A quiet but emotional vigil was held in Charleston County on Sunday night to honor the 15 inmates who have died while in jail custody since 2020.
Family members, friends, and community members gathered to remember the lives lost, express their pain, and call for accountability. The event took place outside the Al Cannon Detention Center, where most of the deaths occurred.
People lit candles, held signs, and shared stories about the inmates who passed away. Many of them said their loved ones were not treated properly while in jail. Some family members believe that the deaths could have been avoided if the jail staff had provided better medical care and mental health support.
Among those remembered was Jamal Sutherland, a 31-year-old Black man who died in January 2021 after being forcibly removed from his jail cell.
His death gained national attention, especially after video footage showed deputies using a stun gun and kneeling on him. Jamal had been taken to jail from a mental health facility, and his family says he should never have been placed in such an environment.
His mother, Amy Sutherland, spoke at the vigil. She said, “They didn’t treat my son like a human being. He was crying out for help, and no one listened.” She added that the pain of losing her son is something she carries every day, and she wants to make sure no other family goes through the same tragedy.
Another speaker, Michelle Smalls, lost her son, Kareem, inside the same jail in 2022. She told the crowd, “My son wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t deserve to die like that. He was someone’s father, someone’s brother, someone’s child.” She and other parents present at the vigil said they are still waiting for answers and accountability.
Local activists from organizations like the Charleston Area Justice Ministry and Black Lives Matter also attended.
They said the high number of deaths shows a serious problem inside the jail system. Some pointed out that many of the inmates who died had not been convicted yet — they were simply waiting for court dates. This raised concerns about the treatment of legally innocent people.
Several people said they were frustrated that not enough action has been taken by county leaders or law enforcement.
They want better training for jail staff, more transparency in investigations, and improved medical care for inmates. Some also demanded the appointment of an independent agency to review every jail death that happens in the future.
According to records, Charleston County has seen more inmate deaths than many other counties of similar size in South Carolina.
Some families said they were never told the full story of how their loved one died. In some cases, they only found out through the news or social media. This lack of communication from officials has added to their grief.
A few speakers also questioned the role of race in how inmates are treated. Many of the people who died were Black or from other minority backgrounds. Advocates said this is not a coincidence and pointed to a larger issue of racial inequality in the justice system.
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has said in the past that they follow proper procedures and that every inmate death is investigated. But many families and activists say those investigations are not always fair or open to public review.
The vigil ended with a moment of silence for the 15 lives lost. Candles lit the dark evening as names were read out one by one. People stood quietly, holding onto each other, and hoping for change.
For many in the crowd, this was not just a memorial — it was also a call to action. They want reforms inside the jail, better care for inmates, and justice for those who have died.
As one speaker said, “We’re not here to create trouble. We’re here because we’ve already been through the worst pain possible. Now we just want change.”