![]() ![]() The investigation was authorized under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. The investigation started with a Jformal notice to the county. “The CCJ amended its initial booking screening form to include questions about thoughts of self-harm, and it has taken some steps to provide oversight of its medical contractor, as recommended by our consultants at the conclusion of our site visit.” “Since the November 2018 suicide, the CCJ has taken some steps to prevent similar deaths,” the report notes. The report states “inadequate treatment of opiate withdrawal contributed to several inmates’ suicide.” At least six of seven inmates who died since 2014 were opiate users and appear to have been suffering from withdrawal at their deaths, it adds. Federal officials say it “raised serious concerns that the officer assigned to the withdrawal unit had not provided adequate supervision.” The inmate was in a cell used for inmates going through drug withdrawal. Also in September 2017, two officers were charged with records tampering and endangering in a suicide of Conroy.” Both were admitted into the state’s Pre-Trial Intervention Program and avoided trial, while losing their jobs.įederal officials also made note of a suicide in November 2018, after its inspection.In April 2017, her family filed a federal lawsuit against the county, Smith, and former Warden Robert Balicki. In September 2017, an officer was indicted on an endangering charge in the suicide of Moore on Feb.Two inmate suicides led to county grand jury indictments of corrections officers. Most of the suicides have resulted in federal lawsuits against the county and staff. His sister filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of his estate. Conroy was on suicide watch when found hanging in his cell in May 2017.He was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital. He was found by an inmate, still alive at that point. Lewis was found hanging in the showers on Oct.Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2015. A report said she used a sweater to hang herself. Allen was found hanging in her call on March 23, 2015.His family filed a federal lawsuit in July 2016 alleging a lack of screening for inmates with possible suicidal tendencies. Hennis was discovered hanged in his cell by a nurse on July 30, 2014.Lewis, John Watson, Megan Moore, and David Conroy. The inmates who killed themselves at the jail since 2014 according to official county statements at the time were: David P. But they also note that program funding “remains uncertain.” Honig, that the jail recently began offering medication-assisted treatment to inmates with opiate withdrawal. The Justice Department statement acknowledges, in a joint letter from Daukus and Acting U.S. The county must provide sufficient mental health care to inmates with a clear need for care.The county must provide sufficient screening to identify inmates at risk of self-harm or in need of mental health care for a serious mental health condition.The county must “adequately address” the heightened risk of self-harm and suicide for inmates experiencing unmedicated opiate withdrawal.The federal report outlines three areas to be addressed within 49 days, after which a federal lawsuit may follow. “We look forward to working with county officials to ensure that the jail provides constitutionally adequate care, including medication-assisted treatment for inmates experiencing unmedicated opiate withdrawal, when appropriate.” “Our investigation revealed that Cumberland County fails to provide adequate mental health care to inmates at risk of self-harm and suicide,” Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights John B. More: Corrections officers president sues Cumberland, alleges retaliatory firingįederal officials say the six inmates who died all were denied opiate withdrawal medication, part of a “deliberate indifference to inmates’ serious medical needs” evidenced by the denial of medicine. judge OKs some Cumberland inmate moves ahead of hearing Nov. Department of Justice, in a public statement and in documents sent to the county, said a nearly two-and-a-half year investigation concludes there is “reasonable cause to believe” there have been “numerous, specific and repeated violations” of inmate constitutional rights. BRIDGETON – Federal officials on Thursday put Cumberland County on notice of possible legal action if fails to immediately address problems that contributed to six inmate deaths at its jail between July 2014 and May 2017. ![]()
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