#ENDMEND

What is MeND Correctional Care?

• MEnD Correctional Care is a for profit company that is contracted to provide healthcare to approximately one-third of Minnesota’s jails, including St. Louis County Jail.
• Dr. Todd Leonard is the founder, director, and only doctor working for MEnD, presumably presiding over the company’s medical practices. Dr. Leonard previously had his medical license restricted by the Minnesota Medical Board for unprofessional and unethical conduct, yet continues to serve in the aforementioned role with MEnD.
• MEnD has received more than 51 million from Minnesota taxpayers since 2008 in exchange for providing personnel and a healthcare system in local jails. 
• At least 25 inmates have died under the care of MEnD since 2015.  Several of these deaths have resulted in federal lawsuits claiming that the deaths were in part due to unnecessary cutting of costs and corners by hiring inexperienced, unqualified staff to work with inmates with significant medical needs. Hardel Sherrell, Bruce Lundmark, James Lynas, and Abby Rudolph are the names of a few inmates that died preventable deaths in Minnesota jails while under the care of MEnD.

Who is Hardel Sherrell and what happened to him?

• While in custody at the Beltrami County Jail, on September 2, 2018, Hardel Sherrell died of Guillan-Barré Syndrome, a highly treatable and easily diagnosed medical condition.
• The medical staff working in Beltrami County Jail during Hardel’s death worked for MEnD Correctional Care. They claimed he was faking his symptoms of chest pain, extremely high blood pressure, tachycardia (a racing heart rate), and an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG).

Why should we #ENDMEND?

• The Duluth Branch NAACP demands an end to the use of MEnD Correctional Care in Minnesota correctional facilities, and disavows the exploitative practice of mixing profit and incarceration. 
• MEnD relies on creating an illusion of care, spending more time and resources maintaining their professional image and leaving a paper trail of alleged services, rather than actually treating patients. 
• We demand the immediate suspension of Dr. Todd Leonard’s medical license, and the termination of any officials complicit in the negligence that has led to the death of Hardell Sherrell and others while incarcerated in Minnesota correctional programs. 

Stay tuned by following the Duluth NAACP on Facebook and Instagram. We will keep you up to date about our negotiations and upcoming opportunities to participate and have your voice heard!