CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – The U.S. Department of Justice has announced civil investigations into two jails in South Carolina following reports of inmate deaths due to mistreatment and unsafe living conditions.
The civil rights division of the Justice Department launched probes at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in Charleston and the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia. The investigations were prompted by credible allegations of deaths caused by the use of force, medical neglect or suicide at the Charleston jail, and claims of structural unsafety, sexual assaults, homicides, and prevalent violence resulting in serious injuries at the Columbia jail.
Both jails are separately funded and operated by the counties they are located in – Charleston County and Richland County, which are two of the largest counties in South Carolina. The Charleston jail is run by the sheriff’s office, while the Columbia jail is run by the county via a director.
The federal investigation at the Charleston jail is focusing on the use of isolation and force, medical and mental health care, and whether there is discrimination against inmates with disabilities. On the other hand, the investigation at the Columbia jail is looking into the inmates’ living conditions and evaluating whether the jail fails to protect them from violence.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke expressed the department’s commitment to ensuring that people held in jails and prisons are not subjected to excessive force, violent conditions, inadequate medical and mental health care, or other dangerous physical conditions while in the custody of their local government. She mentioned a total of 14 known inmate deaths at the Charleston and Columbia jails since 2022, with one death ruled as a homicide due to dehydration.
The Justice Department is also verifying reports of multiple stabbings, escapes, alleged rapes, and mold and vermin at the Columbia jail. Furthermore, Clarke detailed the circumstances surrounding two inmate deaths at the Charleston jail, expressing concern over the neglectful conditions and lack of mental health providers that contributed to the deaths.
In response to the Justice Department’s announcement, Charleston Sheriff Kristin Graziano denied allegations of lack of transparency and stated her office’s cooperation with the investigations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina is coordinating with the Justice Department for these investigations, with officials in both Charleston and Richland counties agreeing to cooperate as the probes get underway.
In summary, the federal investigations into the South Carolina jails are focused on addressing reports of mistreatment, unsafe living conditions, and multiple inmate deaths, with both the Charleston and Columbia jails under scrutiny.