Washington, United States: Two local South Carolina jails have been investigated by the US Justice Department, according to the top department official. A civil rights investigation will be initiated following the death of a man after being pepper sprayed and tased in one of the jail cells.
The major examination will be based on checking whether there are systemic civil rights violations at the two jails. The reports by Reuters will also focus on issues including access to medical as well as mental healthcare, use of force by jail staff and whether incarcerated people are protected from violence, according to the head of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department – Kristen Clarke.
During a virtual press conference, Clare was quoted saying, “People confined in local jails across our country do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door.”
Remarks from the jail officials
The improvement of both jails is one of the important agenda for the local jail officials overseeing both jails, according to the reports. The officials have underscored that the investigation is welcomed as it will contribute to improving the facilities.
It is to be noted that the decision related to the investigation was taken after the death of an inmate – Jamal Sutherland, at one of the jails – who was under investigation. The death case was reported in the Sheriff AI Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston, South Carolina, in the year 2021, according to the reports by Reuters.
It is to be noted that Sutherland lost his life after being repeatedly attacked with pepper sprays and being tased after refusing to leave the cell to attend a bond hearing. During the attack, the victim was heard saying, “I can’t breathe.”
As Sutherland was Black, this incident has drawn comparison to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in the year 2020. Last year, the Justice Department mentioned that the two former officers – involved in Sutherland’s death will not be charged.
While sharing the death-related stats, Kristen Clarke outlined that since 2022, around eight (8) deaths have been reported. Out of the total, one man lost his life after he was not allowed to take the prescribed psychiatric medications.
In this regard, a statement was also shared by Charleston County Sheriff – Kristin Graziano, whose office is responsible for monitoring activities in jail. According to the reports by Reuters, Graziano stated that the facility was going “above and beyond our call of duty to provide assistance on mental health concerns.”
Reportedly, at least six inmate deaths were registered in the Alvin S Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, South Carolina – since February 2022.
The Head of the Justice Department, Clarke, also underscored local jail officials of South Carolina have assured that they will cooperate with the investigations. The Justice Department would negotiate with the jail officials on the proposed reforms, stated Clarke, while clarifying if the probe revealed a pattern of constitutional violations.