In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 3 Jail Staffers are Charged in a Prisoner’s Dehydration Death
On February 12, 2018, three staffers with Milwaukee County Jail in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were charged with alleged crimes for their alleged roles in the April 24, 2016, death of 38-year-old prisoner Terrill Thomas. Thomas died in his cell from dehydration, and his death was ruled a homicide. An investigation into his death led to a Milwaukee County jury unanimously recommending that seven jail staffers be charged with crimes in connection with Thomas’ death. Two of the three staffers charged with crimes are accused of felony neglect of a resident of a penal facility, which is punishable by up to 3 ½ years in prison. The third jail staffer has been charged with obstructing an officer and misconduct/office-act/inconsistent duty, which is punishable for a total of up to 4 years in prison. This individual allegedly failed to preserve surveillance video which showed the water to the cell being cut off and also allegedly lied about what the missing footage showed.
Investigators discovered that the water to Thomas’ cell was intentionally cut off as punishment, after he had flooded his mattress with water. Thomas went a week with no water before dying of dehydration.
Investigators also say they found evidence that two other prisoners at the jail were deprived of water as a punishment. One of those occasions happened a week after the custodial death of Thomas.
Individuals who are incarcerated have civil rights. In Texas, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) monitors county jails and other facilities in which prisoners are detained. Jail staffers can be held accountable for criminal acts against prisoners in Texas, too.
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