This story has been updated.

DeKalb County, GA — As of June 1, there’s a new private contractor handling all medical services at the DeKalb County Jail.

The new contractor, Armor Health of Miami, will handle medical and mental health services. Armor Health is replacing Wellpath and Centurion, contractors named in a lawsuit filed by the family of Anthony Walker, an inmate who froze to death in the jail.

Wellpath handled medical services, while Centurion handled mental health services, according to records provided by the jail.

“Armor addresses a priority area of inmate care in today’s jail environment: a collaborative, holistic approach to medical and behavioral/mental health needs,” Sheriff Melody Maddox said in a press releases. “Arrestees have a right to privacy concerning their existing or previous physical and mental health backgrounds and conditions, unless they pose a threat to public health. Even with those restrictions, this agency has a responsibility to provide the best possible care while they are here and to treat them with dignity and respect in the process. We expect Armor Health to be a productive partner with us in fulfilling this mandate.”

The announcement follows a lengthy investigative report by Decaturish about deaths at the jail in 2022, the deadliest year at the jail in a decade.

Several of the inmates who died in 2022 had a history of mental illness, records show.

Walker was one of those inmates. He had schizophrenia and a substance abuse problem. He was arrested on Dec. 18, 2022, on charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He died of hypothermia on Dec. 26, 2022, due to conditions in his cell.

Another inmate who died a day after Walker, Jackson Orukpete, 57, was also found in a cold cell. The Medical Examiner said cold temperatures may have contributed to Orukpete’s death, but it couldn’t be proven.

According to the lawsuit and the medical examiner’s report, Walker was naked and wet, both factors that contributed to his death by hypothermia. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the temperature in Walker’s cell was 50 degrees. Between Dec. 23 and Dec. 26, the temperature outside the jail was 10 degrees to 18 degrees.

To read more about the lawsuit filed by Walker’s family, click here.

Maddox has repeatedly declined interview requests from Decaturish to discuss the deaths in 2022.

Here is the full announcement about the Sheriff’s Office hiring Armor Health:

Effective June 1, 2023, medical and mental/behavioral health services for inmates of the DeKalb County Jail is provided by Armor Health of Miami, Florida. DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox says that the new contract offers more comprehensive coverage for the agency’s more than 1,600 inmates.

“Armor addresses a priority area of inmate care in today’s jail environment: a collaborative, holistic approach to medical and behavioral/mental health needs,” says Sheriff Maddox. “Arrestees have a right to privacy concerning their existing or previous physical and mental health backgrounds and conditions unless they pose a threat to public health. Even with those restrictions, this agency has a responsibility to provide the best possible care while they are here, and to treat them with dignity and respect in the process. We expect Armor Health to be a productive partner with us in fulfilling this mandate.”

Otto Campo, Armor Health CEO, says the company has extensive experience treating a broad range of individuals from different backgrounds, including many with behavioral health issues and chronic conditions. “That experience paired with our unique approach to data analytics gives us enhanced visibility, insight and perspective into our patient population, and enables us to create individualized care plans,” he says.

Armor Health is a leading provider of correctional healthcare services providing quality care to state and local correctional facilities across the country for more than 17 years.

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