Miami-Dade County jails are currently grappling with a head lice outbreak from earlier today. In response to the outbreak, the county’s corrections and rehabilitation department has put in place several measures, including enhanced screenings, movement restrictions, and quarantines. In addition, inmates are undergoing daily cleanings and are being educated on preventative guidelines, as reported by Local 10 News.
Further to these steps, tips were shared to help inmates avoid spreading the lice, such as avoiding head-to-head contact and not sharing personal items like combs or towels. The problem of lice is not a simple nuisance, as the parasites feed on blood from the human scalp, and infestations necessitate over-the-counter and prescription medications for treatment, as per Local 10 News.
In related news, the Justice Department is set to investigate the living conditions in Fulton County Jail in Atlanta after a mentally ill inmate died covered in lice and bedbugs. This probe comes amidst serious allegations of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions, violence against inmates, and inadequate health care, as stated by Attorney General Merrick Garland and reported by Reason.
LaShawn Thompson, the deceased inmate who had schizophrenia, allegedly lived in egregious conditions before his death in the jail's psychiatric ward. The Southern Center for Human Rights found that every inmate in this unit had either lice or scabies, and the majority were not able to even properly engage in daily activities or access essential medications. To make the situation even more grave, ninety percent were also "significantly malnourished," according to a 2022 report cited by Reason.
The DOJ's investigation will focus on the potential violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, examining both the living conditions and the reports of violence and excessive force.
