Justice Department Notifies the District of Columbia of Investigation into Whether Conditions in the D.C. Department of Corrections Correctional Facilities Violate the Constitution

Today, the Justice Department notifiedLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. District of Columbia (D.C.) Mayor Muriel Bowser of the initiation of a federal investigation into D.C. Department of Corrections (D.C. DOC) correctional facilities. The Justice Department will investigate whether D.C. DOC engages in a pattern or practice of violating prisoners' and detainees' constitutional rights.

"The Constitution protects the rights of every incarcerated American, including those held in custody in our nation's capital," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "We are committed to upholding our federal civil rights laws so that no inmate is confined in unconstitutional conditions or subject to unconstitutional mistreatment at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections."

The Department has received numerous allegations regarding conditions in D.C. DOC facilities, including a report from the District of Columbia's own Auditor. Allegations include failing to protect them from use of excessive force, failing to provide adequate medical care, failing to provide safe and sanitary physical conditions of confinement, and failing to provide adequate nutrition. The Department will investigate the D.C. DOC pursuant to its authority to enforce the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). The Department has not reached any conclusions regarding allegations in this matter.

Under CRIPA, the Department has the authority to investigate violations of prisoners' constitutional rights that result from a "pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights." The Department has conducted CRIPA investigations of many correctional systems, and where violations have been found, the resulting settlement agreements have led to important reforms.

Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via civilrights.justice.gov/report/. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt.