Jaylan Goodman Murdered

Hi, my name is Traci Bailey. Every day in America, we see stories of the worst outcomes happening to black men and women all over this country. Every story deserves our attention, and this is one of those stories that we can't ignore. It is tragic. It is common. It is unforgivable.

On July 13th, after experiencing a mental crisis, Jaylan should have been sent to a hospital for care. Instead, he was taken to Clayton County Jail. He got into a fight with his family, and then Jaylan called the police. His family kept begging the police to understand he was having a mental crisis, but they did not listen and chose to arrest him instead.

Jaylan was put in a cell like a common criminal. But instead, he loved Batman, Anime, painting, Rugrats, Rick and Morty, and even went to Comicon. He loved his family.

After being booked by Clayton County Jail, Jaylan was put in a cell with Jarvin Cornelius Wallace. At 8:20 AM on July 14th, Jaylan was found murdered by his cellmate. He had been stabbed to death. Jaylan was killed for fighting with his family. How can we accept that outcome? 

Clayton County Jail is currently in the headlines due to Sheriff Victor Hill's suspension for running an abusive jail. Governor Brian Kemp ordered this suspension. Hill is also a defendant in nearly a dozen federal cases related to alleged conditions in the jail or abuse of pretrial detainees (source: Clayton Crescent, Robin Kemp).

The family has been completey shut out from updates, autopsy results, video evidence, or any other information. They have not released Jaylan to his family as of today, July 20th 2022.

This has to stop somewhere. Sitting here writting a Go Fund Me page story seems so unfair. Jaylan needed help during a mental crisis, not death. Why do we have to treat black men in crisis as criminals and without any heart? It is unacceptable to me and should be to everyone that a twenty six year old deserved murder instead of help.

I am here today to tell the story because I have been allowed to by the family of Jaylan. I never thought I would be writing these words. My friend, now has to bury her first born because our system lacks any resources for those who are not white. It is embedded in our society that we must cage young black men regardless of the situation. I will never find this an acceptable answer. It is wrong.

The system failed Jaylan, and his family. And due to lack of resources, he was murdered by a cellmate. He was stabbed to death brutally. Now his family sits by as the system fails them again. No one is reaching out to them with information, details, or apologies. As if this young black body meant nothing to society. I am here, and so is family, to say his name. Jaylan deserved a full happy life. He needed help. Instead, he received a death sentence.

Please help his family during this difficult time. I believe they deserve our love and support. This tragedy is unbearable for his family and should be for all those who read his story.