LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  Community members in Louisville want to see changes made to Louisville Department of Metro Corrections. 

An investigation into the Louisville jail shows that overdoses have killed five people in custody since Nov. 2021. 

“We demand sustainable change from our local leaders and city officials,” said Savvy Shabazz, from All of Us or None Kentucky, a civil rights organization that advocates for formerly incarcerated people. 

An independent investigator has been looking into the department and last month, the lead investigator called the jail “antiquated” and “run down” while presenting the report to Louisville Metro Council. 

Organizers suggested several ways to prevent deaths in jail. 

“Contracts with Louisville-based health care and organizations to provide detained persons access to community-based health services for all kinds of support, “ is one solution, Shabazz said.

The overdose-reversing drug Narcan Naloxone is now available in dormitories at the correction facility. The report noted it had been used on 69 people in the last year. 

Markus Winkler, Metro Council president, suggested a whole new jail. 

“I think when you look at what could a modern jail facility look like, you can have a focus on mental health. You can have a focus on substance abuse. And you can have a jail that is safe for the people who are there and for the officers who work there and treat people humanely,” said Winkler. 

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg (D) plans to hold a press conference Thursday regarding changes being made within the Department of Corrections.