PETITION FOR FORMAL INVESTIGATION: JUSTICE FOR MALIK CARTER
TO: Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Mid-Atlantic Regional Office (MXR) U.S. Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

CC: Warden, USP Lee U.S. Attorney’s Office – Western District of Virginia

 
I. FORMAL DEMAND
We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to launch an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the death of Malik Carter, who was in the custody of USP Lee in Jonesville, Virginia.

We specifically demand an inquiry into allegations of murder and sexual assault, as well as a full review of the facility’s failure to protect Mr. Carter under the Eighth Amendment and PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) standards.

 
II. STATEMENT OF CONCERNS
The circumstances surrounding Malik Carter’s death at USP Lee raise grave concerns regarding inmate safety and staff oversight. Our petition is based on the following:

Evidence of Violence: Reports indicating that Mr. Carter’s death was not of natural causes but the result of targeted physical violence.
Allegations of Sexual Assault: Credible concerns that Mr. Carter was subjected to sexual violence prior to his death, requiring a full forensic PREA audit.
Failure to Protect: USP Lee is a high-security facility; the occurrence of such a violent event suggests a catastrophic failure in monitoring, housing assignments, or emergency response.
Lack of Transparency: To date, the information provided to the family and the public regarding the timeline of events leading to Mr. Carter’s death has been insufficient.
 
III. SPECIFIC ACTIONS REQUESTED
To ensure accountability and justice for Malik Carter, we demand:

Independent Forensic Autopsy: A comprehensive medical examination conducted by an external examiner not affiliated with the Bureau of Prisons.
Preservation of Evidence: The immediate securing of all surveillance footage, logbooks, and "Special Housing Unit" (SHU) records from the 72 hours preceding the incident.
OIG Oversight: That the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General take over the investigation to avoid any conflict of interest inherent in a BOP internal "after-action" review.
Staff Accountability: Identifying and suspending any staff members whose negligence or complicity allowed these events to occur.
 
IV. CLOSING STATEMENT
The death of Malik Carter is not an isolated incident; it is a reflection of the culture of violence that has historically plagued USP Lee. No sentence handed down by a court includes the sanctioned murder or sexual assault of a human being. We will not remain silent until the truth is uncovered and those responsible are held to account.

Justice for Malik Carter is Justice for All.