A Tuesday report issued by Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz shed light on the lapses that allowed financier Jeffrey Epstein to commit suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in New York City.
The Inspector General’s investigation identified “numerous and serious failures” by the MCC New York staff, including both misconduct and negligence.
Failures included BOPs staffing levels, security camera systems, care of inmates at risk for suicide, and the fact that Epstein didn't have a cellmate following a July 23, 2019 incident that resulted in Epstein being placed on suicide watch.
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On Aug. 9, Epstein’s cellmate was transferred out, leaving him unmonitored and alone, the report said.
MCC New York staff were also found to have disregarded measures designed to account for and ensure the safety of inmates. The staff falsified count slips and round sheets, with two employees being charged criminally for falsifying BOP records. Charges were later dismissed.
Despite the misconduct and failures, the report found no evidence contradicting the FBI’s determination there were no criminal elements associated with Epstein’s death.
Horowitz highlighted the troubling implications of the failures, noting that they have given rise to the mystery surrounding Epstein’s death and deprived his victims of seeking justice.
The DOJ made eight recommendations to improve the management of BOP correctional institutions, all of which the BOP has agreed to, the report said.
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Photo: Epstein’s final mug shot, Department of Justice, Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
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