A newly released report by the DC Auditor reveals alarming statistics about the DC Jail, where the death in custody rate is over three times the national average, and overdose deaths are occurring at a rate ten times higher than in other U.S. jails. In an in-depth interview on The Daily Drum with guest host Molette Green, DC Auditor Kathy Patterson discussed the findings, the underlying causes, and urgent recommendations for reform.

The report highlights a critical need for improved oversight, better mental health care, and a potential rebuild of the outdated jail facility. Patterson emphasized that a new facility must be designed with safety, rehabilitation, and accountability at its core. Key contributors to the crisis include drug access, insufficient medical care, and a lack of modern infrastructure.

Patterson also addressed the broader impact on public trust and safety, urging city leaders to act swiftly. Recommendations include increased transparency, investment in drug treatment programs, and immediate improvements to current conditions.

As DC debates whether to build a new jail, taxpayers, voters, and families of the incarcerated are watching closely. The future of the city’s justice system and the lives within it hang in the balance.