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Law
BIA investigating suicide at Yakama Nation jail


The Bureau of Indian Affairs is investigating a suicide at a jail on the Yakama Nation in Washington.

The inmate, Ricky Owens Sampson, hanged himself in a cell. According to The Seattle Times, he had been left there for at least five hours, maybe longer, because there was only one staffer on duty the night of his death. The jail usually has two people on duty but was short-staffed on June 25.

The jail was ordered earlier this year to stop housing juveniles because they weren't being separated from adults.

Get the Story:
Suicide triggers probe of Yakama tribal detention center (The Seattle Times 8/6)

Inspector General Interim Jail Report:
Text | PDF

Department of Justice Jail Reports:
Year 2002 | Year 2001 | Year 2000 | Years 1998-1999

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