Two Deaths in Three Days at Birmingham City Jail Spark Calls for Accountability

The Birmingham Times

The deaths of two inmates at the Birmingham City Jail earlier this month have renewed concerns about conditions inside the facility and prompted calls for greater accountability from city leaders. Meanwhile, officials maintain that proper protocols and procedures were followed in both cases, but have pledged a commitment to improvements.

Within three days of each other — June 11 and June 14 — Kaleena “Peaches” Croskey, 32, and 35-year-old Kendall Kadeem Sweazer died by suicide while incarcerated at the Birmingham City Jail.

Their deaths have sparked outrage from local activists like Eric Hall, who was escorted from Birmingham City Hall in handcuffs on June 16 after confronting city leaders. During the June 16 city council meeting, Hall accused city leaders of failing to address longstanding issues at the jail.

“The Birmingham City Jail is a warehouse for humans where inhuman conditions and neglect from staff has caused the unnecessary deaths of too many people under this administration and under your watch,” Hall said.

After public comment ended, Hall left the council chamber and went to Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office, demanding to speak directly with the mayor. Police officers intervened and escorted Hall out of City Hall in handcuffs.

In a follow-up statement, Deputy Chief of Public Safety Carlton Peeples said the deaths were “deeply troubling” and extended condolences to the families and loved ones of both individuals.

“Every person in our custody deserves to be treated with dignity, care, and respect,” Peeples said. “We take our responsibility to safeguard the well-being of those entrusted to us, as well as the safety of our staff, very seriously.”

In the statement, Peeples outlined the city’s protocol for inmates with mental health and suicide concerns. Any detainee who has voiced suicidal thoughts or attempted self-harm is evaluated by medical staff and transported to UAB Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. Likewise, anyone who attempts suicide inside the facility will be sent to UAB for psychological evaluation. Upon their return from the hospital, the detainee will be assigned to administrative segregation and monitored every fifteen minutes, and staff will follow any additional instructions given by the UAB psychiatrist. Any items that would be considered suicidal aids are removed from the inmate’s cell and the detainee will be reevaluated at the next psychiatric visit, which occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“Of the deceased individuals, only one was under suicide prevention protocols and housed in Administrative Segregation at the time of death,” Peeples stated. “Another individual had been evaluated by medical professionals and released back into the general population.  Based on the preliminary investigation, the aforementioned protocols were followed.”

Croskey, who identified as a transgender woman, had been incarcerated since April 21. According to Peeples, transgender detainees are not placed in cells with other inmates unless no alternatives are available, and Croskey was provided separate accommodations.

“We understand the concerns these incidents raise within our community,” Peeples said. “We remain committed to transparency throughout this process and will continue providing updates as investigations, laboratory testing, and medical reviews are completed. Our focus remains on accountability, continuous improvement, and ensuring the safety, care, and dignity of every individual entrusted to our custody.”

City officials report that since 2021, there have been 197 reported deaths in detention facilities across Jefferson County. Nine of those deaths, approximately 4.5 percent, occurred at the Birmingham City Jail.

“While these numbers represent a small fraction of the county-wide total, even one death is one too many,” Peeples said. “Our goal is not to compare tragedies but to learn from them, improve our practices, and prevent future loss of life.”

In a Facebook statement on the deaths of Croskey and Sweazer, Mayor Randall Woodfin said, “They were not statistics. They were not case numbers. They were human beings and they deserve to be spoken about with care and compassion.”

In an interview with the Birmingham Times, Woodfin stated that, though protocols, policies, and procedures were followed properly, the deaths of Croskey and Sweazer underscore a statewide need for better mental healthcare services.

“With federal funding, and definitely with state funding, there seems to be a lack of this being a priority,” Woodfin said.

In a ranking of the number of state psychiatric beds, Alabama tied with South Carolina for 36th with eight beds per 100,000, according to data from the Treatment Advocacy Center reported by Becker’s Behavioral Health.

“I’m not deflecting, I’m not pointing blame,” Woodfin continued, “but we need help.”

The deaths have drawn attention to broader concerns about conditions at the jail.

In March, Woodfin recommended, and the city council approved, 5 million dollars for upgrades to the jail, including improvements to the HVAC and plumbing systems, enhanced security cameras, new security doors and locks, and inmate cell security upgrades.

“These improvements are designed to strengthen operations, improve safety, and create a more secure environment for both inmates and staff,” Peeples stated. “Our focus remains on accountability, continuous improvement, and ensuring the safety, care, and dignity of every individual entrusted to our custody.”