Case: CRIPA Investigation, Onondaga County (NY)

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Case Summary

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 detaili…

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.

Summary Authors

Jessica Kincaid (4/6/2015)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Patrick, Deval L. (District of Columbia)

Peabody, Arthur E. Jr. (District of Columbia)

Turner, James P. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Gerber, Jon A. (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Closing Date: 1997

Case Ongoing: No

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

Onondaga County (Syracuse, Onondaga), 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:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Education

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Restraints : chemical

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Pepper/OC spray

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run