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On Monday, August 4, 2014, Eric Holder, United States Attorney General, and Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, published a findings letter concerning the treatment of adolescent males at the New York City Department of Correction jails on Rikers Island.
The letter stated that the Department of Correction (DOC) had a pattern and practice of conduct at the Rikers Island jail that violated the constitutional rights of adolescent inmates. The U.S. Attorney's Office specifically found:
In addition, the letter stated that there was a serious deficiency of procedural safeguards and inappropriate prolonged punitive segregation.
A press release is available on the Department of Justice's website.
The Department of Justice decided not to file a new lawsuit as a result of the findings letter. Instead, on December 18, 2014, the Department of Justice filed a motion seeking permission to intervene in a private suit addressing many of the same issues, Nunez v. City of New York. The Court granted the unopposed motion on December 23, 2014; that case soon settled with a comprehensive agreement. This is further discussed in case Nunez and United States v. City of New York in this Clearinghouse.
Summary Authors
Kathryn DeLong (10/25/2015)
Nunez and United States v. City of New York, Southern District of New York (2011)
Bharara, Preetinder S. (New York)
Daughtry, Emily E. (New York)
Powell, Jeffrey K. (New York)
Samuels, Jocelyn (District of Columbia)
Carter, Zachary W. (New York)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:45 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Department of Justice on behalf of adolescent males at the New York City Department of Correction jails on Rikers Island.
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
City of New York (New York City , Bronx), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: $6,500,000
Order Duration: 2015 - 2018
Content of Injunction:
Other requirements regarding hiring, promotion, retention
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Issues
General:
Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students
Incident/accident reporting & investigations
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Policing:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Solitary confinement/Supermax (conditions or process)
Affected Sex or Gender:
Medical/Mental Health:
Mental health care, unspecified
Type of Facility: