Nearly two dozen former inmates of Mercer County Corrections Center have filed lawsuits alleging inhumane conditions at the jail, including lack of access to clean water, clothing and adequate meals. The complaints stem from incidents dating back to 2024, outlined in three separate lawsuits filed this month.

According to one lawsuit, some problems date back over a century and include asbestos, black mold, rodents and bugs. The claims echo similar complaints made in previous lawsuits against the center.

Another suit was filed on behalf of a former inmate who died after he was found hanging in his cell in 2024. The complaint alleges Keith Stroman Jr. was harassed and assaulted prior to his death and that staffers left him unattended. Although authorities never disclosed Stroman’s cause of death, it is not mentioned in the lawsuit.

A third suit comes from former inmate Terron Williams, who alleges he suffered second and third degree burns from a scalding shower. The claim says Williams, who is paralyzed, could not feel the extreme heat from the water.

A county spokesperson says they do not comment on pending litigation.