On April 16, 1998, an attorney from the Special Litigation section of the U.S. Department of Justice made a recommendation to the Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, that an investigation into conditions at the Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo, Iowa, be initiated under 42 U.S.C. § 1997, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). The recommendation memo indicated that there had been credible reports of constitutional violations of prisoners' rights, including inadequate mental health and medical care, inadequate suicide prevention, and staff abuse.

On May 8, 1998, the Department of Justice informed the Black Hawk County Jail that the Department of Justice was initiating an investigation of these allegations pursuant to CRIPA.

On January 4, 1999, the DOJ issued a findings letter concluding that conditions at the Jail violated the inmates' federal constitutional rights. Specifically, the DOJ found violations with respect to medical and mental health care, suicide prevention, inmate supervision and protection from harm, and improper use of the restraint chair. The DOJ also had serious concerns about excessive use of force. The DOJ identified remedial measures the Jail had to take to correct the deficiencies.

It appears the the Attorney General did not file a lawsuit. We have no further information regarding this case.

Jaclyn Adams - 03/03/2006
Jessica Kincaid - 04/09/2015


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