State Prison Inmate Death Under Investigation

(JESSUP, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating the death of an inmate at the Jessup Correctional Institute.

The inmate is identified as Joseph Harrell, 33. Harrell was declared deceased by emergency medical services personnel at the jail. He was a state prison inmate serving time at the Jessup Correctional Institute in Jessup, Maryland.

A suspect, also an inmate, has been identified. He is not being formally identified until charges are placed.  

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on January 26, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was contacted by investigators from the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Internal Investigative Unit (DPSCS IID) about an inmate death. The preliminary investigation indicates that Harrell was involved in an altercation with another inmate in front of the library. Following the altercation, medical staff responded to the location and Harrell was pronounced deceased.

Maryland State Police investigators from the Homicide Unit responded to the scene. Crime scene technicians from the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division also responded to process the scene for evidence.

Upon completion, the investigation will be presented to the Office of the State’s Attorney’s in Anne Arundel County for review.  The investigation is active and ongoing

###

CONTACT:    Office of Media Communications, [email protected]