First the good news:  after much national protest and pressure, the Federal Communication Commission has trimmed back the super-profits of jails and prisons from telephone and video calls. These incredible rates have been generating $ millions for the BC jail’s private contractor and the Sheriff’s own slush fund (he rakes off a 44% cutback as reported here).  A new schedule of maximum charges will come into effect on April 1, 2025. For Broome County this would reduce the cost of telephone calls from 25¢ (often much more due to fees) to no more than 7¢, and for video calls from 25¢ or much more to 12¢.  All still far too much. More information is here in the report by Prison Policy Initiative.

The sad news: yet another report of an unnecessary death in the BC jail due to medical maltreatment, in a story laying out the malfeasance of the jail’s private medical provider that pursues profit at the cost of death.  This time the story from NYFocus starts with the Broome County Jail and covers the whole state:

“Brandon Loori had been locked up in the Broome County Jail for less than a week in May 2022 when he called his mom…”

Perhaps its time for local legislators and pastors to provide some oversight and visit the jail, unannounced, as they are allowed to by state law? Or perhaps the health department might investigate?  And where is  the County Legislature review inquiry mandated by The State Commission of Correction? The SCOC report on Loori’s deathends with this directive to the Chair of the BC Legislature: “the County Legislature shall review the above findings and conduct an inquiry into the fitness of the currently designated provider.”

As in the past, County Legislators fail to act.

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Extracts from a highly redacted State Commission of Correction report on Loori’s death (full text here)

FINDINGS:
1. Branden Loori was a 38-year-old male who died on 6/13/22 due to septic emboli to the lung from infective endocarditis following his release from the custody of the Broome County Sheriff at the Broome County Jail (CJ). The Medical Review Board has found that there was a failure by medical staff to perform adequate assessments and recognize clinical indicators that hospitalization was necessary. The Board opines that had Loori been properly assessed and timely transferred to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment, his death may have been prevented….

The Medical Review Board opines that Loori exhibited clear signs of an acute illness, consistent with a possible PE and/or acute coronary syndrome and should have been immediately sent to the hospital for an evaluation at that time….

The Medical Review Board opines that there was a complete failure by the medical staff to properly assess and provide treatment for a gravely ill individual….

The Medical Review Board opines that there was an unacceptable delay of over 48 hours in obtaining hospital level care for Loori and his documented worsening condition. Had Loori been timely sent to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment, his death could have been prevented….

TO THE CHAIR OF THE BROOME COUNTY LEGISLATURE:
As the appointing authority for the delivery of jail incarcerated individual health services pursuant to Correction Law section 501, the County Legislature shall review the above findings and conduct an inquiry into the fitness of the currently designated provider….