LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville Metro Council committee plans to discuss the recent deaths of three people who had been in the city jail during a meeting Wednesday afternoon. 

What You Need To Know

  • During a meeting Tuesday, Louisville's jail policy committee discussed the recent deaths of three people who had been held in the city jail

  • LMDC Director Dwayne Clark said there are indications that two people who died had medical issues and one person died by suicide

  • Clark said the facility needs to increase staffing and reduce the number of people incarcerated

  • A Louisville Metro Council committee is expected to discuss the recent deaths on Wednesday afternoon

The deaths have led to calls for action from community organizations and those who work in the facility. 

Dwayne Clark, director of Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, told Spectrum News 1 that conditions at the Louisville jail are safe, but "could be safer." 

The facility needs to increase staffing and reduce the number of people incarcerated there, he said.

There are indications that two of the three people held there who died in the last week had medical issues, and one person died by suicide, according to Clark. 

"We’re going to investigate these and certainly look at thoroughly investigating them and look at any violations that may have occurred," Clark told the Louisville jail policy committee Tuesday. 

Daniel Johnson, the FOP Lodge 77 president for Metro Corrections, works as a sergeant in the jail. 

"The number of staff that we have absolutely correlates to the care that we can provide to the people in our custody," he said. 

Protester Denorver “Dee" Garrett said he has been incarcerated in the jail several times.

He experienced crowded conditions and a lack of staff, he told Spectrum News 1.

"It’s really not that many (correctional officers)," he said. "Sometimes a CO never walked by, so it could be an emergency and a CO would never see it because the lack of staff." 

The ACLU of Kentucky has sent a letter to county officials demanding they “stop requesting bench warrants with cash bonds for anything other than alleged offenses that present a legitimate threat to community safety.”

Clark said he supports support ending cash bail.

"I’m supportive of reducing the count," he said. "I’m supportive of attracting and retaining the staff that I have. I need staffing."

The ACLU of Kentucky said it is requesting the city return to issuing citations for low-level offenses instead of arresting people. 

"A lot of people, they don’t have the money to get out of jail, so that’s why they’re stuck in there for minor offenses," Garrett said. 

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