R. Kelly is on suicide watch. Image Source: Morning Consult 

R. Kelly is on suicide watch.

According to various reports, R&B singer R. Kelly who was recently sentenced to 30 years in prison in a sex trafficking case has been placed under a suicide watch.

R. Kelly has been put under a suicide watch, but it is unnecessary, according to Jennifer Bonjean, R. Kelly's attorney, who said as much in a statement to Entertainment Tonight. She said that R. Kelly's constitutional rights are still being violated by the Bureau of Prisons by keeping him under suicide watch, which is not necessary. Jennifer Bonjean continued that the authorities are prioritizing their interests at the moment and are shielding him from nothing.

Jennifer Bonjean said that the singer who was sentenced to 30 years in prison is not and never was suicidal, although the authorities are trying to prove or establish that he is. She said that they have refused to hand over the assessment that states or justifies R. Kelly’s status and claims that the court cannot review the decision. The Bureau of Prisons is acting in secrecy, which is terrifying, Jennifer Bonjean added before stating that she and her partner had spoken to R. Kelly following his sentencing and he mentioned that he was fine mentally and was behaving appropriately and was looking forward to appealing the verdict.

R. Kelly who has been in prison without bail since 2019 was sentenced to 30 years in prison on 29th June 2022 and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York. R. Kelly was fined $100,000. The verdict comes nine months after the singer was found guilty on one count of racketeering and eight violations of the Mann Act by a federal jury and outside of New York, R. Kelly is accused of severe sexual assault, child pornography, enticing a kid, obstructing justice, prostitution, and soliciting a minor, among other crimes, in Illinois and Minnesota. August is when his Chicago trial is set to start.

Jennifer Bonjean said the authorities are prioritizing their interests at the moment and are shielding R. Kelly from nothing.Image Source: EW 

The Bureau of Prisons’ representative, Donald Murphy, said that he could not specifically address the condition of the singer's confinement but said that the Bureau of Prisons is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all the inmates in the population, staff, and the public. Donald added that humane treatment of the men and women in their custody is a top priority.

Jennifer Bonjean also revealed that they have sued Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and claimed in the court documents that suicide watch is a state of confinement and is very harsh, which can lead to serious mental harm to a person who is not suicidal. She explained that the inmates that are under suicide watch are stripped off their clothes, and underwear and dressed in a smock made of material that is akin to the material that moving companies use when wrapping furniture. Inmates are typically placed in a single cell without bed rails and offered no items of comfort, she further added. 

Jennifer detailed further that the people or inmates who are under suicide watch lack access to a shower or a razor, and occasionally even toilet paper is out of reach adding that they are forced to eat with their hands because no utensils are given with meals. According to the lawsuit, they cannot confer with family members or other comforting individuals. Of course, jail personnel constantly watch over them. Ironically, those who are placed on "suicide watch" seldom ever get psychiatric attention.

Jennifer Bonjean also revealed that they have sued Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Image Source: Complex

After being accused of assaulting a large number of young girls, wealthy banker and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell three years ago, putting the federal authorities under heavy scrutiny. Epstein had been taken off suicide watch in the days before his death.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Speight writes in a court filing that R.Kelly is being watched for his good since his current life circumstances undoubtedly might bring in some emotional distress especially when he is a convicted sex offender who has been sentenced to spend the next three decades in prison. Melanie added that in the immediate future, R. Kelly is going to face another federal criminal trial in Chicago for charges related to child pornography.

Please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org, if you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault. 

Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org, if you or someone you know have suicidal thoughts.