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On March 21, 1994, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] notified the state of Michigan that it intended to investigate the conditions of confinement the Wayne County Youth Home (later called Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility [WCJDF]), a juvenile detention facility in Detroit, Michigan, pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
The investigation was to focus on allegations regarding physical and psychological abuse of residents; failure to properly investigate and curtail sexual abuse of residents by staff; improper disciplinary practices; inadequate staffing and supervision; inadequate medical care, mental health care, and suicide prevention measures; environmental health and safety deficiencies; lack of classification; overcrowding; inadequate access to telephones, mail, general reading material and legal books; and inadequate educational services.
On December 21, 1994, the DOJ issued its findings letter, wherein it described numerous conditions at the WCJDF that violated the constitutional and federal statutory rights of the juveniles detained there. Those conditions included the areas of (1) operational, management, staffing, and programming deficiencies; (2) inadequate medical care, mental health care, dental healthcare, and suicide prevention measures; (3) serious environmental and health deficiencies and (4) numerous fire safety deficiencies. The DOJ outlined minimal remedial measures that the WCJDF needed to immediately undertake to correct the problems.
We have no further information on this matter.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/25/2007)
Gershel, Alan (Michigan)
Granholm, Jennifer M. (Michigan)
Green, Saul A. (Michigan)
James, Phyllis A. (Michigan)
Kelley, Frank J. (Michigan)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:40 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Michigan
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
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
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Unknown
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: