Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Georgia lawmakers seek jail reform after Reuters investigation

Published 31/10/2020, 13:07
Updated 31/10/2020, 13:12

By Linda So
Oct 31 (Reuters) - Georgia lawmakers are pressing for
stronger jail oversight after a Reuters investigation identified
hundreds of deaths in the state's county jails and dangerous
lapses in inmate medical care.
David Wilkerson, a Georgia state lawmaker who had been
planning new jail legislation for the upcoming January session,
said he intends to cite Reuters' findings in his proposed
reforms.
As part of an examination of deaths at more than 500 jails
nationwide, Reuters found 272 inmate deaths among 13 large
Georgia jails over more than a decade. At least half of the
deaths were caused by a medical condition or illness, and a
quarter by suicide.
The news organization exposed healthcare lapses at the jail
in Savannah. Another report explored the 2017 death of Chinedu
Efoagui, who died at the Cobb County Adult Detention Center
after spending 512 days behind bars without ever being tried on
the charges for which he was held.
To read the full investigation, Dying Inside, click https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-jails-deaths/
Wilkerson, a Cobb County Democrat, said his proposal will
focus on improving mental health care in jails, as well as the
disclosure and investigation of in-custody deaths.
“It's impossible for the jail to investigate themselves. At
the end of the day you're asking someone who did something wrong
to look at themselves,” said Wilkerson. “The public trust is not
there.”
Wilkerson had begun researching new legislation after the
death of Kevil Wingo, a 36-year-old Atlantan who died in the
Cobb County jail in 2019. He said he was further moved to
propose reforms following the Reuters accounts of Efoagui's
death and others in Georgia jails.
Other state legislators say the spate of jail deaths,
particularly involving inmates who had not been convicted of
their charges, shows the need for enhanced oversight.
“It is a tragedy. It is malpractice on the part of the state
of Georgia, and on the counties,” said Mary Margaret Oliver, a
Georgia Democratic lawmaker and former magistrate court judge.
Oliver said substandard mental health care in jails must be
tackled when lawmakers convene in January. “Jails are
significantly the largest mental health facility in the state,”
she said. “And we are not attending to the combination of mental
illness, addiction, and significant physical health issues.”
The death of Efoagui, a 38-year-old Nigerian native,
highlights such concerns. The software programmer was arrested
after suffering a mental breakdown during a traffic stop. As his
physical and mental health deteriorated behind bars, he begged
for help, but died of a pulmonary embolism.
Many of Efoagui's friends from Nigeria were unaware of the
details of his death after he moved to the United States in 2012
to pursue the American dream. They expressed shock when they
learned the full story in the Reuters account.
“Mental illness and the inability to post bond should not
cost a life,” tweeted Ogechukwu Eze. “Any life.”


Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.