BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held a news conference Thursday morning with Broward County Public Defender Gordon Weekes to discuss the deaths of numerous inmates in Broward County jails. Since the year 2021, 21 individuals have died while being held in jails across Broward County. “The NAACP is horrified by the continued injustice that Broward County families have been forced to endure,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO.
The NAACP is calling for the intervention of the Justice Department to address the tragic pattern of negligence and hold any bad actors accountable. Marsha Ellison, president of the Broward County branch of the NAACP, emphasized the need for an external entity to provide answers regarding the inmate deaths, as an internal process may not be sufficient.
Four of the inmate deaths have occurred in the past month, raising concerns about the conditions and protocols within the Broward County jails. One of the recent inmate deaths was that of Joseph Kirk, who passed away while in custody at the Broward County Main Jail. He had been arrested two weeks prior on a misdemeanor charge and was undergoing a detox process before his death, possibly due to improper detox protocols or an overdose.
Relatives of the deceased inmates spoke emotionally at the news conference, expressing their grief and seeking accountability for the deaths. The families are demanding transparency and action to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again.
Reports of multiple suicides, physical abuse by deputies, and pregnant detainees allegedly giving birth in cells alone have also surfaced in jails across Broward County. The disturbing revelations have prompted calls for increased oversight and measures to prevent further harm to inmates.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Department is facing mounting scrutiny over its handling of the welfare of detained persons, with demands for accountability and decisive action to prevent further loss of life within the county’s jails. The NAACP and other advocates are pushing for a thorough investigation and reforms to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in custody.