Prison deaths report finds widespread missteps, failures in latest sign of crisis in federal prisons

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — A watchdog report has found that the kind of systemic failures that enabled the high-profile prison deaths of notorious gangster Whitey Bulger and financier-sex offender Jeffrey Epstein also contributed to the deaths of hundreds of other federal prisoners in recent years. The scathing report found mental health care, emergency responses and the detection of contraband drugs and weapons were all lacking. It’s the latest sign of crisis at the federal Bureau of Prisons, which is also dealing with widespread staffing shortages. The agency said it’s working to prevent suicides and conflicts that could lead to homicides.