BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in partnership with Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes, addressed the concerning issue of inmate deaths in Broward County jails at a news conference on Thursday morning. According to officials, 21 individuals have died while in custody in Broward County jails since 2021, sparking outrage and demands for accountability.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson expressed horror at the ongoing injustice faced by families in Broward County, placing responsibility on the Broward County Sheriff’s Department for failing the community. Johnson called for the intervention of the Justice Department to address the troubling pattern of negligence and hold any wrongdoers accountable.
Marsha Ellison, president of the Broward County branch of the NAACP, emphasized the need for external intervention and transparency in seeking answers for the 21 inmate deaths, four of which occurred within the last month.
One of the recent cases that has drawn immense attention is the death of Joseph Kirk, a 34-year-old inmate at the Broward County Main Jail. Weekes revealed that Kirk was found unconscious shortly after being admitted to the jail and subsequently passed away. Kirk’s family is seeking answers and accountability for the circumstances surrounding his death, raising concerns about the detox protocols and medical care provided to inmates in the jail.
Relatives of other deceased inmates also spoke at the press conference, sharing their emotional experiences and demanding action to prevent such tragedies from happening to anyone else. Reports have emerged of suicides, physical abuse by deputies, and alleged neglect of pregnant detainees in Broward County jails, prompting further scrutiny of the treatment of inmates.
The issue of inmate deaths in Broward County jails has ignited public outcry and calls for justice, raising serious questions about the safety and well-being of detainees in the county’s custody. The NAACP’s involvement and the voices of affected families have brought attention to the urgent need for external intervention and accountability to address the troubling pattern of deaths in the jails.