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Another death in Feltham YOI

01 August 2002

On 26 September 2002, a jury returned a verdict of "suicide to which neglect contributed", at an inquest held into the death of 16 year old Kevin Jacobs, found hanging from the bars of his single cell at HM Young Offenders Institute Feltham, in the early hours of 29 September 2001. Deborah Cole, co-director of INQUEST noted that "Kevin had been recognised as a deeply disturbed young boy at risk of suicide, yet was placed in an unsafe single cell...If children like Kevin continue to be sent to prison they will continue to die."
Kevin had a history of serious self-harm, and had recently been informed by Lambeth social services that he would be homeless upon his release from custody. Two weeks before his death he had hanged himself to the point of unconsciousness. On 26 September 2001 he had smashed a light bulb in his cell on the induction wing, clearly intending self-harm. Ripped sheets with a ligature hook had been found beneath his bed. Despite this, because the safe observation cell was in use, Kevin was placed on normal location following return from the hospital wing. The inquest revealed that no proper Mental Health Act assessment had ever been carried out in relation to Kevin and that there had been no effective liaison between the prison, Lambeth social services, and the Youth Justice Board.
INQUEST Press release 26.9.02; Miscarriages of Justice UK Press release 26.9.02