Filed Date: 2006
Closed Date: Aug. 6, 2012
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Between June 27 and June 29, 2006, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice conducted an investigation of the Wilson County Jail in Lebanon, Tennessee. The investigation was conducted under the authority of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA").
In a letter dated April 11, 2007, the DOJ notified Wilson County Jail that the investigation had uncovered a pattern of Eighth Amendment violations at the facility. The jail had denied inmates basic medical care. Corrections officers without medical training routinely made decisions about prisoners' access to medical treatment. The jail failed to screen inmates for medical problems or adequately prevent the spread of infectious diseases, which were exacerbated by unsanitary conditions. The investigation also reported excessive use of force by guards, including the fatal beating of an inmate in 2003—a group of Wilson guards were later convicted in a federal criminal trial—and routine coverups of excessive force by jail management. The letter recommended that the jail cure the constitutional issues by appointing a qualified medical doctor to oversee medical care and develop polices for preventing, reporting, and reviewing incidents of excessive force.
On July 21, 2008, the DOJ reached a settlement agreement with Wilson County Jail. The jail agreed to the DOJ's recommendations regarding the appointment of qualified medical personnel to oversee medical care and the implementation of improved use of force policies. The agreement stipulated that it would terminate in four years or when the facility had demonstrated two years of substantial compliance. The DOJ retained authority to inspect the facility and its records, with the jail to provide regular compliance reports.
According the DOJ's fiscal 2012 CRIPA report, the DOJ ended its supervision of Wilson County Jail on August 6, 2012, after the facility showed substantial compliance with the agreement.
Summary Authors
Nathaniel Flack (2/7/2019)
Becker, Grace Chung (District of Columbia)
Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)
Gregg, Tammie (District of Columbia)
Jung, Je Yon (District of Columbia)
Kim, Wan J. (District of Columbia)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Tennessee
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 2006
Closing Date: Aug. 6, 2012
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
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
Wilson County Jail (Wilson County, Wilson), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Order Duration: 2008 - 2012
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Incident/accident reporting & investigations
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: