Filed Date: April 22, 2002
Closed Date: May 5, 2008
Clearinghouse coding complete
On April 19, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) notified the Nassau County Correctional Center (NCCC) in New York of its intent to investigate conditions at the jail to determine whether they were unconstitutional. The DOJ conducted this investigation under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 1997, also known as the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). On September 11, 2000, the DOJ issued a findings letter containing evidence that NCCC unconstitutionally physically abused inmates and behaved with deliberate indifference to inmates' serious medical needs.
In April 2002, the DOJ filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and the parties' settlement agreement was attached to the complaint. The case was assigned to Arlene Lindsay. The complaint alleged that NCCC violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments by subjecting inmates to improper use of force and failing to provide medical care. Under the settlement, the NCCC agreed to develop and implement appropriate policies regarding inmate medical care and mental health services. Specifically, the policies were to address issues in the areas of inmate prescreening, staffing levels, sick call, medication distribution, emergency care, dental care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, disease control, records, training, mortality reviews, inmate education, sanitation, immunization, and medical grievance procedures.
The NCCC also agreed to develop and implement new procedures concerning the use of force against inmates. Specifically, the policies were to address issues in the areas of staff training, reporting and documenting use of force, use of chemical agents, use of restraints, physical contact between staff and inmates.
On May 7, 2002, the court conditionally dismissed the complaint, provided that the defendant had substantially complied with the agreement over the course of three years. In August 2002, the court reassigned the case to Judge Leonard Wexler.
On July 15, 2005, the parties jointly stipulated that NCCC was in substantial compliance with the portion of the settlement agreement about improper use of force and the court accordingly dismissed that portion of the case. However, the parties agreed that NCCC was not in substantial compliance with the portion of the settlement agreement relating to the provision of medical care and the court thus retained jurisdiction until NCCC was in substantial compliance.
On March 14, 2008, the parties stipulated that NCCC was then substantially compliant with settlement agreement related to provision of medical care. Accordingly, Judge Wexler dismissed the case in full. The case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (4/24/2006)
Hope Brinn (10/25/2018)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11722238/parties/united-states-v-nassau-county/
Ashcroft, John (District of Columbia)
Boyd, Ralph F. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)
Campbell, Benton J (New York)
Chen, Pamela K. (District of Columbia)
Wexler, Leonard D. (New York)
Ashcroft, John (District of Columbia)
Boyd, Ralph F. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)
Chen, Pamela K. (District of Columbia)
Goldberger, Michael J. (New York)
Masling, Mark S. (District of Columbia)
Nelson, Mellie H. (District of Columbia)
Rosenbaum, Steven H. (District of Columbia)
Schlozman, Bradley (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11722238/united-states-v-nassau-county/
Last updated March 23, 2024, 3:11 a.m.
State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 22, 2002
Closing Date: May 5, 2008
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Nassau County (Nassau), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 2002 - 2008
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Policing:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: