Case: United States of America v. Leflore County, Mississippi

4:15-cv-00059 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: May 12, 2015

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On August 14, 2009, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ) began an investigation of conditions at the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center ("LCJDC") in Greenwood, Mississippi pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141.On March 31, 2011, the DOJ issued an investigative findings letter concluding that conditions at LCJDC violated the constitutional and federal…

On August 14, 2009, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (DOJ) began an investigation of conditions at the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center ("LCJDC") in Greenwood, Mississippi pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997, and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141.

On March 31, 2011, the DOJ issued an investigative findings letter concluding that conditions at LCJDC violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the youth confined there. The United States concluded that youth confined to LCJDC are: (1) exposed to excessive physical restraint and isolation as a means of discipline; (2) given inadequate educational opportunities; and (3) exposed to great risk of harm from inadequate mental health care, including inadequate screening, monitoring and treatment of suicidal youth. The letter noted that the DOJ hoped to work with the County to reach an amicable and cooperative resolution, otherwise a lawsuit may be initiated.

On May 12, 2015, the DOJ filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. The DOJ sued Leflore County of Mississippi under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Represented by its own counsel, the DOJ sought declaratory and injunctive relief. The DOJ alleged that, in the course of operating a detention center for children, the defendant County had violated the Fourteenth Amendment by practicing inadequate suicide prevention policies, failing to investigate abuse, and causing unreasonable risk to the safety and welfare of the minor prisoners. The day after the complaint was filed, the parties jointly moved for entry of a settlement agreement.

This case was originally assigned to Judge Debra M. Brown and Magistrate Judge Jane M. Virden but was reassigned to Judge Neal B. Biggers after Judge Brown recused herself on May 18, 2015.

On June 18, 2015, Judge Biggers granted the joint motion for entry of settlement agreement. The settlement required the defendant County to first conduct a policy review, submit to the DOJ alternatives to policies not accepted by the DOJ, and then implement the approved alternatives. The policy areas of focus were inmate intake, screening and evaluation, policies and procedures regarding mental health, medical history, education, classification, and orientation, the use of force, behavior management, the use of forced isolation as punishment, suicide preventions, and due process/grievance processes. The defendant was required to train its staff regarding these policy changes. Additionally, the County was required to submit a comprehensive action plan for implementation and give annual compliance reports. The agreement was to terminate after the defendant County achieved substantial compliance with all substantive provisions of the agreement and has maintained compliance for at least 12 months. The court was to retain jurisdiction to ensure compliance. As of June 8, 2020, there is no indication on the docket that the settlement agreement has terminated, so presumably, the case is ongoing for compliance purposes.

Summary Authors

Richard Jolly (11/18/2014)

Jake Parker (7/23/2018)

Jack Hibbard (6/8/2020)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14433758/parties/united-states-v-leflore-county-mississippi/


Judge(s)

Biggers, Neal Brooks Jr. (Mississippi)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Adams, Felicia C. (Mississippi)

Coe, Cynthia (District of Columbia)

Dean, Ralph M. III (Mississippi)

Attorney for Defendant

Chiles, Joyce I. (Mississippi)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

4:15-cv-00059

Docket

U.S. v. Leflore County, Mississippi

June 18, 2015

June 18, 2015

Docket

Findings Letter (2011)

DOJ Investigation of LeFlore County Juvenile Detention Center

No Court

March 31, 2011

March 31, 2011

Findings Letter/Report
1

4:15-cv-00059

Complaint

U.S. v. LeFlore County

May 12, 2015

May 12, 2015

Complaint
3-1

4:15-cv-00059

Settlement Agreement Between the United States and LeFlore County, Mississippi

U.S. v. LeFlore County

May 13, 2015

May 13, 2015

Settlement Agreement
9

4:15-cv-00059

Order Granting Joint Motion for Entry of Settlement Agreement

U.S. v. LeFlore County

June 18, 2015

June 18, 2015

Order/Opinion

4:15-cv-00059

Re: Investigation of Compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at Leflore County, Mississippi, Juvenile Detention Center

DOJ Investigation of LeFlore County Juvenile Detention Center

No Court

Jan. 12, 2016

Jan. 12, 2016

Findings Letter/Report

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/14433758/united-states-v-leflore-county-mississippi/

Last updated March 5, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

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Notice of Assignment

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Notice of Assignment

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Complaint

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Motion for Settlement

May 13, 2015

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Motion for Settlement

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Motion for Settlement

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Motion for Settlement

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Memorandum in Support

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Motion for Settlement

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Notice of Endorsement

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Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 12, 2015

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Department of Justice Civil Rights Division investigation of conditions at Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center.

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

Leflore County (Greenwood , Leflore), County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 2015 - None

Content of Injunction:

Implement complaint/dispute resolution process

Reporting

Recordkeeping

Training

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Education

Incident/accident reporting & investigations

Restraints : physical

Suicide prevention

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Medical/Mental Health:

Intellectual/Developmental Disability

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention