An investigative organization discovered that in 500 U.S. jails, more than 7,500 inmates died in a nine-year period. Custodial deaths in the jails investigated rose by 35% in the past decade. An alarming pattern was discovered in that people have been dying while being held on minor charges and before having a single chance for exoneration in court. These deaths are a complete contradiction to the important concept of “innocent until proven guilty.”

Inmates have constitutional rights. For example:

• The Eighth Amendment that bans cruel punishment forbids prisoners with serious medical issues to be treated with deliberate indifference.
• The Sixth Amendment ensures the right to a speedy trial though the term “speedy” is not defined.
• Also, the Fourteenth Amendment Provides guarantees of fair treatment to pre-trial detainees, but the term “fair” is not clearly defined.

The portions of these amendments that are subject to interpretation are treated differently according to the judge on the bench.

The thousands of deaths investigated reflect that a lack of quality healthcare has been the reason for many inmates to succumb to illness. In addition, more than 2,000 of the detainees committed suicide while experiencing mental breakdowns. Death due to the acute effects of alcohol and drugs has been the cause of a growing number of inmates.

See Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, Part 10, and continuing posts for more information on a high rate of custodial deaths in states outside of Texas.

This and all posts on this website are intended to provide information. There is never an intention on this website to make an inference that a person, organization, or institution has in any manner been involved in wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor