Within a one-week period, three inmates at Louisville Metro Corrections died.
The ACLU of Kentucky say city officials must take action to remedy the “inhumane” and “untenable” conditions at the jail, the Courier-Journal reports, saying the deaths represent a crisis.
The first death was 59-year-old Kenneth Hall, who was found unresponsive in a housing unit on November 29. Four days later, 34-year-old Rickitta Smith was found unresponsive. She was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. Then on Saturday, a 48-year-old woman died by suicide. The woman’s name has not yet been released.
On Wednesday afternoon, the jail’s embattled director will appear alongside the Metro Corrections Fraternal Order of Police president before the Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee for a special discussion on the deaths.
“Our question for Mayor (Greg) Fischer, corrections officials, Louisville Metro Council and actors in Louisville’s criminal legal system is, what will you do today to address this crisis?” Amber Duke, the ACLU of Kentucky’s deputy director, said at a press conference.
The jail has 1,353 beds but commonly has hundreds more inmates in custody.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
