Cells without Mercy

09/29/2026

If you could help save a life or be the reason someone doesn’t get ignored or made to suffer during a medical emergency would you? What if that person was an incarcerated individual? Does the answer change based on that piece of information alone? It shouldn’t. Most inmate deaths that occur in local county jails in the state of Kentucky are inmates that have not even been convicted of the crimes for which they are being held. So in a sense if we go by “they are presumed innocent until proven guilty” as the law states then these people were innocent. Regardless of the reason why they were incarcerated, these people are still human. The sad truth is you can be locked up these days for failure to pay a fine on a speeding ticket. The why they were inmates is irrelevant. What matters is that these people have rights. They have families. They have the right to medical care. The jails have a medical staff trained for basic medical needs and in the event of an emergency to keep someone stable enough until emergency services can arrive. Why are these people making a call on whether someone is actually in medical distress or not? When they aren’t trained or equipped to make that call. These people are getting paid by tax payers money and they’re sitting by and watching someone suffer, in some cases watching until they die. It’s sick and sad. McCracken county Jail has had too many unexplained deaths for inmates, no accountability, no remorse. Demand a change. Fight for these people. Fight for the lives lost. Fight for the families. They deserved better. Help us pass Alan’s Law to prevent delay in a medical emergency for incarcerated individuals. Stop allowing corrections officers play God and make a call they have no business making. Why are jail staff being paid to not do their job? We won’t ever stop fighting for justice. Sign Alan’s law today and join our fight. https://c.org/Tj26zfTLgV

09/04/2026

Hey ya’ll!
First let’s start with apologies for the delay in posts. Family emergencies seem like they never stop. My youngest has had some severe medical issues going on and it’s been hectic. So thank ya’ll for still getting the word out and supporting us during these difficult times. All I can say is just wow we are at 321 signatures on Alan’s law that is awesome, y’all! Let’s make that even more! The deaths that continue to take place in Kentucky jails are happening more frequently than ever. And every time these families are left without any answers besides a “medical emergency” A gentleman passed away in Marshall county jail it was reported they were aware he was showing signs of medical duress before even being booked into the jail and instead of immediately getting him medical help they booked him and sat him in a cell to be found unconscious immediately following booking. They admitted to it! They knew he was in need of medical help and denied him that right ultimately leading to this man’s death. When are we going to stop this madness? How many people have to die before they put a stop to corrections officers, who aren’t medically equipped enough to make the decision if medical care is denied, being the ones denying these people medical care during emergencies! This is wrong! These people had families that loved them. It doesn’t matter whether they were in jail. Jails have medical care available for a reason that is being paid for in situations like these. Why are these people suffering in a cell and not given the option of medical care until it’s too late? Help us make a difference help us make a change. Sign Alan’s law. Help us save lives and prevent more deaths in chains!

I lost my brother to a preventable tragedy in a Kentucky jail—a medical emergency with no quick help and no call to our family. I started a petition demanding the Kentucky DOC provide immediate medical care and notify families when emergencies happen. Our loved ones deserve basic human dignity, even behind bars.

Sign Alan's Law and help save lives.

178 signatures are still needed! Alan’s Law- Guarantee humane emergency medical care in Kentucky jails

08/07/2026

Would you stand by and watch someone in a medical emergency progressively get worse and just stand there or taunt them while they were in extreme medical distress? Would you ignore the signs until the person succumbed to it? Think about if you were being paid to house and look after someone else at that point it becomes your job not just a moral obligation of being a good person. How is it okay that jail staff, who are primarily paid with local county tax revenues for local county jails and prison staff, with statewide tax revenue for the state prisons, repeatedly making these choices to not give an incarcerated individual access to medical care that is being paid for by the public? Why is it not being heavily talked about that this a repeated FREQUENT occurrence? It should not matter whether a person has a record or why they are incarcerated. These are still people. These are sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers too. These are lives that could’ve been saved had the staff provided access to prompt emergency medical care and followed their CPR training which is required to spot signs of medical distress and what to do in the event of a medical emergency. Don’t stay silent. Fight back on this. Demand answers. Think about the fact that 70% of the the 234 REPORTED deaths from 2020-2025 were individuals being held on charges they hadn’t even been convicted of yet. They were as the law states “innocent until proven guilty” so 70% of 234 people who were presumed innocent died behind bars. Over 60% of those deaths were preventable medical emergencies.

Investigative experts note that Kentucky facilities frequently utilize a tactic where an inmate suffering a preventable medical emergency is abruptly "released" or bailed out while in an ambulance or hospital bed. If they die hours later, the state or county does not log it as an "in-custody death," successfully hiding the true tally of medical neglect so the number is most likely way larger than what is being reported.

Alan’s law demands change and reform! Show your support and help us fight to put a stop to inmate deaths caused by preventable medical emergencies!

08/07/2026

Gonna start today off with our condolences to the friends and family of the gentleman who tragically lost his life while incarcerated at the McCracken County Jail on August 2,2026. Cells without mercy and all of us behind Alan’s Law send our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. You are not alone in the fight for justice that you deserve.

We continue to fight for the rights of incarcerated individuals to have the right to humane emergency medical care and the families of those individuals to have a proper notification system in place in the event of a severe medical emergency. How many more lives have to be cut short before it stops? How many more deaths will occur at McCracken County Jail with no corrective action or efforts to change the system they have in place that has clearly failed repeatedly with many deaths going unreported or being swept under the rug. Demand a change. Stand with us. Sign the petition. Demand them to not be able to deny someone the right to medical care just because that person is incarcerated. Sign Alan’s Law.

Today we remember Brandon Bowman just 35 years old when he tragically lost his life from repeatedly ignored signs of medical emergency as well as visual signs of head trauma. This man was in severe need of medical care that jail staff is not trained nor equipped to handle. Jail medical staff are trained to be able to stabilize a situation until emergency services arrive to take control of the situation. They aren’t trained to make decisions during a medical emergency immediately upon medical distress emergency services should be called to ensure proper medical care during these circumstances. Why are CO’s that have no more than CPR training able to make the call if an inmate is even allowed to be seen by medical staff at the jail? Why are inmates being denied access to medical care if a medical staff is employed by the jail for the medical care of inmates? Help us fight. Sign Alan’s law. Share this to educate others on what’s not being said when these deaths do get reported by the jails.

Alan’s Law- Guarantee humane emergency medical care in Kentucky jails

06/23/2026

📣📣Today brings us another chance to stand tall for what we believe in, and what a glorious day it is. May hope and kindness illuminate everyone's path. YOU ARE VALUED AND YOUR VOICE IS VITAL! ❤️ We must shine a light on the crucial issues surrounding humane emergency medical care in jails and prisons. Inmates depend on correction officers to initiate medical care, but these officers often have only basic CPR training, leading to delays in emergency response, which can have devastating consequences and violate inmates' constitutional rights. Let's demand change by supporting Alan's Law and spreading awareness. How many more precious lives must be lost before justice prevails?

Alan’s Law- Guarantee humane emergency medical care in Kentucky jails

06/22/2026

📣HEY YA'LL! I am filled with gratitude for another day to stand up for our convictions and fight for justice. We are thankful for your unwavering support and the opportunity to raise awareness about the inhumane treatment of incarcerated individuals across our state and nation. Focusing on Kentucky, and further narrowing it down to county and local jails, reveals alarming statistics. The repeated disregard for protocols is a pressing concern that demands attention. Unreported cases only add to the issue, shrouding these injustices in secrecy. If those responsible are truly innocent, why do they hide behind a veil of secrecy? Why aren't those accountable for actions leading to an inmate's death held liable, simply because the victim was incarcerated? Alan's Law seeks to ensure immediate emergency medical care for inmates showing signs of distress. Untrained staff should not dictate an inmate's right to medical attention. How many lives must be lost before we demand change and justice for all?

05/29/2026

I want to begin this post with a moment of remembrance for the young man who tragically passed away while in the custody of McCracken County Jail. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family during this incredibly difficult time. They are not alone in their grief, and I want to assure them that they have our unwavering support. It’s crucial to acknowledge the trauma that comes from being told the truth about your loved one’s passing, only to be left without answers when you seek them. It’s a frustrating and disorienting experience, especially when the circumstances surrounding the death don’t add up.

Every day, we fight for change and strive to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Alan’s Law is a powerful tool that advocates for the rights of individuals in custody and seeks to bring closure to families who have lost loved ones due to unjust circumstances. It’s a fight for healthcare access and the prevention of preventable deaths.

The recent death of another young man, who was just 29 years old, further underscores the alarming pattern of these incidents. Both Alan Wade Jackson and the young man who passed away were young men with their entire lives ahead of them. Alan was just 23 years old when he passed in September of 2024. Their deaths were surrounded by concerning and suspicious acts, both occurring within McCracken County Jail.

This is just two cases, but we’ve conducted thorough research and urge you to do the same. We want to shed light on the number of young lives that have been lost due to these preventable deaths.

Our family’s experience is a stark reminder of the importance of proper notification. My brother was already deceased for over an hour when we were informed of his passing. The jail did not inform us, and it was the hospital that made the call to my mother, claiming a medical emergency. Despite our requests for more information, we were essentially told that we were not allowed to obtain it. This information, which pertains to our loved one who was in their custody and had passed away, was withheld from us.

Grief is an incredibly difficult experience, regardless of how it manifests. However, the added burden of being told that you cannot know the truth about your loved one’s death and the frustration of searching for answers in a system that denies you them only add to the emotional pain. This is a matter of confidentiality, and it’s essential that we demand transparency and accountability in such situations. They become statistics, mere numbers. Demand change and fight back. I promised my brother, the day he passed, that I would never cease fighting for him. I will fight for him, for all the lives lost and the families who deserved better. Help us fight back. Help us demand a change.

Alan’s Law- Guarantee humane emergency medical care in Kentucky jails

05/05/2026

📣🗯️Hey y'all! Don't worry, we're still here. Still fighting! Big things are being worked on, and I couldn't be prouder of our cause and this breakthrough that came at just the right moment. Fighting for something isn't easy; otherwise, you wouldn't have to fight for it, right? It's a good thing stubborn just so happens to be our middle name. We refuse to quiet down, back off, or ignore our cause. We refuse to let medical neglect in jails and prisons be the reason behind the loss of another life without consequences. We fight for all the inmates and their families who deserved more. We often hear, 'Who cares? They're criminals.' But if that's your opinion, these inmates were serving their time, already facing the consequences, they still have the right to medical care, no matter why they were being held. We believe everyone deserves that right.
📂The facts don't lie. The numbers are there. There were 234 inmate deaths in the state of Kentucky from 2020 to 2024; roughly 24-25 of those inmates were on death row. However, their deaths were not by ex*****on. A larger number, roughly 7 out of 10, around 165 inmates, had not even been convicted of the crimes for which they were held. Let that sink in. 165 deaths of inmates who were considered still legally innocent. These people are not just numbers; they're not just statistics. They're someone's sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, friends, and life partners. Most of those lives were taken in the act of negligence and improper training of staff during a medical emergency. Some were completely ignored when crying out for help. Others were left to the point they couldn't call for help. Could you imagine standing by just watching someone die and not stepping in to help? This is the reality these people went through; it's not pretty, it's hard to think of, but that's why we fight for better. Stand with us and sign Alan's Law; demand a change. We can make a difference, and we will.
🎈In honor of all inmates lives lost: Today, we remember the life of Terri Beth Mays, a 32-year-old inmate who passed away while in custody at the Whitley County Detention Center in 2021. She hadn't even gotten to have her first court hearing after being arrested before she had a medical episode that caused her to collapse in her cell. She wasn't checked on for over 30 minutes. The officer then left the cell instead of using the radio clipped to their belt to call for help, delaying medical treatment longer and costing time that could've potentially saved her life. We will keep fighting for justice and humanity, and we won't give up until we see change.

04/21/2026

🔔📬Hey ya’ll! Today, is a new day. And what a beautiful day to make a difference. Let’s rally together and sign Alan’s law to push for urgent reform in Kentucky’s jail and prison medical care and familial notification systems.

📑🗂️Every post from here on we will try and include a fact or stat about our cause, along with the name of an inmate who lost their life behind bars. These aren’t just numbers; they were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers. So today we will start with the young man who Alan’s Law is named in honor of. He is 1 of the 234 deaths that occurred from 2020-2024. He was a beloved son, extremely cherished little brother, the best “Uncle Bub” and a very best friend. To know him was to love him. He would’ve given the shirt off his back and not thought twice. He was more than an inmate number. He was more than a parolee. He was more than his past mistakes. He was more than the struggles he faced. Alan W. Jackson 10-25-2000 - 09-10-2024.

📣🗯️Now let’s get some facts thrown in here!
Did you know? From 2020 to early 2025, 234 inmates died in Kentucky local jails. In 2025 alone, the number of deaths in state prisons reached a staggering 63, which is nearly double the 34 deaths recorded in 2024. Shockingly, approximately 165 people, 70% of the 234 deaths, were unconvicted pre-trial detainees.

⛓️🪦These people mattered. They should not be remembered as a number on a data reporting sheet. My brother is one of those numbers. For the year 2024 while a total of 34 deaths were reported in KY jails only 1 of those deaths was between ages 18-24. My brother was the 1 death reported of an inmate in that age group at just 23 years young he lost his life just a few short hours of being booked into a county jail. Today we remember Alan along with all the others that lost their lives while incarcerated. Today we advocate. Help us support Alan’s Law! No death in chains! It’s time to speak up and make a change. Share this link, spread the word, and let’s ensure no more lives are lost.

Alan’s Law- Guarantee humane emergency medical care in Kentucky jails

04/18/2026

Hey ya’ll! We’re back, we’ve been quiet for a bit and that’s not okay. Did some self reflection and some affirmations to get myself out of the headspace of feeling bad about our situation to taking all that grief and pain and harboring it into strength - to stand up and do something about it. With that said, we appreciate ya’ll so so much. The support the shares the kind words and compassion, thats what keeps us going on the bad days. Losing a loved one is never easy. Losing them the way we lost my brother is absolutely tragic. I choose Alan’s law today and every day for the hope no one else loses their loved one the way we lost Alan. Stand with us to demand:

🚨 No More Silent Deaths in Kentucky Jails 🚨

Too many families are left shattered because their loved ones—sons, daughters, brothers, sisters—died behind bars when emergency medical care was delayed or denied. Recent cases of medical malpractice in Kentucky jails have exposed a heartbreaking truth: inmates facing overdoses or medical crises are often ignored until it’s too late.

These are not just numbers—they were human beings. They cried out for help. Their families never got the call. Their last moments should not have been spent in pain and fear while staff hesitated or failed to follow intake and emergency protocols.

Alan’s Law is fighting to change this. We are demanding:
- Humane emergency medical care in all Kentucky jails and prisons.
- Proper training for jail staff to recognize and respond to overdoses and medical emergencies.
- A real-time family notification system during life-threatening events.
- Full transparency and accountability in every case.

Every life matters. No family should learn after the fact that someone they love died alone, when help was possible.

💔 If you believe in justice and human dignity, join us. Share this. Sign the petition. Demand reform now.