COPS 2022 – present
Search fatalities
You can use any or all of the fields to refine the search.
Blake Schwarz
Gender : Male
Age : 26
Race : White
Date : 03/24/2023
Location : Federal Correctional Institution Thomson
City : Thomson
County : Carroll
State : Illinois
Agency : Federal Bureau of Prisons
Cause of Death : Suicide
Event : Correctional officer suicide
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 03/24/2023, 26-year-old correctional officer Blake Schwarz died by suicide while employed at the Federal Correctional Institution Thomson in Carroll County, Illinois. His death drew national attention to the growing mental health crisis among federal correctional staff. Following his passing, his wife, Michelle Schwarz, became an advocate for suicide prevention within the Bureau of Prisons. In 2024, the “Corrections Officer Blake Schwarz Suicide Prevention Act” was introduced to expand mental health resources and awareness for correctional officers nationwide.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.corrections1.com/correctional-healthcare/hes-not-just-a-statistic-correctional-officers-widow-leads-mental-health-push-after-husbands-suicide/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fci-thomson-holds-mental-health-225852336.html
https://www.corrections1.com/correctional-healthcare/correctional-unions-suicide-prevention-push-aims-to-reshape-prison-culture/
