Understanding Deaths in Custody at Cuyahoga County Jail

 

The Cuyahoga County Jail has experienced in-custody deaths, prompting public concern, legal actions, and ongoing investigations into its operations. When a person dies while in jail custody, a series of mandated steps are triggered to investigate the circumstances and provide information. These include required notifications to state and federal agencies like the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance. Investigations typically involve an autopsy by the medical examiner, an internal review by the sheriff's office, and potential independent investigations by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and oversight by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's Bureau of Adult Detention. Furthermore, various records, such as video footage, officer disciplinary records, emails, autopsy reports, and state investigation findings, are generally accessible as public information for those seeking details.

Read more about the process and how to access records at The Marshall Project - Cleveland.

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