Jussie Smollett Jail Insists He’s Not In ‘Psych Ward’

Jussie Smollett’s brother claims the actor is in the jail psych ward but the jail insists he’s not in there after Empire star’s brother begged for his release

The “Empire” actor, who remains at the Cook County Jail after being sentenced to five months behind bars for staging a hate crime, was thrown into the ward because of a paperwork snafu, his brother claims.

The former Empire actor was sentenced to 150 days in jail on Friday after being found guilty of staging a hoax hate crime.

In January 2019, Smollett filed false police reports claiming to have been attacked by two men who he assumed were white. He alleged they shouted ‘this is MAGA country’ and even tied a noose around his neck.

After telling the courtroom he was not suicidal at the sentencing, Smollett was taken to Cook County Jail in Chicago.

His brother Jocqui claimed on Sunday that the actor has since been transferred to a ‘psych ward’ due to prison officers being concerned about him ‘self-harming’.

However, the jail has now denied the allegations and insists Smollett is in his own cell.

According to a statement released on Friday by a spokesperson for Cook County Jai, he said,

‘Mr. Smollett is not being held in solitary confinement. The use of solitary confinement was abolished at the Cook County Jail in 2016, and any claims that he is being held in this manner are false.

‘Mr. Smollett is being housed in his own cell, which is monitored by security cameras in the cell and by an officer wearing a body-worn camera who is stationed at the entrance of the cell to ensure that Mr. Smollett is under direct observation at all times.’

They continued: ‘As with all detained persons, Mr. Smollett is entitled to have substantial time out of his cell in the common areas on the tier where he is housed, where he is able to use the telephone, watch television, and interact with staff. During such times out of the cell, other detainees will not be present in the common areas.

‘These protocols are routinely used for individuals ordered into protective custody who may potentially be at risk of harm due to the nature of their charges, their profession, or their noteworthy status. The safety and security of all detained individuals, including Mr. Smollett, is the Sheriff’s Office’s highest priority.’

Jocqui shared a video to Smollett’s Instagram page in which he said: ‘Jussie is currently in a psych ward at Cook County Jail. What’s very concerning is there was a note attached to this paperwork today on the front of his jail cell saying he’s at risk of self-harm.

‘I just want to make it clear to folks that he is in no way shape or form. He wants to let folks know that he is very stable, very strong and healthy, and ready to take on the challenge that has ultimately been put up against him.’

He continued: ‘This is not right, this is completely [a] lack of justice, it’s angering, it’s an outrage, but he also knows what he needs to do. He wants to make sure folks understand that whatever… assumptions they may be making, I don’t know why they even have him in a psych ward, we still have not gotten clear answers there.

‘They’ve recently added to his documentation that he’s at risk of harming himself, that is absolutely not true.’