In 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice notified Clay County of its intention to investigate conditions of the county jail. In 1995, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the Chairman of the Clay County Commission of its findings and made recommendations regarding construction of a new jail; staffing and supervision; exercise; access to religious services, courts, and reading material; medical and mental healthcare; suicide prevention; general sanitation; fire safety; plumbing; bedding supplies; food services; and plumbing. Apparently after negotiation, the Attorney General filed an action under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. section 1997 et seq., against the jail. Six days later, the District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (Judge Hugh Lawson) issued a consent decree. The consent decree laid out steps the county must take to improve issues discussed in the DOJ's letter of findings and recommendations. According to the docket from PACER, the court adopted the consent decree as judgment in 1997 and dismissed the case in 2000.

Lauren Cutson - 05/21/2005


compress summary