JEFFERSON CITY, MO – A lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court alleges systemic failures to provide adequate mental health care to inmates in Missouri jails, contributing to a surge in deaths and self-harm. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and the law firm of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner are representing several plaintiffs, including families of individuals who died while incarcerated.
The suit names as defendants the Missouri Department of Corrections and several individual sheriffs across the state. It claims widespread negligence in screening for mental illness, a lack of qualified medical and mental health staff, and insufficient access to necessary treatment, including medication and crisis intervention.
According to the ACLU of Missouri, at least 28 people died by suicide in missouri jails between January 2020 and December 2022. The lawsuit cites data showing a significant increase in self-harm incidents and mental health-related emergencies within these facilities.
“Missouri jails are facing a mental health crisis, and officials are failing to meet their basic legal and moral obligations to care for people in their custody,” said ACLU of Missouri Executive Director Tom Bastian in a press release. “this lawsuit seeks to force systemic change and prevent further tragedies.”
The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the state and local jail officials to implement extensive mental health care reforms, including improved screening procedures, adequate staffing levels, and access to appropriate treatment. It also requests damages for the plaintiffs who have suffered harm as a result of the alleged failures.
Missouri’s jail system has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years regarding conditions of confinement and healthcare access. The state currently has over 100 local jails, many of which are understaffed and underfunded. The lawsuit highlights the particular vulnerability of individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions who cycle through the jail system.
