Case: CRIPA Investigation, Harrison County (MS)

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Case Summary

On May 3, 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation of conditions at the Harrison County Youth Detention Center pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997 (CRIPA). The investigation was prompted by complaints of unsafe conditions at the detention center including physical abuse of the juveniles by detention officers, unsanitary living conditions, and inadequate educational, medical, and mental health facilities. In its notice of findings o…

On May 3, 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation of conditions at the Harrison County Youth Detention Center pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1997 (CRIPA). The investigation was prompted by complaints of unsafe conditions at the detention center including physical abuse of the juveniles by detention officers, unsanitary living conditions, and inadequate educational, medical, and mental health facilities.

In its notice of findings on September 9, 1993, the Justice Department concluded that the following conditions and policies of HCJDC were in violation of the Constitution: (1) HCJDC's lack of on-site medical and mental health services; (2) failure to monitor suicidal individuals; (3) failure to provide hot water, pest control, adequate bedding, fire safety systems, food sanitation and out-of-cell time; and (4) overcrowding. At minimum, HCJDC was ordered to implement remedial measures including the provision of adequate medical and mental health care, safe and sanitary conditions, and adequate staff training and supervision. These letters are the only information we have on file regarding the investigation, and therefore we do not know what steps HCJDC took to remedy the violations.

Summary Authors

Stacey Jensen (5/17/2006)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Turner, James P. (District of Columbia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Meadows, Joseph R. (Mississippi)

Payne, Robert A. (Mississippi)

Phillips, George L. (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Notice Letter re: Harrison County Youth Detention Center, Gulfport , Mississippi

CRIPA Investigation

May 3, 1993

May 3, 1993

Notice Letter

Findings Letter re: Harrison County Youth Detention Center, Gulfport , Mississippi

CRIPA Investigation

Sept. 9, 1993

Sept. 9, 1993

Findings Letter/Report

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:40 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Special Collection(s):

Civil Rights Division Archival Collection

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

Harrison County, County

Harrison County Youth Detention Center (Gulfport), 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:

Counseling

Education

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Personal injury

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run