An investigation into the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein in federal custody revealed no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General. The investigation concluded that Epstein took his own life due to misconduct by prison staffers who violated several policies, including failing to assign him a new cellmate and not conducting rounds the morning he was found dead.
Epstein, who faced federal sex trafficking charges, was found hanging in his cell at New York’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on August 10, 2019. Though several staffers falsified records and were charged, all charges were dismissed after officers admitted guilt.
Although no criminality was uncovered, officials determined that failure to follow basic bureau policy led to Epstein’s death. The facility violated policies that require checking on inmates at least twice an hour and having lieutenants make rounds at least once per shift. These policies are in place to ensure inmate safety.
The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General stated that the negligence, misconduct, and job performance failures documented in the report created an environment in which Epstein was provided with the opportunity to take his own life. This has prevented numerous victims, many of whom were underage girls at the time of the alleged crimes, from seeking justice through the criminal justice process.
The inspector general’s office also made eight recommendations to the bureau, including an improved process for assigning cellmates and procedures to ensure high-risk suicide inmates have a cellmate.
A bureau spokesperson stated that improvements have already been implemented, including thorough video footage reviews from restrictive housing to ensure employee rounds are conducted promptly and accurately, regular counts in restrictive housing conducted by lieutenants, and mandatory reports submitted by employees on inmates housed alone. It is also mandatory for wardens to conduct thorough reviews whenever an individual is placed on suicide watch.
Though Epstein’s death has raised significant questions about how it could have been allowed to happen, no credible information has emerged to contradict the official determination that the cause of death was suicide.
