Suicide At Hudson County Jail; Officials Eye Contract: Report

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Hudson County officials are examining a public contract with an outside medical provider at the Hudson County Correctional Facility after a 26-year-old man was found hanging in his jail cell on Sunday, a report says.

The deceased man was wanted on open warrants for domestic violence, aggravated assault, animal cruelty, resisting arrest and eluding when the West New York Police Department apprehended him on Friday. During the arrest, the man allegedly told officers that he wanted to jump off a bridge, NJ.com reported.

After being taken into custody and transported to the county-run jail, the man was allegedly housed in general population instead of a mental health ward, even though he told medical personnel that he had mental health issues. During a previous encounter, he told jail officials that he’s struggled with suicidal thoughts, NJ.com stated.

The deceased man was discovered in his cell at 9 a.m. and pronounced dead at Jersey City Medical Center around 10:30 a.m. His identity is being withheld pending notification of his family, officials told NJ.com.

Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise told NJ.com that the county is reviewing its $29.4 million contract with CFG Health Services to provide medical services at the jail, where six inmates have died since June, four of which have been classified as suicides.

"I am outraged at what has been presented to me in this case,"DeGise said. "If it is true, I can assure you CFG's contract at the jail will be terminated ASAP." (Read the full report here)

The Hudson County Correctional Facility – which previously contracted with ICE to provide detention services for potential deportees - was recently named in a scathing report that blasted several New Jersey prisons for “inhumane” conditions including spoiled food and suicide risks.

• See related article: Maggots, Squalor For ICE Detainees At 'Inhumane' NJ Jails, Report Says
• See related article: Hudson County Jail Inmate Dies In Custody While Serving 6-Month Sentence
• See related article: Dozens Protest At Hudson County Jail After Immigrant Dies (PHOTOS)

Earlier this month, Hudson County officials announced that they will be severing the jail’s ties with ICE’s Section 287(g) program, which helped the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to "flag" any arrested foreign-born individuals brought to the jail for potential deportation.

• See related article: Hudson County Won't Help ICE Flag Jailed Immigrants Under 287(G)

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