Smith v. Sheriff of Madison County et al

On November 13, 2018, Jamie Smith was arrested and detained at Madison County Jail in Alabama. He exhibited erratic behavior during booking, leading jail officers to pepper-spray him and place him face-down in restraints. Smith became unresponsive and died from asphyxia. His estate filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Blake Dorning and others, alleging excessive force and deliberate indifference to medical needs. The case proceeded to trial, drawing attention to jail restraint practices and the treatment of detainees with mental health issues.

In September 2022, a federal jury found Sheriff Blake Dorning and other defendants not liable for Jamie Smith's death.

Whether correctional officers used excessive force and whether the sheriff failed to implement proper policies or training, resulting in the asphyxia death of Jamie Smith.

The case intensified public scrutiny of jail conditions, the use of prone restraints, and the handling of mentally ill detainees in Madison County, contributing to broader national debates on custodial death and law enforcement accountability.