Jussie Smollett’s brother claims the actor has been placed in a ‘psych ward’ in Cook County Jail after being sentenced to 150 days in prison last Thursday for lying to police claiming he was the victim of a hate crime.
Smollett had affirmed in court the other day that he was not in any way suicidal, seemingly to draw attention to the fact that anything that happens to him in prison would be out of the ordinary.
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On Sunday morning, Jocqui Smollett said in a video post on his brother's Instagram account: “So Jussie is currently in a psych ward at the Cook County Jail.
“What's very concerning is that there was a note attached to his paperwork today and put in front of his jail cell saying that he's at risk of self-harm,”
In the post, he added: “I want to make it clear to folks that he is in no way, shape or form at risk of self-harm.”
In sentencing Smollett, Judge James Linn gave the Empire actor ‘day for day’ eligibility, which basically means that he might only serve half the time if he managed to keep his head down and behaves himself.
That means he could be out in around two months – 75 days.
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According to a TMZ report, Smollett has been placed onto the psychiatric wing of the jail near Chicago because that is simply where they put high-profile prisoners.
According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Smollett is not being held in solitary confinement and spends a ‘substantial time out of his cell’.
However, they didn’t say that he wasn’t on a psych ward.
The statement said: “The use of solitary confinement was abolished at the Cook County Jail in 2016, and any claims that he is being held in this manner is false.
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“Mr. Smollett is being housed in his own cell, which is monitored by security cameras in the cell and by an officer wearing a body worn camera who is stationed at the entrance of the cell to ensure that Mr. Smollett is under direct observation at all times.
“As with all detained persons, Mr. Smollett is entitled to have substantial time out of his cell in the common areas on the tier where he is housed, where he is able to use the telephone, watch television, and interact with staff.
“During such times out of cell, other detainees will not be present in the common areas.
“These protocols are routinely used for individuals ordered into protective custody who may potentially be at risk of harm due to the nature of their charges, their profession, or their noteworthy status.
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“The safety and security of all detained individuals, including Mr. Smollett, is the Sheriff’s Office’s highest priority.”
Topics: US News, Celebrity, TV and Film
Tom Wood