Filed Date: Aug. 12, 2005
Closed Date: Aug. 4, 2009
Clearinghouse coding complete
In November 2002, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, acting pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq., commenced an investigation into the conditions of confinement at the LeFlore County Jail ("Jail") in Poteau, Oklahoma.
Based on its investigation, the DOJ concluded in an April 2003 findings letter that the conditions and practices at the Jail violated the constitutional rights of pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners. On April 17, 2003, the DOJ issued a letter advising LeFlore County of minimum reform measures it should implement in order to remedy the unconstitutional practices. The suggested reforms related to the areas of: (1) medical and mental health care; (2) protection of inmates from harm; (3) environmental health and safety; (4) fire safety; (5) opportunities to exercise; and (6) access to the courts.
The county reached a settlement with DOJ on August 9, 2005, to resolve these issues. However, that settlement is not publicly available. Shortly after the settlement agreement was signed, DOJ sued the county in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, apparently to enforce the settlement if necessary. However, it immediately filed a motion for conditional dismissal, in which in asked the court to hold the case in abeyance and dismiss it in August of 2009, unless the county came into substantial compliance with the settlement earlier.
After four years of no action on the docket, in August of 2009, DOJ and the parties requested that the case be dismissed. Their request was granted by Magistrate Judge Steven P. Shreder.
The case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/14/2008)
Jonah Hudson-Erdman (9/5/2021)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12049322/parties/united-states-v-leflore-county-ok/
Barrick, Andrew J. (District of Columbia)
Brandon, Susan S (Oklahoma)
Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)
Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (Oklahoma)
Boyd, Ralph F. Jr. (District of Columbia)
Barrick, Andrew J. (District of Columbia)
Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)
Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (Oklahoma)
Daly, Mark (District of Columbia)
Delaney, Joshua (District of Columbia)
Gonzales, Alberto (District of Columbia)
Gregg, Tammie (District of Columbia)
King, Loretta (District of Columbia)
Rocha, Dimitri N (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/12049322/united-states-v-leflore-county-ok/
Last updated Feb. 26, 2025, 9:28 a.m.
State / Territory: Oklahoma
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 12, 2005
Closing Date: Aug. 4, 2009
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. 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
LeFlore County (Le Flore), County
Facility Type(s):
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:
Order Duration: 2005 - 2009
Issues
General/Misc.:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Affected Sex/Gender(s):
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Suicide prevention (facilities)
Medical/Mental Health Care: