

Starvation In American Jail Cells
44 snips Apr 17, 2025
Sarah Stillman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff writer for The New Yorker and journalism instructor at Yale, uncovers the grim reality of starvation and dehydration in U.S. county jails. She shares haunting stories of mentally ill inmates who suffer neglect and unbearable conditions while facing minor charges. Stillman highlights systemic failures in mental health care and critiques the privatized healthcare system in incarceration. Additionally, the discussion touches on the urgent need for reform to protect vulnerable populations and prevent further tragedies.
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Mary Casey's Tragic Starvation
- Mary Faith Casey was an unhoused woman with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder detained for a parole violation.
- She starved for months in Pima County Jail and died from protein calorie malnutrition after being denied psychiatric treatment.
Deinstitutionalization's Unraveling Effect
- Deinstitutionalization released many mentally ill from asylums without effective community care.
- This created a wave of mentally ill people cycling into jails not equipped to handle their needs.
Profit Motive Undermines Jail Care
- Privatizing jail healthcare introduces profit motives that may reduce quality of care.
- Cost-capped contracts incentivize understaffing and neglect of incarcerated individuals.