Omar Paisley - 2003

The life of 17-year-old Omar Paisley could have been saved. All it would take was to grant him an examination in a sickwing. The employees at Miami Dade Regional JDC failed to grant him this and as result of this he died a painful death due to ruptured appendix.

Only two nurses were charged but the failure was within the entire system. Each guard, each superintendent could have made the ruling to demand an examination of this young man. Efforts were made to change the system but the problem was rooted in the number of teenagers sent to detention facilities inside this state. There were simply too few options to juvenile detention.

So teenagers continue to die in the system.

It is not the legacy this young man deserved.

May he find peace where he is now.

Sources:

• Youth died amid chaos, confusion (Project Nospank - from Miami Herald)
• Nurses indicted in death of teen at Florida facility (CNN)
• Staff disciplined after jailed Florida teen’s death (Miami Herald)