COLUMBIA, S.C. — A recent investigation by federal authorities has revealed alarming deficiencies at a major jail in South Carolina, highlighting a significant underreporting of violent incidents within its confines. The Richland County jail, which serves the Columbia area, has reportedly allowed numerous inmates to remain unsupervised for prolonged periods, resulting in at least two fatalities being reported by outsiders to the jail staff.
The U.S. Department of Justice has mandated immediate improvements at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, named in memory of a guard killed during an escape attempt in 2000. The report outlines urgent repairs needed, including fixing broken locks, mending walls with holes, and addressing faulty light fixtures that may be misused as weapons.
The report also emphasizes the need to eliminate contraband entering the facility, noting that cellphones are often used to coordinate gang violence, even while inmates are moved for their protection. In just a two-month period last year, eight inmates suffered overdoses linked to drugs smuggled into the jail.
Spanning 36 pages, the report presents troubling statistics and narratives illustrating the conditions inside the facility. Despite having more than enough positions for guards, the number of actual officers is insufficient, resulting in stretches of time when no staff members monitor the jail’s wings. Additionally, the jail is reported to have four times the number of assaults compared to the Miami-Dade jail, even though the latter accommodates a far greater inmate population. The investigation also highlighted concerns regarding a private security firm employing individuals with felony records.
Furthermore, the report sheds light on inmates awaiting trial who have experienced severe violence within the jail. One case described an inmate who faced multiple assaults over a period of three years without any intervention until his mother reached out to the facility. This inmate suffered several beatings, including one episode where he was attacked by seven inmates, only receiving help when another prisoner informed the command center of his condition.
Incredibly, the jail administration became aware of inmate deaths through external calls instead of internal notifications. On one occasion, a message was left for the jail director about an inmate found dead, and on another, a nurse was alerted by someone who witnessed a killing broadcast live on social media.
“It is appalling that individuals awaiting trial at Alvin S. Glenn could encounter such grave dangers of harm without ever stepping into a courtroom. These conditions breach constitutional rights,” stated U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs.
Despite multiple requests for comments, Richland County officials have not provided responses. Boroughs noted that the county had initiated repairs and reform measures following the announcement of the investigation, and she urged local authorities to maintain this momentum to avoid federal legal action.
According to the report, many acts of violence within the jail go unpunished. Boroughs indicated that there were numerous instances where crime scenes were cleaned up by inmates before law enforcement was even informed.
Meanwhile, federal investigations continue to extend across other facilities in South Carolina, including jails in Charleston County, with a significant number of institutions nationwide under federal scrutiny or court oversight.
The report cites harrowing accounts, such as that of an inmate who reported being raped, with genetic evidence linking another inmate to the crime, yet no investigation ensued. Additionally, another inmate allegedly threatened suicide in order to be transferred, only to be raped again after being unable to pay his assailant.
In conclusion, the report presents a comprehensive list of recommendations for structural and procedural changes. Among them, the necessity for at least one guard on each wing, a second guard patrolling between wings, and the elimination of grievance filing protocols that require inmates to report issues to officers assigned to their units. Comprehensive searches of all staff to curtail contraband bring further emphasis on correcting the systemic failures identified.
“Corrections officers are tasked with the responsibility of safeguarding inmates from violence, as suffering assaults should never be a consequence endured by individuals who are incarcerated for offenses against society,” the investigators highlighted in their findings.
