On March 29, 1994, following the death of an inmate due to misuse of a chemical agent, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) notified Onondaga County, New York, of its intent to investigate the living conditions of inmates housed at the Onondaga County Public Safety Building in Syracuse, New York. The DOJ conducted this investigation under the authority of 42 U.S.C. §1997, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA).

On September 30, 1994, the DOJ issued a findings letter detailing constitutional violations at the jail in the areas of security practices, environmental health, and safety conditions, all of which jeopardized the well-being of the prisoners. Specifically, the DOJ suggested changes and improvements in the areas of use of force, chemical agents, physical restraints, floor checks, grievance procedures, staffing levels, medical intake screening, treatment of chronic illnesses, medical service access, emergency response, medical records, dental care, fire protection, cell sanitation, inmate hygiene, food sanitation, inmate recreation, access to the courts, classification procedures for minors being held for adult trial, and racial hostility.

The DOJ closed the investigation in 1997 after the jail achieved voluntary compliance with the remedial measures suggested by the DOJ. We have no further information on the proceedings, as we have only the DOJ investigation notification letter and the findings letter.

Jessica Kincaid - 04/06/2015


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