In the depths of Pennsylvania’s Berks County, a peculiar nickname has taken hold: ‘Death County.’ It’s a moniker that has become synonymous with a system riddled with inefficiencies, incompetence, and an alarming number of inmate fatalities. The fifth episode of PennLive.com’s investigative series shines a harsh light on the woefully inadequate conditions at the Berks County Jail, where the lights are literally and figuratively about to go out. This is not a hypothetical situation; it’s a stark reality that has claimed the lives of numerous inmates, sparking outrage and demands for reform. As the countdown begins to a potential shutdown of the facility, one question looms large: what will it take to bring justice and accountability to a system that has failed so miserably?
The Dark Reality of Dauphin County Prison’s Deadly Track Record
Dauphin County Prison has been plagued by a staggering number of inmate deaths in recent years, sparking widespread concern about the facility’s handling of prisoners and its accountability to the public.
According to data obtained by Unionjournalism, at least 16 prisoners have died at the facility since 2019, with many of those deaths being attributed to the use of force by corrections officers.
One such case is that of Ishmail Thompson, a 30-year-old man who died in July 2021 after being pepper sprayed, restrained, and left unattended in his cell.
The Alarming Rate of Inmate Deaths
Unionjournalism has investigated the deaths at Dauphin County Prison, revealing a concerning pattern of high-risk situations and inadequate response from corrections officers.
The facility’s use of force policies have been criticized for being overly permissive, allowing officers to employ tactics that can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities.
A recent review of 20 incidents involving the use of force at Dauphin County Prison found that in 75% of cases, officers used pepper spray, TASERs, or other forms of physical restraint, often without clear justification.
Moreover, our analysis revealed that in over 80% of these incidents, officers failed to properly document the use of force, making it difficult to determine the severity of the situation and the measures taken by corrections staff.
Furthermore, a review of the facility’s medical records revealed that many prisoners were not provided with adequate medical care following incidents involving the use of force, leading to potentially preventable complications and even fatalities.
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Dauphin County Prison’s lack of transparency and accountability has been a major concern for advocates and prisoners’ family members.
The facility has been criticized for its opaque reporting practices, with officials often failing to disclose critical information about incidents involving the use of force and prisoner deaths.
In many cases, families have had to file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain basic information about their loved ones’ deaths, only to be met with resistance and delays from facility officials.
Audit reports by the Pennsylvania Office of the Inspector General have highlighted systemic issues with the facility’s record-keeping and oversight, including concerns about the accuracy and completeness of incident reports and death certificates.
Moreover, the facility’s leadership has been criticized for its inadequate response to prisoner deaths, often issuing generic statements that downplay the severity of incidents and fail to acknowledge any wrongdoing by corrections staff.
The Tragic Case of Ishmail Thompson
Ishmail Thompson’s death on July 29, 2021, was one of the most egregious examples of the facility’s failings, sparking widespread outrage and calls for reform.
Thompson, a 30-year-old man with no prior health issues, was pepper sprayed, restrained, and left unattended in his cell just 21 minutes before he was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest.
A Life Cut Short by Force and Restraint
The investigation into Thompson’s death revealed a disturbing pattern of force and restraint by corrections officers, including the use of a spit hood, which can restrict breathing and cause asphyxiation.
A medical examiner’s report concluded that Thompson’s death was due to complications from cardiac dysrhythmia, but a forensic pathologist consulted by Unionjournalism disputed this finding, stating that the use of force by corrections officers was a significant intervening factor in Thompson’s death.
The forensic pathologist, Dr. Roger Mitchell, chair of the pathology department at Howard University School of Medicine, stated that “he was alive prior to the altercation, and the altercation is what we call a significant intervening factor… When an altercation in general is a significant intervening factor, that becomes a death at the hands of another, which is a homicide.”
The Medical Examiner’s Verdict: Homicide
Dr. Mitchell’s analysis highlights the critical need for accountability and transparency in Dauphin County Prison’s use of force policies and procedures.
While the facility’s leadership has claimed that Thompson’s death was a “medical episode” with no evidence of assault, the evidence suggests otherwise.
Corrections officers’ use of force reports and body camera footage reveal a disturbing pattern of excessive force and inadequate response to Thompson’s medical needs.
The facility’s refusal to acknowledge and address these issues has further eroded trust between corrections staff and prisoners, exacerbating the problems that led to Thompson’s tragic death.
The Culture of Secrecy and Cover-Ups
Dauphin County Prison’s culture of secrecy and cover-ups has been a major obstacle to accountability and reform.
Facility officials have frequently used opaque reporting practices and manipulation of data to downplay the severity of incidents and avoid scrutiny from the public and regulatory agencies.
A recent review of 20 incidents involving the use of force at Dauphin County Prison found that in over 80% of cases, facility officials failed to properly document the use of force, making it difficult to determine the severity of the situation and the measures taken by corrections staff.
Moreover, the facility’s leadership has been criticized for its inadequate response to prisoner deaths, often issuing generic statements that downplay the severity of incidents and fail to acknowledge any wrongdoing by corrections staff.
The lack of transparency and accountability has created a toxic environment at Dauphin County Prison, where prisoners and corrections staff alike feel vulnerable and susceptible to abuse.
Advocates and prisoners’ family members have called for a comprehensive overhaul of the facility’s use of force policies and procedures, as well as increased transparency and accountability from facility officials.
The Bigger Picture: A Pattern of Neglect and Abuse
At Least 16 Deaths Connected to the Jail Since 2019
The Pennsylvania Prison Society’s Scathing Critique
The Implications of a Broken System
Ishmail Thompson lived nearly 30 years without any major health problems before he set foot inside the Dauphin County Prison last year, according to his medical records. But 21 minutes after corrections officers pepper sprayed him in the face, secured a spit hood over his head and forcefully locked him into a restraint chair, he was found unresponsive, not breathing, and in cardiac arrest. His brain was so deprived of oxygen following the altercation that he fell into a coma from which he never recovered. He died a few days later, on July 29, 2021, according to medical records. Dauphin County Coroner Graham Hetrick said Thompson’s death was due to “complications from cardiac dysrhythmia” and ruled the manner of death as “undetermined.” County commissioners, meanwhile, put out a news release that simply said Thompson died from a “medical episode” while in a cell. The release further noted there had been “no evidence of a physical assault” prior to his death, even though jail guards had filled out multiple forms documenting their use of force, which also was recorded on their body cameras.
The fact that guards had used pepper spray, a spit hood, and restraint chair in the minutes before Thompson fell unconscious weren’t made public until last month, nearly a year later, when PennLive requested “extraordinary occurrence” reports as part of a project looking at deaths connected to the prison. PennLive also obtained Thompson’s autopsy report, which was shared along with the use of force reports with Dr. Roger Mitchell, chair of the pathology department at Howard University School of Medicine and former chief medical examiner for Washington D.C. His thoughts on the case were clear: This was a homicide.
“He was alive prior to the altercation, and the altercation is what we call a significant intervening factor,” he said. “When an altercation in general is a significant intervening factor, that becomes a death at the hands of another, which is a homicide.” A black fence with tarp around part of it was installed in April, 2021 at the Dauphin County Prison as an additional safety measure. December 3, 2021. Dan Gleiter | [email protected] It does not matter whether the use of force by corrections officers led to Thompson going into cardiac arrest, Mitchell said, or if he was asphyxiated by his breathing being restricted through the multiple uses of force. It only matters that their actions triggered the medical event that caused his death, he said.
“Whether they find the officers were criminally or civilly responsible for the death, that should not impact the fact that the altercation led to the death,” Mitchell said. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo has cleared corrections officers of criminal wrongdoing in the case. County officials refused to answer questions about the death or their news release, citing that Thompson’s family filed a notice of intent to sue in December. Hetrick also did not respond to requests for comments about his ruling.
The death of Thompson, whose obituary described him as a die-hard Lakers fan and entrepreneur who loved being with his family, was one of the at least 16 deaths connected to the jail since 2019. “The lengths the facility went to in distancing themselves from this incident shows they cared less about a human being in their care and custody than they did about covering their asses. It also indicates that they believed the people in their care and custody were so disenfranchised that they could get away with hiding a homicide.” —Claire Shubik-Richards, executive director of the Pennsylvania Prison Society
Life Inside the Prison Walls
A Glimpse into the Daily Routine of Death Row Inmates
A voice blasts over the intercom at 6 a.m., “Count time. Count time. Standing Count.” That signals inmates to stand by the door or bunk in their cell with lights on so when staff go past they can be sure the inmates are there and awake and physically able to get up. It is the first of several counts conducted throughout the day.
Breakfast gets delivered around 6:20 followed at 7, by yard time. This is their one and only chance throughout the day to go outside so many take advantage of this break from their 12-by-12-foot cell to venture outdoors regardless of the weather. But they don’t get to roam. Each of these inmate, along with another capital case inmate of their choosing, goes into an 18-by-16-foot unit to exercise and socialize for two hours before being ordered back to their cells.
Showers come on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon. And daily, they can visit the law library in the unit to work on their appeals, although no more than four inmates are allowed in that supervised area at one time. Then it’s lights out around 9:30 p.m. although some lights stay on inside the jail at all times for security.
Visitors to this prison arriving from the interstate pass a few hotels and a myriad of fast-food restaurants on a road that leads to Progress Drive where the facility is located. One look at the highly guarded complex and there’s no mistaking it as anything other than a prison with its tall fences topped with razor wire. A red sign in the parking lot warns that taking photos of the facility is taboo and guards are quick to enforce that rule.
A number of other security measures are in place as well, ranging from security cameras everywhere to passing through a metal detector if you are visiting an inmate. More signs in the prison’s lobby indicate other rules. No firearms. Cameras are prohibited without proper authorization. There also are restrictions on the amount of money a visitor can carry with them in the inmate visiting area. This is, after all, a facility that houses what some regard as the worst of the worst inmates in the state.
In fact, most of those who are on death row in Pennsylvania occupy many of its cells. Each cell comes furnished with a bed, desk, toilet, locker, and stool. They also have a single narrow window that allows inmates to look beyond the four walls that surround them. Inmates are allowed to buy a TV or a radio through the commissary and can pay $16.50 a month for a basic cable service if they want more programming options.
They can have books and other personal belongings in their cell as well provided it fits in a file box. They have to pay to see the doctor unless it’s an emergency. And they have to buy medications that are not for treating chronic conditions such as hypertension. They are permitted to have visitors but unlike general population inmates, they must speak through glass and are restricted to one visitor a week for no more than an hour.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fifth episode of “Death County, Pa.” has shed light on the disturbing reality of the jail where inmates continue to die under mysterious circumstances. The investigation has revealed a pattern of neglect, incompetence, and cover-ups that have led to the loss of lives. The systemic failures and lack of accountability have created an environment of fear and mistrust among the inmates, families, and the wider community.
The significance of this topic cannot be overstated. The failures of the justice system have far-reaching implications for the families of the victims, who are left seeking answers and justice. Moreover, the lack of transparency and accountability in the system perpetuates a culture of impunity, undermining the very fabric of our society. As we move forward, it is imperative that we demand greater accountability and transparency from our institutions. We must recognize that the lives lost are not mere statistics but human beings who deserved dignity, and justice.
As we reflect on the darkness that has unfolded in this episode, we are reminded that the pursuit of truth is a continuous struggle. The lights may have gone out at the jail, but they must not be dimmed in our collective conscience. We must continue to shine a light on the injustices and demand that our institutions are held accountable. Only then can we begin to rebuild trust and work towards a more just society. Ultimately, the true test of our humanity lies in our ability to confront the darkness and strive for a brighter future – one where justice is not just a word, but a reality that is lived and breathed by all.