NAACP seeks federal probe of Florida county’s jail system following deaths

By TERRY SPENCER
Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The NAACP is seeking a federal investigation of deaths in Florida’s second-largest county jail system. The civil rights organization said Thursday that the Broward Sheriff’s Office does not adequately monitor inmates or provide them with proper medical treatment and mental health services. The organization says 21 people have died in the county’s jails since 2019. Those have included at least one homicide, suicides and drug overdoses. In the recent homicide, an inmate was allegedly beaten by his cellmate for two minutes without guards noticing. Sheriff’s officials said in a statement that its jail system meets all national accreditation standards. The U.S. Justice Department acknowledged receiving the NAACP request but declined comment.