Kalief Browder, Held in Jail for 3 Years Without Trial, Commits Suicide

At the age of 16, Kalief Browder was accused of stealing a backpack. Browder's family was unable to raise the $10,000 he needed for bail. He never stood trail or was found guilty, spending 3 years in jail, more than 400 of those days was spent in solitary confinement. Browder committed suicide at the age of 22.

In October 2014, Jennifer Gonnerman wrote an article in The New Yorker concerning Browder's case, said in an interview on Monday:

It appeared he was never able to recover from the years he spent locked alone in a cell for 23 hours a day. He almost recreated the conditions of solitary, shutting himself in his bedroom for long periods. He was very uncomfortable being around people, especially in large groups.

Browder managed to earn a high school equivalency diploma and started community college in the Bronx, where he maintained a 3.5 GPA. He told The New Yorker:

People tell me because I have this case against the city I'm all right. But I'm not all right. I'm messed up. I know that I might see some money from this case, but that's not going to help me mentally. I'm mentally scarred right now. That's how I feel. Because there are certain things that changed about me and they might not go back.

 Mayor Bill de Blasio announced an effort to clear the backlogs in state courts and reduce the inmate population at Rikers. He released a statement on Monday saying:

There is no reason he should have gone through this ordeal and his tragic death is a reminder that we must continue to work each day to provide the mental health services so many New Yorkers need.

Browder has tried to commit suicide several times while he was in jail. He told Gonnerman that he was repeatedly beaten by correction officers and fellow inmates, but she said she did not realize the extent of the abuse until she watched security videos showing him being knocked to the ground by an officer and attacked by inmates.

Browder descried being unable o rid himself of the fears that ha consumed him jail. He said he was afraid of being attacked on the subway. Before going to sleep at night, he checked to make sure every window in the house was locked.

Gonnerman said:

He paranoid ad last Christmas was hospitalized on a ward at Harlem Hospital Center. He had thrown out his television because he said he feared it was watching him.

Browder's mother said she talked to her son on Friday night. He told her, "Ma, I can't take it anymore." At which, she reminded him that he had people in his career.

On Saturday, Browder pushed an air-conditioning unit out of a second-floor window at his parents' home, wrapped a cord around his neck and, according to Gonnerman, pushed himself out of the opening, feet-first.

His mother heard a noise, went outside to the backyard and saw that her youngest child had hanged himself.

Our hearts are with Kalief Browder's family.



(Photo Cred: Zach Gross: The New Yorker)