Charles Johnson
Charles Johnson, 21, died by hanging at the Shelby County Jail in Memphis in 2020. His family's lawsuit says jail staff knew of his recent psychiatric treatment but did not obtain his medical records, did not report his behavior, and did not take him to a psychiatric facility when he asked. The suit says that observations of him lapsed for 29 minutes before another person held at the jail alerted jailers that he was trying to hang himself. The family's lawsuit treats his death as a suicide.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed; neglect alleged). Charles Johnson's family's lawsuit says jail staff knew of his recent psychiatric treatment but did not obtain his records or take him to a psychiatric facility when he asked, and that a 29-minute gap in observations passed before another person held there alerted jailers.
Reported by: family, in a lawsuit (family or their lawyers).
Lawsuit: His family sued Shelby County in federal court over his death at the Shelby County Jail, and no settlement or award amount is reported.