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Case Name
CRIPA Investigation, Washington County (MD)
JC-MD-0002
Docket / Court
No Court Case ( No Court )
State/Territory
Maryland
Case Type(s)
Jail Conditions
Case Summary
In 1996, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice notified Washington County, Maryland that the Department intended to investigate the county's Detention Center for unconstitutional jail conditions. The DOJ was particularly concerned with inadequate suicide prevention at the ...
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In 1996, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice notified Washington County, Maryland that the Department intended to investigate the county's Detention Center for unconstitutional jail conditions. The DOJ was particularly concerned with inadequate suicide prevention at the Detention Center but also with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions; inadequate medical care, nutrition, and opportunities for exercise; lack of access to the courts; physical and verbal abuse by staff; and failure to respond to inmate grievances.
In 1997, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the President of the Board of its findings and made recommendations regarding suicide prevention, medical care, opportunities for outdoor exercise, hygiene in intake, sanitation in the female housing unit, and access to the courts. It appears that the Attorney General did not file suit against the Detention Center, so there was never a court proceeding.
Lauren Cutson - 05/19/2005
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Crowding
Crowding / caseload
General
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Classification / placement
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Recreation / Exercise
Sanitation / living conditions
Suicide prevention
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, general
Suicide prevention
Plaintiff Type
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Special Case Type
Out-of-court
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. ยง 1997 et seq.
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Washington County Detention Center
Plaintiff Description
United States Department of Justice
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
None
Source of Relief
None
Filed
1996
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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An Analysis of CRIPA Findings Letters Issued to Jails for Constitutional Violations by the Department of Justice
Date: Apr. 15, 2016
By: Jeff Mellow, Bryce E. Peterson & Mijin Kim (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Faculty)
Citation: Am. J. Crim. Just. (April 2016)
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
not recorded
03/07/1996
Memorandum: Proposed CRIPA Investigation of the Washington County Detention Center, Hagerstown, Maryland
JC-MD-0002-0001.pdf
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Detail
not recorded
04/22/1996
Notice Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Washington County Detention Center, Hagerstown, Maryland
JC-MD-0002-0002.pdf
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Detail
not recorded
03/27/1997
Memorandum re: Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Washington County Detention Center, Hagerstown, Maryland
JC-MD-0002-0003.pdf
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Detail
People
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Plaintiff's Lawyers
Patrick, Deval L.
(District of Columbia)
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JC-MD-0002-0002
Peabody, Arthur E. Jr.
(District of Columbia)
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JC-MD-0002-0001
Rosenbaum, Steven H.
(District of Columbia)
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JC-MD-0002-0003
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