My name is Johnnie McCollum and I have endured grievous violations of my human and constitutional rights during my three years as a pretrial detainee at Dauphin County Prison. During my time there, I was denied crucial medical care and, shockingly, was encouraged to consider suicide, a testament to the inferiority of mental health treatment in the facility. I have filed three federal lawsuits addressing these and other abuses, yet the suffering of many continues unabated within its walls.

Dauphin County Prison, located in Harrisburg, PA, is plagued by a host of troubling issues that demand immediate federal attention. Reports of inhumane living conditions, unresolved inmate deaths, and substandard mental health care are prevalent. These conditions violate basic human rights and place inmates' lives at significant risk.

Statistics from prison rights organizations indicate that facilities like Dauphin County Prison across the nation often suffer from overcrowding, lack of adequate medical care, and insufficient mental health resources. For instance, the Prison Policy Initiative reports that jail populations have narrowed mental health treatment options due to systemic neglect and insufficient funding, endangering the lives of the incarcerated.

The safety and dignity of individuals, regardless of their situation, should never be compromised. Every person, whether free or imprisoned, deserves to have their basic rights protected. A thorough federal investigation can shed light on these issues, provide justice for victims, and encourage reforms that ensure humane treatment for all inmates.

I urge you to support this petition and call for a federal investigation into Dauphin County Prison. By signing, you amplify the voices calling for justice and reforms that can transform this facility into a place of rehabilitation instead of suffering. Your signature could be the catalyst for change that is desperately needed. Please sign this petition to ensure no more lives are lost or irreparably damaged by a system that should preserve and uphold the dignity of every individual.