Jail deaths hearing goes ahead without testimony from the Suffolk sheriff's office

The City Council's hearing on deaths at the Suffolk County House of Correction took place Monday, Oct. 26, but no one from the jail's side testified, GBH News reported.

The House of Correction on Bradston Street holds people serving county sentences, and under a central booking agreement it is one of the places people arrested by Boston police can be held before their first court date. What happens there is a city concern even though the sheriff, not the mayor, runs it.

What happened Monday

Advocates and people who have been held at the jail testified during the hourslong hearing, according to GBH. No corrections officers spoke, and none of the speakers spoke on their behalf.

City Councilor Miniard Culpepper, who filed the order, said the sheriff's department told the council there was "not enough time to facilitate testimonies," GBH reported. GBH noted the hearing had been scheduled six months in advance. Culpepper said he was disappointed in "the lack of cooperation" and called for the officers involved in a December 2025 death at the jail to be placed on leave. The state medical examiner ruled that death a homicide in July. A homicide ruling means another person caused the death; it is not a finding of criminal guilt.

City Councilor Henry Santana (at-large), who chairs the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee, said a single in-custody death and a single instance of guard brutality are each "unacceptable," according to GBH. City Councilors Julia Mejia and Ed Flynn also attended.

GBH reported that Prisoners' Legal Services released a letter from September saying the officers involved in the December death still have contact with people in custody and are allowed to use force. Another hearing is planned, but no date has been set.

What our records show

The order behind the hearing, docket 0870, was filed April 24 and sent to committee April 29. It drew sponsors from 11 of the 13 councilors. Monday's hearing came six months later.

When the order was introduced, Flynn told colleagues that what happens at the Suffolk County jail has a significant impact on the city and the state (watch at 1:43:01).

The council has taken three related votes this year, all tied to the December death:

• April 29: A resolution calling for an independent investigation passed 11-0 (docket 0871).
• April 29: A resolution calling for the temporary suspension of staff involved failed: 6 yes (Culpepper, Mejia, Pepén, Santana, Weber, Worrell), 3 no (FitzGerald, Flynn, Murphy) and 2 present (Breadon, Durkan), with Coletta Zapata not present and Louijeune absent (docket 0872).
• Aug. 5: A resolution asking the sheriff's department to adopt administrative leave standards after critical incidents passed 11-0, with Durkan voting present and Coletta Zapata absent (docket 1550).

Those resolutions put the council on record. They do not bind the sheriff, who is elected countywide. Our preview of the hearing has more background.

What's next

• Wednesday, Oct. 28: Docket 0870 is on the council agenda as a matter recently heard, which allows the committee to report back. It could stay in committee if a second hearing is planned.
• Not yet scheduled: Culpepper's separate hearing order on the central booking agreement between Boston police and the sheriff's department (docket 1965; see our story).
• Video and a transcript of Monday's hearing will be added to its meeting page once the city posts the recording.