Scrutiny Mounts After 21 Inmate Deaths at Newfoundland Detention Center

Cannon Detention Center faces calls for reform and investigation after a decade of deaths in custody

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Cannon Detention Center in Charleston, South Carolina is facing renewed scrutiny after two more inmate deaths, bringing the total to 21 over the past decade. Attorneys representing families of those who died say not enough progress has been made in response to the deaths and the questions that have followed. High-profile cases like the deaths of Jamal Sutherland and Patricia Sizemore have drawn public attention, and activists are now demanding the facility be shut down permanently due to its inability to properly care for those in its custody.

Why it matters

The high number of inmate deaths at Cannon Detention Center over the past 10 years raises serious concerns about the facility's ability to provide adequate medical care and ensure the safety of those in its custody. The deaths have sparked calls for reform, investigation, and even the permanent closure of the jail, highlighting broader issues around incarceration, access to healthcare, and accountability for those who die while incarcerated.

The details

The two most recent deaths added to the tally are Kenneth Samuel and Omar A. Grant. Grant died at a hospital after being found unresponsive at the detention center, with his family's lawyer saying he had been booked in for failing to pay child support on time. Another high-profile case is the death of D'Angelo Brown, which the coroner ruled a homicide due to neglect. Attorneys have noted issues with the jail's hospital provider and access to care for inmates, stating that people in custody often don't receive the same level of medical attention as those on the outside.

  • Over the past decade, 21 inmate deaths have occurred at Cannon Detention Center.
  • In 2021, Jamal Sutherland died after being tased multiple times at the jail.
  • In 2022, Patricia Sizemore died after jumping from a second-story balcony at the facility.
  • On February 14, 2026, Omar A. Grant was found unresponsive at the detention center and later died at a hospital.
  • In December 2022, the Charleston County Coroner's Office ruled the death of D'Angelo Brown a homicide due to neglect.

The players

Cannon Detention Center

A Charleston County jail that has faced scrutiny and calls for reform after 21 inmate deaths over the past decade.

Jamal Sutherland

An inmate who died after being tased multiple times at Cannon Detention Center in 2021.

Patricia Sizemore

An inmate who died after jumping from a second-story balcony at Cannon Detention Center in 2022.

Kenneth Samuel

One of the two most recent inmates to die at Cannon Detention Center.

Omar A. Grant

One of the two most recent inmates to die at Cannon Detention Center, having been booked in for failing to pay child support on time.

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What they’re saying

“They're praying that the coroner and SLED do a proper, transparent investigation into not only the cause of Mr. Grand's death, but also the time leading up to that. Was there a point where he was asking for medical attention, but didn't receive it? Was there a point where they should have seen if he had any preconditions that needed to be addressed? And at this point, we don't know the answer to those.”

— Allie Menegakis, Lawyer representing Omar A. Grant's estate (abcnews4.com)

“You can be on the street homeless and not have a penny to your name, but if you go to the ER, they're gonna provide you care. They're gonna make sure you don't die. But in a detention center, you don't have that access. You're reliant on these people and just hoping and praying that they do the right thing and send you out or get you to a doctor. But if they don't, oftentimes you see people suffer and die.”

— James B. Moore III, Lawyer representing families of those who died in prisons (abcnews4.com)

“One death is too many, 20 is outrageous. Al Cannon has shown or has demonstrated the inability to properly care for people that they are responsible for, they should no longer be able to do that, and they need to be shut down permanently.”

— James Njonjo, Member of the Lowcountry Action Committee (abcnews4.com)

What’s next

State lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Mace, have urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the deaths at Cannon Detention Center. The Charleston County Sheriff's Office has declined to comment on the situation at this time.

The takeaway

The high number of inmate deaths at Cannon Detention Center over the past decade highlights systemic issues within the criminal justice system, including inadequate medical care and a lack of accountability for those who die while incarcerated. The calls for reform, investigation, and even the facility's closure underscore the urgent need to address these problems and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals in custody.