Another Lawsuit Filed In Federal Court Against Oklahoma County's Jail After Inmate's Death
Another Lawsuit Filed In Federal Court Against Oklahoma County's Jail After Inmate's Death - The beleaguered Oklahoma County Jail finds itself mired in yet another lawsuit, further highlighting the systemic issues plaguing the facility and the tragic consequences they entail.
Oct 01, 202378.8K Shares1.1M Views
The beleaguered Oklahoma County Jail finds itself mired in yet another lawsuit, further highlighting the systemic issues plaguing the facility and the tragic consequences they entail. The latest lawsuit, filed earlier this week, seeks financial compensation for the untimely death of Kyle Steven Shaw, a 36-year-old detainee who became one of the more than 40 individuals to lose their lives at Oklahoma County's jail since July 2020, following its transition to management by the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority.
Shaw's tragic demise unfolded as he was taken into custody in May 2021 by sheriff's deputies on an assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charge. While awaiting trial, Shaw was discovered lifeless in his cell on February 13, 2022. A subsequent autopsy revealed that he had succumbed to a fentanyl overdose.
The lawsuit, brought forth by plaintiff Jeffrey Allen Simmons, contends that although the manner in which Shaw ingested the illegal narcotic has not been definitively established, the jail's operator failed to implement necessary measures to safeguard Shaw and other detainees from such risks.
This legal action echoes numerous other lawsuits against the Oklahoma County Jail, shedding light on the dire state of affairs within the facility. The U.S. Justice Department, after reviewing the jail's operations in 2008, and a scathing grand jury report have both raised concerns about the jail's operations, inadequate staffing levels, and insufficient efforts to prevent the entry of illegal drugs, including fentanyl.
One of the grand jury's most significant observations was related to the jail's structural vulnerabilities, particularly its cinderblock construction, which facilitated inmates in breaching walls—both external and internal. This design flaw enabled detainees to introduce contraband into the facility and transfer it from cell to cell.
The lawsuit further underscores instances where former jail employees were apprehended for allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband into the jail, underscoring the severity of the problem.
The lawsuit asserts that new rules and procedures aimed at detecting and preventing drug smuggling into the jail were only implemented about a month after Shaw's tragic demise.
The grim picture painted by these legal actions points to a problematic culture of indifference within the Oklahoma County Jail—characterized by poor hiring practices, inadequate inmate oversight, subpar training, and deteriorating infrastructure. This environment, as highlighted in the lawsuit, has compromised the safety and constitutional rights of detainees.
The lawsuit claims that Shaw's rights under the U.S. Constitution's Eighth and 14th Amendments were violated, and it holds jail officials accountable for negligence leading to his wrongful death. Seeking compensation of at least $75,000, in addition to attorney's fees, this lawsuit adds to the growing list of legal challenges faced by Oklahoma County and its Criminal Justice Authority.
The Oklahoma County Jail continues to grapple with a multitude of lawsuits alleging civil rights violations, painting a disturbing picture of a facility plagued by violence, inadequate security measures, and a lack of oversight. As detainees' rights are repeatedly called into question, calls for reform and accountability within the criminal justice system continue to grow.
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