Chapter 3 - Ashley Smith

Ashley Smith, a teenager who died by self-inflicted strangulation 19 October 2007 while under suicide watch in custody at the Grand Valley Institute for Women. Despite guards watching her on video monitors, Smith was able to strangle herself with a strip of cloth, and it was 45 minutes before guards or supervisors entered her cell and confirmed her death. The warden and deputy warden were fired after the incident; although the four guards and supervisors in immediate contact with Smith were initially charged with negligent homicide, those charges were withdrawn a year later.