LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The ACLU of Kentucky is calling on Louisville leaders to take action after it said three people died in the city jail in one week.

What You Need To Know

  • The ACLU of Kentucky is calling for Louisville leaders to take action after it said three people died in Louisville Metro Department of Corrections custody in one week 
  • The organization and community partners held a news conference Monday

  • The ACLU of Kentucky planned to draft a letter to the Jefferson County Attorney and Commonwealth’s Attorney

  • The mayor's office said one person died by suicide and that preliminary reviews indicate two of the deaths "may be the result of natural causes"

Amber Duke, the organization's deputy director, said dozens of community partners met Sunday night to discuss "untenable and inhumane" conditions at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections and discussed immediate actions needed. 

"Our question for Mayor Fischer, corrections officials, Louisville Metro Council and actors in Louisville’s criminal legal system is ‘what will you do today to address this crisis?’" Duke said at a news conference held with community organizations Monday. 

The ACLU of Kentucky planned to draft a letter to the Jefferson County Attorney and Commonwealth’s Attorney "seeking immediate relief for people who are suffering at LMDC," said Duke. "We are going to be demanding that both offices immediately stop requesting bench warrants with cash bonds for anything other than alleged threats to community safety."

Daniel Johnson, FOP Lodge 77 president for Metro Corrections and a sergeant at the jail, said crowding and staffing are the two biggest issues. 

"I’m glad they’re echoing a lot of the same concerns that we’ve had for months," he said, following the news conference. "I’m hoping with their influence and the community outreach that they have, that we will be able to come together, work together in finding some solutions to these problems that we’ve had for many years, that have gotten much worse in the last few months."

In Sept., jail leaders said the facility was holding close to 300 more inmates than it is designed to and that there were 90 sworn and 40 civilian vacancies. 

In a statement provided Monday, Jessica Wethington from the Office of the Mayor said: “The Mayor and his team are saddened by the tragic inmate deaths that have occurred over the last week, and our thoughts are with their loved ones, as well as the hardworking men and women of LMDC. Preliminary reviews indicate the inmate deaths on Monday and Friday may be the result of natural causes. The inmate who died Saturday, sadly, chose to end her own life." 

LMDC has been working with the Kentucky Department of Corrections to get inmates moved, according to Wethington.

"The Metro Corrections Executive Team met with ACLU representatives to share common concerns about overcrowding and the impact of cash bail," she said. "Last week, we announced $12.8M from the midyear budget adjustment for potential salary and wage adjustments for employees across Metro Government. Corrections officers have a very challenging job and we will be pushing this salary increase for employees with Metro Council after discussion with the Corrections Union. This is in addition to the recruitment and retention incentives announced in early September."

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