LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A nearly yearlong investigation into the Louisville jail shows that since November 2021, five of the 13 people in custody who died were killed by a drug overdose, only two fewer overdose deaths than were reported at the jail during the 15-year period between 2005 and 2020.  

What You Need To Know

  • A nearly yearlong investigation into the Louisville jail shows 5 people in custody died of a drug overdose since November 2021  

  • The overdose-reversing drug Narcan was used 69 times since last April, according to the report  

  • A full written report is expected soon  

  • City leaders plan to discuss transparency and harm reduction reforms at Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on Wednesday 

“No one should die in our jail and we could be doing more to prevent those deaths,” said Kungu Njuguna, policy strategist for the ACLU of Kentucky. 

According to an overview of the report that investigator David Beyer gave Metro Council last week, the overdose-reversing drug Narcan was used on 69 people since last April. 

Without it, he said, the number of deaths could have been much higher. 

“It again highlights an issue that we still have: that we need to get control of contraband in this facility, and again, I think the facility itself creates some of these problems,” said Beyer. 

Njuguna said too many people with substance use disorder are in jail and the city should focus on alternatives to incarceration instead of building a new facility. 

“That’s an alarming number, but it’s a good thing that Narcan is in the jails,” he said, referring to the number of times Narcan was used. “We do applaud Director Collins for putting Narcan in the dormitories, allowing this life-saving measure to be used in his facilities, but it also shows us that the jail is also not doing a very good job of stopping the flow of drugs into the facility, and that’s a concern.” 

Councilman Anthony Piagentini (R) said the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections needs more staff and a new facility.

He supports the jail’s use of Narcan as well as body scanners to detect drugs. 

“Director Collins has made incredible changes on trying to prevent drugs from getting into the jail, so I think we’ve seen a marked difference in how many people died prior to him taking that role, and then now, and that has to do with technology that he’s invested in as well as improved procedures for ensuring that drugs aren’t smuggled into the jail,” he said.  

Piagentini said the full report will include recommendations and the council will consider any legislative action or procedural changes to address them. 

A written report of the investigation is expected within the next few days. 

Related Stories