BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A concerning pattern of inmate deaths in Broward County jails has prompted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to call for intervention by the Justice Department. According to officials, a total of 21 people have died while being held in jails across Broward County since 2021.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson expressed horror at the situation, stating, “The Broward County Sheriff’s Department has failed its community. Now, it’s time for our Justice Department to intervene, and ensure that this tragic pattern of negligence is addressed, and any bad actors are held accountable.”
Marsha Ellison, president of the Broward County branch of the NAACP, emphasized the need for external scrutiny, saying, “Everybody wants answers and we expect to get those. We won’t get those from an internal process, we need an external entity.”
The recent death of Joseph Kirk, a 34-year-old inmate at the Broward County Main Jail, has raised further concerns. Gordon Weekes, the Broward County Public Defender, revealed that Kirk was found to be unconscious shortly after being introduced to the jail and later pronounced dead. Weekes suspects that Kirk’s death may have been due to improper detox protocols or an overdose.
Relatives of the deceased inmates spoke out at the NAACP press conference, demanding accountability and transparency from the authorities. Anthony Kirk, Joseph Kirk’s uncle, expressed his anguish and called for preventive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
Notably, multiple suicides have been reported in Broward County jails, in addition to reports of detainees being physically abused by deputies and pregnant detainees who have allegedly given birth in cells alone despite cries for help. The distressing situation has prompted the NAACP to press for external investigation and action to address the shocking number of inmate deaths.