MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Released photos of inside 201 Poplar jail cells are prompting local officials to meet with former inmates. Former inmate Samuel Hogan has been in and out of 201 Poplar since 2017, and he described graphic living conditions.
“For about a week, I didn’t receive any care,” Hogan said. “No treatment, no medical, no nothing, and I requested it a bunch of times. Bedbugs and lice - you really can’t do anything about that. I’ve had bedbugs every time I’ve gone.”
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump released two photos from previous years of inside 201 Poplar jail cells after it was ruled a man who died inside the Shelby County Jail in January, Ramon McGhee, was killed due to neglect. One shows a dirty floor, writing on the walls and an inmate bent over. Another photo shows a wall covered in feces.
Hogan explained a possible reason why the cells were in such shocking states.
"[There are] a lot of people with mental health issues, and [the jail] won’t provide adequate medications or medications in a timely fashion. So, [he] could be perfectly normal as your cellmate, [he] doesn’t get his medications the night before, next thing you know he’s...smearing poop on the walls," Hogan said.
The Sheriff’s Department said they cannot comment on pending litigation, but that "what happened in the case of Ramon McGhee was unacceptable, and significant corrective measures have been put in place."
However, back in November, in a one-on-one with Sheriff Floyd Bonner, he said, “Do feces ever get placed on the floor or wall? I’m sure [they do], but it’s not 'standing in feces.'”
On top of the living conditions, Hogan said he filed dozens of grievance forms while inside 201 Poplar, but many of them were deemed non-grievable by the staff.
So, he’s been meeting with local leaders to get things changed. He met with Commissioner Erika Sugarmon on Friday, bringing each form he submitted while in jail.
Hogan’s meeting with multiple local leaders gave him hope that living conditions inside the jail will change, but that it may not come without outside help. Hogan and local leaders believe the only step forward is to get either state or federal leaders involved.