on Shimmel’s mental health and safety even after he was placed on suicide watch. 9&10 News, Manistee, Michigan.
April 2021
Apr. 27, 2021. Prosecutors charged a Department of Correction captain on Monday in the Manhattan jail cell suicide of a 29-year-old man. ABC News 10, Manhattan, New York.
Apr. 21, 2021. Sean Morgan Everly, a 31-year-old Montana man, was found unresponsive in his jail cell and later died at a local hospital. The cause and manner of death were determined to be an unnatural death by suicide. Montana Right Now ABC, Mineral County, Montana.
Apr. 15, 2021. After emerging from a closed session, a case involving a suicide at the Macomb County Jail is closer to being settled. A final vote will take place on April 29. C&G News, Macomb County, Michigan.
Apr. 6, 2021. Michael Hand, age 25, was found unresponsive in his cell at the South Dakota State Penitentiary on April 2 and passed away in a Sioux Falls hospital on April 3. The Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the death. DRG News, Pierre, South Dakota.
Apr. 2, 2021. An inmate at East Arkansas Regional Unit has taken his own life, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. On Thursday, April 1, 2021, Tyrone Washington, 27, was found hanging in a locked single-man cell. KNWA Fox 24, Lee County, Arkansas.
March 2021
Mar. 29, 2021. A 35-year-old inmate at the Bexar County Jail died on Friday evening, even as deputies attempted to save his life after a suicide attempt. Fox San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
Mar. 24, 2021. Veronique Henry, 32, of East Manchester Township, hanged herself in her cell at York County Prison in September 2016. A civil rights suit was filed against the county, prison officials, and the prison’s contracted medical care provider, PrimeCare Medical because even though some staffers believed Henry was a suicide risk after her arrest, they did not have her promptly evaluated by a psychiatrist or place her on suicide watch. Pennsylvania Real-Time News, York County, Pennsylvania.
Mar. 23, 2021. Last year, prisoners in Bexar County and across Texas died in record numbers. Experts say last year’s spike represents a failure of the most basic charge placed before prison and jail operators: ensuring the safety of people in their custody. San Antonio Current, San Antonio, Texas.
Mar. 10, 2021. A Utah grandmother asked the 10th Circuit on Wednesday to revive her lawsuit against state prison officials over the 2014 death of her mentally ill grandson who took his own life while in solitary confinement. Courthouse News Service, Utah.
Mar. 9, 2021. The family of a 38-year-old inmate, who committed suicide last year, has filed a lawsuit against Hidalgo County and its correction center staff alleging they failed to provide the necessary care. Las Cruces Sun News, Hidalgo County, Texas.
Mar. 9, 2021. A watchdog in Los Angeles County voiced concern to leaders over rising numbers of inmate deaths, saying they are troubling trends for the Sheriff’s Department and demanding increased transparency. Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles, CA.
Mar. 5, 2021. Three inmates, all under age 30, died during February after attempting suicide at the Rockingham County Detention Facility; the first suicide attempts in more than a decade at this facility. Rockingham Now, Rockingham County, NC.
Mar. 4, 2021. The mother of a man who died by suicide at the jail in 2020 filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Hennepin County, saying they ignored warning signs that her son was mentally ill and failed to properly monitor him. Kare11, Hennepin County, MN.
Mar. 2, 2021. The husband woman who died by suicide while an inmate at the Hancock County Jail in 2018 is suing the county, saying jail staff didn’t provide her with adequate mental health services. 13 WGME, Hancock County, ME.
February 2021
Feb. 25, 2021. The family of a 67-year-old psychologist is threatening to sue Whitman County for his suicide while an inmate at the Whitman County Jail. Whitman County Gazette, Whitman County, WA.
Feb. 24, 2021. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating after an inmate died at the Chatham County Jail. WTOC 11, Chatham County, GA.
Feb. 22, 2021. Northern Lakes to pay $135,000 in court-approved settlement to the mother of an inmate who died by suicide while in jail following the cancellation of his suicide watch. Record-Eagle, Grand Traverse County, MI.
Feb. 21, 2021. Lackawanna County recently agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against the county prison by the mother of a man who hanged himself in his cell for $170,000. The Times-Tribune, Lackawanna County, PA.
Feb. 20, 2021. An investigation is being conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death by suicide of a 30-year-old inmate in the Santa Barbara County Jail. Noozhawk, Santa Barbara County, CA.
Feb. 20, 2021. A 42-year-old inmate at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility died following an apparent suicide attempt. Bethesda Magazine, Montgomery County, MD.
Feb. 17, 2021. A wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of an inmate that committed suicide has been allowed to move forward; the tribunal said there is enough evidence to raise questions of liability concerning the quality of psychiatric services provided. WXTK, Barnstable County, MA.
Feb. 16, 2021. Multiple officials are investigating Peoria County Jail concerning the death by suicide of a 59-year-old inmate. Herald&Review, Peoria County, IL.
Feb. 15, 2021. According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, in the last five years, there have been 33 suicides in Minnesota Jails, accounting for over half of jail deaths. Fox 9 KMSP, MN.
Feb. 12, 2021. The family of a 29-year-old inmate who died by suicide, despite being a known mental health risk and having arrived at the jail from a psychiatric hospital, is still looking for answers. Mlive, Kalamazoo County, MI.
Feb. 11, 2021. Despite some Oregon jails cutting their populations in half on average because of the pandemic, more people died in local correctional institutions last year, according to a report by Disability Rights Oregon. The Bulletin, OR.
Feb. 10, 2021. Federal monitors released a report on the New Orleans jail that has highlighted inadequate suicide prevention as an area of backsliding. Nola.com, Orleans Parish, LA.
Feb. 10, 2021. The Racine County Sheriff’s Office is launching an investigation into the suicide of a twenty-five-year-old inmate. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Racine County, WI.
Feb. 10, 2021. In North Carolina, a state that is already grappling with a large number of inmate suicides, a twenty-five-year-old female inmate died after attempting suicide. Rockingham Now, Rockingham County, NC.
Feb. 9, 2021. Oklahoma’s jail mortality rate ranks second in the nation, with suicides accounting for a quarter of inmate deaths; officials cite a need for expanded technology. Oklahoma Watch, OK.
Feb. 8, 2021. The number of inmates dying in Oregon jails has increased over previous years, even as jail populations have fallen, with suicide being the leading cause of death. OPB, OR.
Feb. 8, 2021. Officials are investigating the Louisville Metro Police Department after three inmates attempted suicide, all within twenty minutes of each other. Wave3 News, Jefferson County, KY.
Feb. 6, 2021. Corrections officers helped save an inmate’s life following a reported suicide attempt at the Chautauqua County Jail, where the sheriff cites the intervention’s success on the proper protocols being followed. The Post Journal, Chautauqua County, NY.
Feb. 5, 2021. A 40-year old committed suicide while being held without bail on a probation violation and outstanding warrants. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Gwinnett, GA.
Feb. 5, 2021. Following the suicide of an inmate in 2019, his family has filed a federal lawsuit that alleges the jail employees should have been aware that the inmate was planning to commit suicide and that he was denied adequate mental health care. Kicker 102.5, Red River County, TX.
Feb. 4, 2021. Minnesota has sanctioned its largest county jail, where ten inmates have died in custody since 2015 after newly uncovered records revealed that wellness checks were being skipped and records falsified. Kare11, Hennepin County, MN.
Feb. 4, 2021. A 22-year old inmate, with multiple known mental health diagnoses, committed suicide, the fourth inmate death at the Oklahoma County Jail in 2021. The Oklahoman, Oklahoma County, OK.
Feb. 4, 2021. Following an inmate’s suicide, her family has filed a lawsuit against the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office alleging that she received substandard care. Alexandria Town Talk, Rapides Parish, LA.
Feb. 3, 2021. Between 2009 to 2019, in Colorado, 64 inmates died by suicide, citing ongoing issues with Sheriff’s deputies completing required inmate checks as one cause. Colorado Springs Indy, El Paso County, CO.
Feb. 3, 2021. An inmate committed suicide after guards failed to properly complete the required safety checks; the lawsuit brought by the inmate’s family has resulted in a $2.3 million settlement from Sherburne County and MEnD Correctional Care. Kare11, Sherburne County, MN.
Feb. 2, 2021. The estate of a 31-year old inmate who committed suicide has filed a lawsuit against the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department alleging failure provide him with appropriate psychiatric treatment and counseling, and/or place him on suicide watch. The Bulletin, Deschutes County, OR.
January 2021
Jan. 28, 2021. A 31-year old inmate committed suicide in his cell three days into solitary confinement, as required by COVID-19 protocols. News Channel 21, Deschutes County, OR.
Jan. 28, 2021. Investigation launched into the suicide death of a 28-year old inmate. The Daily News, Genesee County, NY.
Jan. 26, 2021. Three days after he was booked, an inmate hung himself with a bedsheet in an isolation cell after a nurse had placed him there and failed to tell the watch commander and other staff members. The Virginian-Pilot, Portsmouth, VA.
Jan. 19, 2021. A second inmate committed suicide this month, spurring the Russell County Sheriff’s Department to launch an investigation into the jail’s practices. WRBL, Russell County, AL
Jan. 20, 2021. The family of a 41-year old man who committed suicide while in jail is suing to hold the facility responsible for ignoring what it claims were numerous red flags that should have placed the man on suicide watch. The Advocate, East Baton Rouge Parish, LA.
Jan. 21, 2021. The federal government has found after an investigation that a rash of suicides at the Cumberland County Jail is likely to have violated the U.S. Constitution, because officials failed to prevent self-harm to inmates or didn’t provide them with adequate mental health and opioid misuse treatment, specifically citing lax supervision of inmates. South Jersey Times, Cumberland County, NJ.
Jan. 16, 2021. Inmate suicides at Charlotte County Jail far exceeded other regional jails despite its smaller size, questions remain unanswered about suicide risk screenings. The Arcadian, Charlotte County, FL.
Jan. 15, 2021. The Justice Department put Cumberland County on notice of possible legal action if fails to immediately address problems that contributed to six inmate deaths at its jail, including the provision of sufficient screening to identify inmates at risk of self-harm or in need of mental health care. Vineland Daily Journal, Cumberland County, NJ.
Jan. 14, 2021. A Bexar County deputy at the jail was doing their rounds when they walked in on an inmate trying to commit suicide. They immediately stepped in and saved the inmate’s life. News4SA, Bexar County, TX
Jan. 14, 2021. The family of a Yellowstone County man who died by suicide in jail in 2015, after two previous suicide attempts while in custody, has settled its claim for $156,000. Billings Gazette, Yellowstone County, MT.
Jan. 10, 2021. Mother of a 23-year-old male inmate at Nebraska’s Douglas County Jail questions why her son was given a mask with long strings (that he used to hang himself while in custody). The incident is under investigation. Kearney Hub, Kearney, NE.
Jan. 8, 2021. A male inmate recently booked into Alabama’s Russell County Jail dies of suicide while being held in isolation for 14-days as a part of the facility’s Covid-19 protocol. The incident is being investigated. WRBL.com, Russell County, AL.
Jan. 7, 2021. A 33-year-old male inmate in Utah’s Davis County Jail committed suicide on Wednesday night. He was in a housing area where officers conducted 30-minute checks. The incident is under investigation. Standard Examiner, Farmington, UT.
Jan. 7, 2021. A former corrections officer at the El Paso County Jail in Colorado was stripped of his POST certification for making untruthful statements during official duties because the officer had logged checks that were never actually performed. The decertification will prevent the individual from ever working as a peace officer in Colorado again. Colorado Springs Indy, Colorado Springs, CO.
Jan. 7, 2021. 45-year old male inmate in Alabama’s Jefferson County Jail dies of suicide. The incident is under investigation. Trussville Tribune, Birmingham, AL.
Jan. 5, 2021. Fremont County Colorado agrees to pay $2M settlement to female inmate whose federal jury had awarded over $3M. The woman was strapped naked in a restraint chair for 4 hours following an arrest in her home where she was getting ready to take a bath. Westword, Denver, CO.
Jan. 2, 2021. Sullivan County Tennessee settles lawsuit for $175,000 brought by former male inmate who had alleged he was assaulted by a former corrections officer while in the jail. Bristol Herald Courier, Bristol, VA.
December 2020
Dec. 30, 2020. Family of man who committed suicide in the Spokane County Jail has filed a $5.25M lawsuit against the county and health care provider, alleging he was not properly monitored, among other things. Krem2News, Spokane, WA.
Dec. 30, 2020. Second inmate in one week commits suicide by hanging in Volusia County Branch Jail. He was discovered during routine checks. Beacon Online News, Beacon, FL.
Dec. 29, 2020. 35-year old male inmate’s suicide by hanging at Washington’s Whitman County Jail under investigation. Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, ID.
Dec. 28, 2020. 57-year old male inmate’s suicide by hanging is the third such death in the Charlotte County, Florida jail in two months. Multiple lawsuits have been filed. Sun Port Charlotte, Port Charlotte, FL.
Dec. 28, 2020. 36-year old male inmate’s suicide at South Carolina’s Chester County Jail under investigation. Herald Online, Chester, SC.
Dec. 27, 2020. Female inmate’s suicide by hanging in Georgia’s Lamar County Jail is under investigation. Barnsville.com, Barnsville, GA.
Dec. 24, 2020. 56-year old male inmate in Tulare County, California Jail commits suicide by hanging with his bedsheets. The incident is under investigation. Visalia Times Delta, Visalia, CA.
Dec. 24, 2020. 29-year-old male inmate dies from suicide two days after being booked into the Kalamazoo County, Michigan Jail on arson charges. MLive, Kalamazoo, MI.
Dec. 23, 2020. Male inmate’s suicide in Benzie County Michigan Jail is under investigation by state authorities. This was the facility’s second suicide by hanging in 2020. News Advocate, Manistee, MI.
Dec. 23, 2020. 45-year old male inmate’s suicide at Seminole County Jail is under investigation. Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL.
Dec. 22, 2020. Inmate’s suicide in Virginia Beach Correctional Center under investigation. It was the facilities second suicide in 2020. 13NewsNow, Virginia Beach, VA.
Dec. 22, 2020. 27 lawsuits have been filed against Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and all arise from a string of deaths beginning in the summer of 2018. Four of the cases have settled for a total of $1.35M. Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH.
Dec. 22, 2020. Federal Judge allows $1M wrongful death lawsuit arising from inmate suicide to go to jury against Cumberland County, New Jersey, finding in part that jail management was aware of a persistent problem involving officers who failed to make their rounds and then falsified logs to conceal their inaction. Courier Post, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Dec. 22, 2020. 46-year old male inmate in the Volusia County Branch Jail committed suicide by hanging one day after being booked. Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL.
Dec. 21, 2020. Federal lawsuit filed against St. Francois County, Missouri Jail alleges inmates subjected to unsanitary conditions, denied proper food and medical care, and are forced to fight during “Friday Night Fights.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO.
Dec. 21, 2020. Bucks County, Pennsylvania inmate committed suicide by hanging, and the incident will be investigated. Courier Times, Levittown, PA.
Dec. 21, 2020. Family of man who committed suicide in the Cuyahoga County, OH Jail files lawsuit two years after the fact, alleging numerous failures in following protocol. The County paid a $950,000 settlement last month to settle another case arising from a different suicide. Cleveland.com, Cleveland, OH.
Dec. 18, 2020. Male inmate in Deschutes County Oregon Jail commits suicide because he could not make bail after being granted conditional release on DUI charges. The Bulletin, Bend, OR.
Dec. 18, 2020. Delaware County, Pennsylvania hires consultant to assist in transitioning from private operator back to county control over the 1,800 jail. Daily Times, Concord, PA.
Dec. 17, 2020. Hampton Roads Regional Jail is moving hundreds of inmates back to local city jails because they do not have enough staff to monitor inmates. The Virginian-Pilot, Portsmouth, VA.
Dec. 17, 2020. Several lawmakers in West Virginia are pushing for reforms after a Reuters Report concluded that the state’s in-custody death rate was the worst in the nation, and 50% above the national average. KFGO.com, Fargo, ND.
Dec. 17, 2020. Two inmates died in one week in the Marion County, Indiana Jail, one was beaten to death and one was stabbed. Both were inmate on inmate assaults. Indy Star, Indianapolis, IN.
Dec. 16, 2020. Special report based on survey of more than 500 jails shows that deaths of female inmates from drugs, alcohol, overdoses, and withdrawals have climbed substantially since 2008. Thompson Reuters, Fargo, ND.
Dec. 15, 2020. Investigation of inmate’s suicide at the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas concludes there were multiple policies and procedures violations. NBCDFW, San Antonio, TX.
Dec. 14, 2020. 34-year-old male inmate’s suicide at the Monroe County Jail in the Florida Keys is under investigation by state authorities. Miami Herald, Miami, FL.
Dec. 12, 2020. Protesters clashed with police in riot gear outside the Bergen County, New Jersey Jail. Protesters have been demonstrating for weeks in solidarity with ICE Detainees conducting a hunger strike. Northjersey.com, Hackensak, NJ.
Dec. 12, 2020. California Judge orders Orange County Jail to reduce it’s population by half due to Covid-19. Yahoo News.
Dec. 11, 2020. Recently arrested male inmate dies of suicide at the Marion County Jail. The death is under investigation from multiple agencies. The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, IN.
Dec. 11, 2020. The mother of an inmate who committed suicide at the Montgomery County, Texas jail has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the County, alleging they failed to properly monitor her daughter. Clarksville Now, Clarksville, TN.
Dec. 10, 2020. Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the suicide of a 38-year-old woman in the Marion County Jail who strangled herself with her shoelaces before the booking process was completed. Marion County Record, Marion KS.
Dec. 9, 2020. Mother of 24-year-old inmate who died one day after being booked into the Madison County Jail accuses jail of beating her son to death. Nine inmates have died in the jail since January of 2019. AL.com, Huntsville, AL.
Dec. 9, 2020. Harris County Texas, one of the biggest jails in the country, failed their annual inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards because they failed to comply with important regulations requiring physical checks of every inmate once an hour, and at least every 30 minutes for compromised inmates. Houston Press, Houston, TX.
Dec. 9, 2020. 22-year old inmate in Benzie County Michigan jail transported for medical treatment after officers discovered him hanging in his cell. The Ticker, Traverse City, MI.
Dec. 8, 2020. Federal judge orders the City of New Orleans to build a new jail facility for inmates with health issues, as an ongoing part of court-ordered reforms. WBRZ 2, New Orleans, LA.
Dec. 8, 2020. Inmate in East Baton Rouge Parish Jail died in custody after experiencing mental health issues. The death sparked a rally in downtown Baton Rouge by a group seeking jail reform. The death was the parish’s 44th in-custody death since 2012. The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA.
Dec. 8, 2020. Deschutes County Oregan inmate dies from suicide attempt in jail after three days in the hospital. News Channel 21, Bend Oregon.
Dec. 1, 2020. Two deputies in St. Clair County Michigan receive awards for saving an inmate who was attempting suicide. Times Herald, Port Huron, MI.
November 2020
Nov. 29, 2020. Georgia investigative reporter’s report on inmate deaths in the Cobb County jail leads local District Attorney to request that a federal investigation be conducted by the Department of Justice. 11 Alive News, Atlanta, GA.
Nov. 28, 2020. Female inmate at Bexar County, Texas dies in hospital after suicide attempt in jail, where deputy discovered her hanging during cell check. KSAT.com, San Antonio, TX.
Nov. 25, 2020. A Vicious Cycle: How people with mental illness keep ending up in jail. NBC2, Fort Myers, FL.
Nov. 25, 2020. Williams County, North Dakota inmate committed suicide the day after being booked into the jail. Williston Herald, Williston, ND.
Nov. 25, 2020. A transgender inmate is suing the Georgia Department of Corrections, alleging it failed to protect her from sexual assaults. NBC, Savannah, GA.
Nov. 25, 2020. Loudon County, TN jail inmate commits suicide, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating. News-Herald, Knoxville, TN.
Nov. 23, 2020. Inmate in Alameda County, CA at Santa Rita Jail charged with murder after beating cell mate to death in May. The Mercury News, Dublin, CA.
Nov. 22, 2020. Citrus County Florida will open a mental health campus run by its mental health provider near the jail to help better serve inmates with mental health issues. Citrus Chronicle, Crystal River, FL.
Nov. 22, 2020. Seventeen-year-old inmate in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina juvenile detention center committed suicide. Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC.
Nov. 21, 2020. Roanoke City Jail in Roanoke County, Virginia settled wrongful death lawsuit arising from inmate’s suicide for $370,000. WTOP News, Roanoke, VA.
Nov. 20, 2020. Inmate in Ohio’s Cuyahoga County Jail was killed by another inmate in his cell. His death was the jail’s twelfth in-custody death in last 17 months. Workers World, Cleveland OH.
Nov. 19, 2020. Cook County Illinois approves $14 million settlement to class of female assistant public defenders who alleged that Sheriff and Public Defender’s Office failed to protect them from sexual harassment from inmates. Chicago Tribune, Chicago, IL.
Nov. 19, 2020. Inmate in Monmouth County Jail in New Jersey commits suicide by hanging 15 minutes after cell check. New Jersey 101.5 Middletown, NJ.
Nov. 17, 2020. Judge dismissed federal lawsuit in Colorado against jail medical providers, ruling among other things that there was no proof that medical providers actions caused inmate’s suicide by hanging. Montrose Press, Montrose County, CO.
Nov. 17, 2020. Inmate dies a week after suicide by hanging attempt in Portage County Jail in Wisconsin. WAOW.com, Portage County, WI.
Nov. 16, 2020. 40-year-old inmate commits suicide by hanging (clothing) at Yakima County Jail. YaktriNews, Yakima, WA.
Nov. 15, 2020. Hundreds of inmates file class action lawsuit in federal court against Shelby County, Tennessee, alleging a failure to protect vulnerable inmates from Covid-19. Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN.
Nov. 12, 2020. 58-year-old inmate commits suicide by hanging in Florida’s Martin County Jail. 12News, West Palm Beach, FL.
Nov. 11, 2020. An officer in Portage County, Wisconsin discovered an inmate attempting suicide by hanging in time to revive the inmate. WAOW.com, Stevens Point, WI.
Nov. 9, 2020. Inmate in Charlotte County, Florida commits suicide by hanging just after shift change. WINK, Port Charlotte, FL.
Nov. 9, 2020. Deputies in Dane County Wisconsin were injured while intervening in an inmate’s suicide attempt. The facility as tracked suicide attempts since 2013, and reports an increase in attempts starting in 2019. Channel3000, Madison, WI.
Nov. 6, 2020. Kossuth County Iowa inmate’s death ruled suicide by strangulation. KIMT3, Algona, IA.
Nov. 4, 2020. Inmate commits suicide by hanging in Oklahoma County Jail. Although he had been jailed 4 times in the last 18 months, he had never been placed on suicide watch. The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, OK.
Nov. 4, 2020. Federal Judge in Colorado allows claim against deputy to proceed to jury trial in part because the deputy had failed to conduct required welfare checks on elderly inmate who died of sepsis. Claims against the county and sheriff were dismissed. Colorado Politics, Denver, CO.
Nov. 3, 2020. Island County, Washington Jail earns distinction and praise for its effort to better screen and protect inmates with mental health issues. Whidbey News-Times, Oak Harbor, WA.
Nov. 3, 2020. Inmate in Starr County, TX commits suicide by hanging within 3 hours of booking. Texas Jail Commission had reported the facility “non-compliant” in September after the death an inmate in wrap restraints because “Face-to-face observations were not conducted within 15 minutes as required.” The Monitor, McAllen, TX.
Nov. 2, 2020. After failed escape attempt, inmate in Allen County, Indiana committed suicide while waiting for an observation cell. Fort Wayne’s NBC, Fort Wayne, IN.
Nov. 2, 2020. Inmate commits suicide one day after booking in Devils Lake, North Dakota jail. Inforum, Devil’s Lake, ND.N
October 2020
Oct. 31, 2020. Officer in Bannock County Idaho saves inmate during suicide by hanging attempt by reaching him in time to cut him down. Idaho State Journal, Pocatello, ID.
Oct. 30,2020. Mississippi DOC investigating recent prison inmate suicide at Parchman Penitntiary. Jackson Free Press, Jackson, MS.
Oct. 29, 2020. Alameda County, CA pays $5M settlement to family of inmate who committed suicide in 2019 after being shackled and chained to a door instead of placed in a restraint chair. The Independent, Dublin, CA.
Oct. 29, 2020. Minnesota news station investigative report finds that taxpayers have paid out more than $10M in 10 years to settle lawsuits arising from jail deaths. Station reports that 15 out of 56 (27%) inmate deaths resulted in federal lawsuits, with several more expected to be filed seeking millions. Kare 11, Long Prairie, MN.
Oct. 29, 2020. North Dakota jail doctor goes to trial in federal lawsuit alleging deliberate indifference to medical needs of Morton County inmate who committed suicide in 2013. The county and a nurse already settled for a combined $500,000. Grand Forks Herald, Mandan, ND.
Oct. 28,2020. Federal inmate housed at Wake County Jail (NC) commits suicide by hanging. Sheriff expressed disagreement with state mandate requiring distribution of sheets to inmates, and vows to work with officials to find alternatives in order to prevent future suicides. CBS17.com, Raleigh, NC.
Oct. 27, 2020. Medical provider for Macomb County Michigan Jail settles inmate suicide lawsuit for $100k. Suit continues against county and officers. Macomb Daily, Sterling Heights, MI.
Oct. 26,2020. Bexar County, Texas officers stop 3 attempted suicides in one day, which brought 2-month total to 20 suicide attempts. KSAT.com, San Antonio, TX.
Oct. 26, 2020. Thompson Reuters “Special Report” probes how outsourcing medical care affects number of in-custody deaths. 790 KFGO News, Fargo, ND.
Oct. 26, 2020. Female inmate in Shawnee County Kansas dies of suicide by hanging; the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating. KSNT.com, Topeka, KS.
Oct. 23, 2020. Minnesota DOC is reviewing Fergus Falls Police Department’s suicide watch policy after recent inmate suicide. Daily Journal Media, Fergus Falls, MN.
Oct. 23, 2020. (Opinion) Mangino column: Local jails can be deadly. Provides statistics on inmate deaths in local jails. Monroe News, Monroe, MI.
Oct. 23, 2020. New Mexico family files federal lawsuit against county, alleging deputies failed to monitor inmate on suicide watch for 3 hours, while inmate committed suicide. KOB 4, Albuquerque, NM.KRQE Santa Fe, NM.
Oct. 23, 2020. Juvenile inmate in Wisconsin committed suicide by hanging, and records show that checks were late on evening of her death. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee, WI.
Oct. 21, 2020. St. Louis, MO inmate on life support after suicide attempt at City Jail. The city is already facing a lawsuit from an inmate’s detox-related death in December of 2019. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, MO.
Oct. 21,2020. Inmate commits suicide by hanging in Muscogee County, GA Jail. This was the county jail’s third suicide this year. Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA.
Oct. 21, 2020. Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s Prison Ordeal: Gangs, Suicide Watch and Extortion. Newsweek, New York, NY.
Oct. 19, 2020. After inmate two inmate suicides in two months, Delaware County, Ohio replaces 120 metal grates within the cells (both inmates had used them as fixed points for hanging). The Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, OH.
Oct. 14, 2020. Ohio deputy prevents suicide during cell checks when he discovered hanging inmate. The incident was the second attempted suicide in the facility in 2020. Fremont News Messenger, Fremont, OH.
Oct. 13, 2020. Texas deputy prevents inmate’s suicide by hanging in progress while making rounds by cutting the inmate down. This was third attempted suicide in less than two months at this facility. News4SA, San Antonio, TX.
Oct. 12, 2020. Investigative report concludes that Minnesota jails fail to meet national standards in investigating in-custody deaths. Minnesota county jails had 56 deaths since 2015, with more than half being suicides. Kare 11 News, Elk River, MN.
Oct. 8, 2020. Nevada inmate commits suicide by hanging about five days after being booked into Clark County Jail. Las Vegas Sun, LaSalle Vegas, NV.
Oct. 7, 2020. Ohio inmate’s suicide by hanging in a holding cell under investigation. Monroe News, Monroe, OH.
Oct. 6, 2020. New Mexico deputy violated regulations by failing to make 30 minute checks on inmate on watch who committed suicide by hanging with a set of shackles. Deputy also submitted false report after the fact. Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque, NM.
Oct. 4, 2020. Illinois inmate in critical condition after suicide by hanging attempt (he was discovered during routine cell checks). LCBC Radio, Rockford, Illinois
September 2020
Sept. 30, 2020. Texas deputy arrested for falsifying cell check logs following inmate’s attempted suicide: KSAT News, San Antonio, TX .
Sept. 30, 2020. Indiana inmate commits suicide by hanging while on Covid-19 isolation protocol: NBC, Fort Wayne, IN.
Sept. 29, 2020. Utah inmate’s suicide prevented by deputies conducting routine 30-minute checks during Covid-19 protocol. Gephardt Daily, Farmington, UT.
Sept. 28, 2020. Investigative report reveals Minnesota Department of Corrections repeatedly failed to address compliance violations, including falsified logs. Kare 11 News, Minneapolis, MN.
Sept. 3, 2020. Witness in lawsuit against San Diego County, California testifies that Sgt. refused to place inmate on suicide watch in order to leave work early. The county settled separate case last year for $595,000. Voice of San Diego, San Diego, CA.
Aug. 18, 2020. State investigators find that correctional officers failed to meet minimum standards and could have prevented county inmate’s suicide. Hudson Valley 360, Hudson, NY.
Aug. 13, 2020. Connecticut State Police investigating circumstances surrounding prisoner’s use of Corona virus mask to commit suicide. New York Times, New York, NY.
Aug. 10, 2020. Virginia inmate first suicide at Virginia Beach Jail in 10 years (in 2019, officers intervened in 14 attempted suicides). The Virginian-Pilot, Virginia Beach, VA.
Aug. 4, 2020. North Carolina parents question whether 15 minute checks were made on daughter who committed suicide in Buncombe County Detention Center. Citizen Times, Asheville, NC.
Aug. 2, 2020. Lawsuit alleges Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office responsible for inmate suicide in part because of the failure “to conduct cell checks in a safe and consistent manner.” Bellingham Herald, Bellingham WA.
July 16, 2020. Oregon inmate’s suicide being investigated by outside Sheriff’s Office. Statesman Journal, Salem OR.
July 9, 2020. An Indianapolis man is in critical condition after an apparent suicide attempt in the Hancock County Jail. WRTV, Indianapolis, IN.
July 8, 2020. Oklahoma Deputies intervene and prevent inmate’s death during attempted suicide by hanging. Tulsa World, Tulsa OK.
July 1, 2020. California grand jury reports correctional officers committed serious errors in protocol that contributed to four inmate deaths in one county in 2019. Independent, Santa Barbara California.
May 15, 2020. Lawsuit against Josephine County, OR Sheriff alleges inadequate checks on female inmate prior to suicide. OPB, Portland, OR.
April 12, 2020. Michigan inmate committed suicide by hanging within 20 minutes of speaking with deputy. Click on Detroit, Pontiac, MI.
April 3, 2020. North Carolina investigators find that two 2019 inmate deaths in Cleveland and Craven counties both involved inadequate cell checks by officers. News Observer, Raleigh, NC.
March 5, 2020. Utah Commission report shows 38 out of 71 in-custody deaths in 5 years were suicides. Prison Legal News, Utah.
Feb. 18, 2020. Oregon County inmate’s suicide by hanging discovered during routine round. News Channel 21, Bend, OR.
