FORT LAUDERDALE – The local branch of the NAACP and the Broward Public Defender Office are calling for accountability following accusations of negligence which led to the deaths of several inmates while in the custody of the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
The civil rights group is calling on federal authorities to step in. They say the sheriff’s office has failed the community and that 21 people have died in their custody since 2021
In the last month, four inmates have died at the Broward County jail.
“The alarming number of deaths and distressing incidents within Broward County jails demands swift actions. We call upon the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation into the Sheriff’s Office’s training and oversight, ensuring accountability for the lives lost and the well-being of those still in custody,” said Marsha A. Ellison, president of the NAACP Broward branch in a statement.