England, who had been convicted of fourth-degree arson, had about three months remaining on his sentence. Blumert said its not uncommon for the county to face lawsuits filed by the relatives of those who have died at the jail, or inmates who have been injured there. 139 talking about this. Brewer clenched a pair of handcuffs in his fist as he delivered blows to the mans head, prosecutors allege. The detention officers sometimes used the song as a form of discipline for inmates who left their cells, according to accounts from former prisoners. Location: Oklahoma County Detention Center. August 10, 2021. Ward was last seen sleeping in her bunk that morning, the report states. Share The Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office reported 254 cases of prisoners assaulting detention officers in 2018. After Weeks was found unresponsive, staff and medical personnel began life saving efforts before he was transported by ambulance to the . The jail had an average annual death rate of 3.3 per 1,000 inmates over the past 10 years, more than double the national average, according data compiled by Reuters. Its actually worse than has been out in public, Calvey, who is running for district attorney, said, hosted by NonDoc in June As I said, the former sheriff was not at all transparent. 631. mail While decarceration could help reduce inmate deaths, Beaumont said state and local officials should continue to search for ways to improve medical and mental health care access inside county jails. Theres just too much evidence against you guys. Turn Key Health was not among the companies examined in the Reuters report, and the company has previously threatened to terminate its contract with the Oklahoma County jail trust if staffing levels were not improved. A jail blanket was attached to the cell door and wrapped around his neck. We cant do it without your support. The livestreamed trial has chronicled Murdaugh's spectacular downfall from the wealthy scion of a respected and powerful legal dynasty to an admitted pill-popper and thief who is alleged to have . The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has also contributed to the staffing shortages, he said. Criticism of the troubled facility remains high amid issues with staffing and safety as some elected and appointed leadersadvocate for building a new jail. OKLAHOMA CITY ( Free Press) A heart attack may be the cause of the eighth death of a detainee at the Oklahoma County Detention Center or Jail in 2021. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? The duties of a detention officer are highly stressful and demanding, and not everyone is the right fit for that role, Williams wrote. What happened: A jailer found Mason unresponsive in his cell, hanging from the top bunk with a bed sheet wrapped around his neck. He had to have known that he was dying, Baumann said. His family sued the Oklahoma Department of Corrections a year later, claiming that prison staff failed to prevent his death. The letter was provided to The Frontier by Spradling, who said he is weighing legal action on behalf of prisoners subjected to the Baby Shark punishment, which he equated to torture. It also means that person is not having to sober up in a jail cell where there might be additional psychological stress that could prompt a mental health episode.. Joshua England, a 21-year-old inmate at the Joseph Harp Correctional Center, died of appendicitis in May 2018 after his five written requests for medical attention were ignored. The Special Investigations Unit of the Jail will investigate the circumstances leading up to Davis death. Our fight against contraband is multifaceted and ever-evolving. It's overcrowded, understaffed and prone to bed bug infestations. Location: Oklahoma County Jail in Oklahoma City. For drug overdoses, the median time is one day, and for inmates murdered by other inmates, the median time is 29 days from booking to death. After temporarily loosening bail restrictions at the start of the pandemic, some state and local government officials are considering permanent reforms that could make long-term decareration possible. In some cases, there were prosecutions of jail staff, and I will point out that is a small minority of people that work at the jail., In the face of mass migration, we can learn from Oklahomas young people, Valentine voting: For the love of democracy, Out of Character: Jenna Miller explores body positivity, queer identity, Last week on This Old Attorney Generals Office, Budget hearing previews the last ride of Mark McBride, sued the county and jail trust over bed bugs, Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority, Interim Oklahoma County Jail CEO Brandi Garner strives to be more communicative, Commissioners designate $40 million for mental health facility near new jail, Maughan: Oklahoma County elected official pay increase unfair to some, 10 unexpected moments our team witnessed in 2022, Change: Embattled Oklahoma County Jail chief Greg Williams resigns, Oklahoma County Jail: Inspection highlights more problems, Williams may resign, You are not welcome: Without shelter, resources limited for Edmonds unhoused, Potency caps, seed-to-sale vendor reboot among Legislatures 2023 marijuana measures, Education roundup: Catholic charter school, property tax mistake, OSDE changes and Epic, House moves education plan: $500 million of new funding, new parental choice tax credit, Legislature has more money to allocate, but Senate sour on House education price tag. The inmate, Brad Lane, was beaten with his own medical walking boot on Jan. 2, 2021, as he screamed for 40 minutes for help. Ward was scheduled to appear before a judge the morning she died, records show. The Oklahoma County Jail contracts with Turn Key Health for its medical services. The national average is 1.46 deaths per 1,000 inmates. a doctor declared Gonzales deceased at 4:57 p.m.The cause of death is unknown at this time.Gonzales was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center on Oct. 16, 2021. The national average is 1.46 deaths per 1,000 inmates. Jail and prison populations across the U.S. are aging, and a disproportionate number of inmates suffer from chronic medical conditions and mental illness. The Oklahoma Medical Examiners office now has the body and will determine the cause of death. Ellis was booked into the jail after failing to appear in court on a DUI charge. The most recent death at the jail prior to Bishop was the suicide of Gabriel Yalartai on Dec. 26. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. The night of the attack, Brown was being held in the jail on charges of aggravated assault and attempted first degree robbery. But what the trust talks about behind closed doors in executive session is another matter. He had been booked on June 28; Shawn Slavens was one month shy of his 46th birthday when staff responded to a fight inside a cell on June 25. Follow him on Twitter at @_KeatonRoss. Oklahoma County detention officer fired after jail suicide, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. During the public comment portion of Mondays meeting, group member Christopher Johnston called for a federal takeover of the jail. Miles and Butler later told an investigator they believed that the jail didnt provide enough discipline for unruly prisoners, according to court documents. Basco was in custody facing drug charges at the time. Cause and manner of death: The state Medical Examiner determined Austin died from complications of lung disease. At least two-thirds of deaths identified in the Reuters investigation were of inmates who had not been convicted of a crime, and under most circumstances were eligible for pretrial release. 1:21. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. July 28, 2020: As COVID-19 surges locally, 33 inmates and six people who . . Guthrie was treated at the hospital, cleared and released back to custody. Richards was found unresponsive in his cell by staff distributing medicine. Location: Muskogee County Detention Facility in Muskogee. As long as Oklahoma County has been able to show it has been making some effort to make improvements, the Department of Justice has not pressed the issue, said Francie Ekwerekwu, who sits on the jail trust. Another inmate is suing after he was stabbed earlier this year, something the inmate said happened because he was not adequately protected by staff. Cause and manner of death: Suspected death by suicide. February 27, 2023 (96 years old) View obituary. Inmate deaths continue to mount, and calls for better oversight continue to grow louder from activists and officials alike. It not only saves the city of Tulsa time and money, but it gives the person an opportunity to pursue recovery, Beaumont said. She attempted two numbers that she had been told to use to no avail and then was advised of a third. But cell doors throughout most of the facility have faulty doors and locking mechanisms that prisoners can easily rig to open to move around freely in their housing units and maybe even sneak in an unsanctioned shower. Six detention officers at the Oklahoma County jail have been charged with assault and mistreatment of inmates since October. Autrey spoke to The Frontier in a video call from the jail, where he is being held on property and drug-related charges. Name: Michael Reagan Jr.Age: 44Died: Jan. 13, 2020Location: Okmulgee County Criminal Justice AuthorityCause and manner of death: UndeterminedWhat happened: Updated story, Jan. 15, 2020: Reagan appeared to be having a seizure in his cell on January 13, according to an incident report jail staff sent to the state jail inspector. What happened: Knox tested positive for Covid-19, but also had other health conditions and was undergoing dialysis at the time of his death, according to Oklahoma County officials. Apparently, the third went to central control but was unanswered. The last time he was seen outside of his cell was at 11:14 p.m. Bishop was booked into the jail on June 6, 2021, on charges of first-degreemurder and second-degree murder, according to the Oklahoma State Courts Network. There have been at least 84 deaths at the Oklahoma County Detention Center since 2009, according to data compiled by The Frontier and an investigation into jail death rates by Reuters. Some years it is higher than others. Six detention officers have been charged in state court with assault and mistreatment of prisoners at the jail since October. In a 2017 report sponsored by the Priority Criminal Justice Needs Initiative, a panel of corrections administrators, researchers and health care professionals outlined policies that can help reduce inmate deaths from illness and suicide. Brian Cortez Lightfoot, Jr., 26, of Los Angeles, is one of 10 Antifa members indicted by a San Diego County grand jury over a Jan. 9, 2021, riot in Pacific Beach. State oversight of local jails is minimal. The trust voted on Friday to ask the county for $5.9 million in funding to repair the doors and locks as well as to fix or replace other aging equipment at the jail. Just because there has been some level of justice involvement that has led to your detention doesnt mean you deserve any less, he said. I wanted to share first that they did have praise for the jail administration and leadership that is currently there. Officers notified EMSA paramedics, who cleared the woman for incarceration, he said. Christa Sullivan suffered undisclosed health issues and was under suicide watch when jail staff saw her arm go limp Tuesday night and called medical personnel . Many U.S. jail inmates remain incarcerated because they cannot afford cash bail. A shortage of detention officers and the facilitys flawed design that makes it virtually impossible to continuously monitor each cell have contributed to the problem. Nearly 800 people died in South Carolina jails and prisons between 2015 and 2021, according to a new report from researchers at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Seven prisoners have died at the Oklahoma County Detention Center in the past three months. I think thats led to the increased number of inmates who are dying.. She was transported to McCurtain Memorial Hospital and declared dead. On the morning of January 6, Ward was found unresponsive in her cell and was transported to a Tulsa hospital where she was pronounced dead 20 minutes following her arrival, according to an incident report the city sent to the state jail inspector. Theres no effective way to enforce the type of agreement that Oklahoma County entered into with the Department of Justice it basically amounts to an out-of-court settlement, said Jonathan M. Smith, executive director for the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. It was just after 2 a.m. on a Saturday in December 2019 when two detention officers took John Basco from his cell and forced him to listen to the song on repeat for two hours while standing with his hands cuffed to a metal bar, according to a court affidavit. The jail's poor design makes it difficult for staff to see through every cell . He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. They raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest. Location: Haskell County Criminal Justice Center in Stigler. After a death, Id call the sheriff and go over what happened. His jail cell was designed to hold just one person, but he shared it with two other men. The jails funding comes primarily from property taxes the county collects. Every time Im notified of a death at the jail, my heart sinks, Blumert said. By the time detention officers arrived nearly an hour . His cellmate, Shaquile D Shaun Brown (left), confessed after being taken to a hospital for a mental assessment, the Oklahoma State . Theyll finally come. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Knox had been in custody since July in lieu of a $10,000 bond for failing to make a court appearance in January. Seven inmates have died there in the last three months and at least 84 inmates there have died since 2009, a rate more than double the national average. Under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the Department of Justice has the power to file lawsuits on behalf of jail and prison inmates in order to compel state and local governments to provide humane living conditions. He was found Feb. 26 unresponsive in his cell by staff doing routine checks. The sheriff's office . From 2016 through 2019, the jail had 40 deaths and an average annual mortality rate of 4.77 deaths per 1,000 inmates. Some jail staff quit last year after the jail trust cracked down the use of physical force against prisoners, said one former detention officer who was fired by the new administration in 2020 after an altercation with an inmate who refused to return to his cell in order to take a shower. Oklahoma County Jail deaths this year include the following: Jail administrator Greg Williams, who was hired by the trust to run the jail when it took over the facility from the sheriff in 2020, said in a statement to NonDoc that jail staff continue to work to reduce inmate deaths. Outside of hourly sight checks, medication and meal deliveries, prisoners at the Oklahoma County Detention Center are mostly alone in their housing units without direct supervision. Stephens, 21, was found dead from suicide inside the jail in early 2021. The outcome of Thorps multi-county grand jury investigation remains unknown, but criminal indictments for those involved in the jails operation and management could be possible. What to know as Oklahoma voters decide on March 7 if they want to expand the states medical marijuana market to adult recreational users 21 and older. Detainees that are complying with security protocols are given access to the dayrooms and showers throughout the day as conditions permit that access to be safe for both detainees and staff, Williams said in response to The Frontiers questions about the issue. It was impossible to be bored around him, Oldham said. He had been booked on March 9 and was being held in a new-arrival pod at the jail; Andrew Avelar, 27, was booked into the jail Jan. 31. In the 19 months since January 2021, records indicate 26 inmates have died more than one-third of the total from the 10 previous years. The agreement acknowledged that Oklahoma County did not have sufficient funding to adequately staff or make improvements to jail and would need to ask voters to approve a tax increase or financing. COVID-19 cases at jail surge. Thats why you hear more things now than in the past. However, experts say a majority of inmate deaths are predictable and preventable. Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. He had been booked March 23; On the evening of March 11, jail staff found Charles Moore, 48, unresponsive in his cell while passing out medication. What that does for the county is we typically have to hire outside counsel, and if we have to settle a case, which we sometimes do, we are spending tax dollars on that when we are found liable., (Correction: This article was updated at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, to correct the age of Andrew Avelar. Reagan became unresponsive, the report states. A fifth "unannounced follow-up" health inspection of the Oklahoma County jail, conducted by the Oklahoma State Health Department on Oct. 12 found 24 repeat deficiencies cited in previous . The first death occurred on Jan. 2 when 40-year-old Brad Leon Lane was allegedly killed by his . They said jail and prison administrators should collect data on how quickly their officers respond to health emergencies and identify ways to increase response time. He died from his injuries July 11; On July 2, Corey McMichael died at an OKC hospital after being transported there from the jails medical unit because he was experiencing health related issues. McMichael, 46, had been in the jail since Aug. 7 of last year; Inmate Melvin Loveless, 44, died by suicide in his cell on June 22 and was found by staff. Women typically have a 7 percent higher mortality rate than men while incarcerated in city and county jails. Were en route to losing 20 to 24 this year. 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