The Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in South Carolina faces serious allegations following an extensive investigation by the Justice Department. The inquiry, which began in November 2023, revealed a harrowing "culture of violence" within the facility, posing severe risks to detainees, staff, and law enforcement personnel. The investigation uncovered rampant issues, including routine threats of stabbings, sexual assaults, and gang violence, exacerbated by chronic staff shortages and inadequate security measures.
Throughout 2023, the detention center witnessed at least 60 stabbing incidents, an alarming statistic that highlights the severity of the situation. Investigators discovered 150 weapons within the facility in the same year, a shocking figure nearly four times higher than the average amount recovered in state prisons across the United States. This proliferation of weapons underscores the persistent threat and unsafe conditions faced by those housed at the center.
In addition to these concerns, a chronic staff shortage has significantly impeded essential security checks. Staff members are often required to monitor multiple units simultaneously, further compromising the safety and security of the facility. The Justice Department's findings indicate that this staffing issue has directly contributed to the detention center's failure to protect detainees from sexual assault.
A particularly disturbing case involved a detainee who was beaten and stabbed multiple times over three years, with staff notably absent during each incident. Another detainee suffered three assaults by his cellmate in just two days during his first month, despite his pleas for help being ignored by staff.
The investigation also revealed that over two months in 2024, there were eight overdoses within the facility, three of which tragically resulted in death. These incidents further illustrate the dire need for improved security measures and contraband control within the detention center.
“The incidents of violence at Alvin S. Glenn are pervasive, systematic and commonplace,” said Adair Boroughs, U.S. attorney for the district of South Carolina.
The Justice Department's report emphasized Richland County's "constitutional duty to protect people in its care from the horrific violations we uncovered here," as stated by Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Clarke also asserted that "incarceration in our nation’s jails should not expose a person to severe and pervasive violence like that in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center."
In response to these findings, the Justice Department has recommended several critical measures for improvement. These include updating the jail's staffing plan, enhancing contraband control, revising detainees' housing placements, addressing maintenance issues, and revising responses to violent incidents.
In one harrowing account from the DOJ report, a detainee "resorted to cutting himself in order to be placed on suicide watch, where he could report the rapes and get away from his attacker."
The federal investigation warns of potential legal actions if Richland County fails to address these dangerous conditions within 49 days. The rate of assaults at Alvin S. Glenn roughly matches that of New York City jails, where systemic violence has led to federal court contempt charges.
“Incarceration in our nation’s jails should not expose a person to severe and pervasive violence like that in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center,” reiterated Kristen Clarke, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The Justice Department's findings highlight a pressing need for reform within the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. The current environment not only endangers detainees but also places significant risks on staff and law enforcement officers working within the facility. Addressing these issues requires immediate action and commitment to ensuring safety and security for all individuals involved.
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