Case: CRIPA Investigation, Wayne County (MI)

No Court Case | No Court

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Case Summary

On March 21, 1994, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] notified the state of Michigan that it intended to investigate the conditions of confinement the Wayne County Youth Home (later called Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility [WCJDF]), a juvenile detention facility in Detroit, Michigan, pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.The investigation was to focus on allegations regarding physical and psychologica…

On March 21, 1994, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] notified the state of Michigan that it intended to investigate the conditions of confinement the Wayne County Youth Home (later called Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility [WCJDF]), a juvenile detention facility in Detroit, Michigan, pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

The investigation was to focus on allegations regarding physical and psychological abuse of residents; failure to properly investigate and curtail sexual abuse of residents by staff; improper disciplinary practices; inadequate staffing and supervision; inadequate medical care, mental health care, and suicide prevention measures; environmental health and safety deficiencies; lack of classification; overcrowding; inadequate access to telephones, mail, general reading material and legal books; and inadequate educational services.

On December 21, 1994, the DOJ issued its findings letter, wherein it described numerous conditions at the WCJDF that violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the juveniles detained there. Those conditions included the areas of (1) operational, management, staffing, and programming deficiencies; (2) inadequate medical care, mental health care, dental healthcare, and suicide prevention measures; (3) serious environmental and health deficiencies and (4) numerous fire safety deficiencies. The DOJ outlined minimal remedial measures that the WCJDF needed to immediately undertake to correct the problems.

We have no further information on this matter.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/25/2007)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff
Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Gershel, Alan (Michigan)

Granholm, Jennifer M. (Michigan)

Green, Saul A. (Michigan)

James, Phyllis A. (Michigan)

Kelley, Frank J. (Michigan)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Notice Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of Wayne County Youth Home, Detroit , Michigan

CRIPA Investigation

March 21, 1994

March 21, 1994

Notice Letter

Correspondence

CRIPA Investigation

Dec. 13, 1994

Dec. 13, 1994

Notice Letter

Notice of Findings of Investigation, Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility

CRIPA Investigation

Dec. 21, 1994

Dec. 21, 1994

Findings Letter/Report

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:40 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Michigan

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Wayne County (Wayne), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

General:

Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students

Education

Fire safety

Mail

Phone

Suicide prevention

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Library (non-law) access

Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff

Crowding / caseload

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run