The Department of Justice announced it is investigating two jails in South Carolina after several inmates have died at the facilities in the past year.
"The investigation into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center will examine whether the jail fails to protect incarcerated people from violence and subjects incarcerated people to dangerous living conditions at the jail," she added. For the Charleston facility, Clarke detailed how in January 2021, an inmate was allegedly killed"after Detention Center staff tased and pepper sprayed him multiple times when he refused to leave his cell for a bond hearing. Staff dragged him to a restraint chair and placed him in a spit hood until he became unresponsive."
“I stand behind the work of my employees. They are the hardest-working people in this county. The work that they do keeps us all safe. I will be the first person to welcome any member of the Department of Justice to my facility, and I believe that we are going above and beyond our call of duty to provide assistance on mental health concerns," Graziano said.