According to the New York Post, an investigation conducted by the Justice Department has revealed that a series of missteps by the federal Bureau of Prisons, which included leaving too many bed linens in a jail cell, is what led to infamous pedophile human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein being able to commit suicide almost four years ago while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking.
The report went on to stated that Inspector General Michael Horowitz stated that the “combination of negligence, misconduct and outright job performance failures” allowed Epstein to kill himself on Aug. 10, 2019, in a jail cell located in Lower Manhattan. The Metropolitan Correctional Center has since been shut down.
A few of the other factors discovered by the probe includes a failure to assign a new inmate to Epstein’s cell after his previous one left. There were numerous issues with surveillance cameras as well. The investigation also revealed that Epstein’s cell “contained an excessive amount of bed linens,” which were ultimately used by him to commit suicide, Horowitz’s report said.
The report also pointed out that staff shortages and overworked employees were a consistent problem that also led to many of the inmates at the facility going unsupervised. Horowitz noted thirteen employees at the prison had a record marked with poor performances. He went on to say that at least six of these individuals should be brought up on charges.
Nova Noel and Michael Thomas, two corrections officers who were in charge of keeping an eye on Epstein during the time of his suicide, have been charged for falsifying logs, however they got no-jail plea deals, escaping any serious punishment for their negligence. The pair, who were both working overtime, had been sleeping and doing some online shopping instead of checking on the billionaire sex offender every thirty minutes like they where supposed to, as referenced in the NY Post article.
Benjamin O’Cone, a spokesperson for BOP, said the two guards no longer work for the organization. Horowitz is in agreement with the conclusions reached by other investigators in finding there was no foul play involved in the death. The billionaire had been housed in the MCC for a month and had been placed on suicide watch two weeks before he died due to bruises and scrapes had been found on his neck, leading officials at the jail to believe he had tried to kill himself.
Many of the survivors of the 66-year-old’s sick and twisted activities were upset upon finding out he had killed himself because the suicide deprived them of receiving their day in court and getting justice for what he did to them. Scott Taylor, a spokesman who works for BOP, stated that the agency already put “several inhanced practices” into place, including a review of video footage from restrictive housing units meant to ensure that rounds were completed accurately and on time.
In the wake of the death of Epstein, lieutenants ensure that inmates are regularly counted in those units. Individuals working there must file reports concerning solo inmates. The warden is also to be notified anytime an inmate has been placed on suicide watch and workers have been getting trained in suicide prevention techniques.
“The BOP takes seriously our ability to protect and secure individuals in our custody while ensuring the safety of our correctional employees and the surrounding community,” Taylor went on to say.
“We make every effort to create a controlled environment within our facilities that is both secure and humane, prioritizing the physical and emotional well-being of those in our care and custody,” he said in conclusion.
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