Woman Arrested For Kissing Inmate Who Died Of Overdose Hours Later

Tennessee Woman Arrested For Kissing Inmate Who Later Died Hours After Visitation

A Tennessee woman was arrested after sharing a kiss with an inmate who reportedly died of a drug overdose following a visit.

Rachal Dollard was arrested last weekend in connection to the death of Joshua Brown. According to TOO FAB, the Tennessee Department of Correction said Dollard was seen passing drugs to Brown after the pair kissed each during visitation hours at the Turner Center Industrial Complex in February.

Officials said they allegedly exchanged a balloon pellet containing an ounce of meth, and Brown swallowed it. Before his death, Brown was serving an 11-year sentence for drug charges and was set to be released in 2029.

 

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“This incident points to the real dangers of introducing contraband into prisons and the consequences that follow. Our agency will pursue prosecution against any individual who threatens the safety and security of our staff, the men and women in our custody, and our facilities,” said David Imhof, TDOC Director of Investigations and Conduct.

Authorities charged Dollard with second-degree murder and the introduction of contraband into a penal facility. She is being held in the Hickman County Jail.

According to a study by Vera, drug overdoses have posed an increased threat for incarcerated people and those recently released from prison.

“Just as punitive responses to drug use have driven incarceration, substantial evidence suggests that incarceration is associated with increased risk for overdose death.6 Research has confirmed that overdose is the leading cause of death among people recently released from prisons, as well as the third leading cause of death in custody in U.S. jails. The ways that incarceration contributes to increased overdose risk, particularly for people using opioids, include tolerance loss during periods of abstinence, limited access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and naloxone while incarcerated and when released, and disruptions to health care and social supports.”