Before his arrest on 6 July 2019, Epstein served another 13 months in custody in Florida in 2008-2009 after
a state court found him guilty of soliciting a minor for prostitution. During that jail term, he was allowed to
purchase female underwear that would not fit an average adult woman, the Miami Herald revealed after
examining records obtained from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
While in custody in Florida between 30 June 2008 and 22 July 2009, Epstein benefited from a generous
work-release programme that allowed him to walk out of prison for up to 16 hours per day for six or seven
days a week. Some records even began to refer to him as a “client” rather than an inmate.
Epstein’s death has caused outrage and prompted an investigation into the circumstances that allowed him
to escape justice and apparently take his own life. Attorney general William Barr said there were “serious
irregularities” within the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York City, where Epstein was awaiting
trial.
Reports have indicated that standard protocol was not met in the jail. An autopsy concluded that the cause
of his death was suicide.
Two guards have been put on administrative leave after it was determined that they had fallen asleep and
had falsified records in a log to indicate they had been checking on the disgraced financier every 30
minutes, as was required. Falsified entries such as those could constitute a federal crime.