Case: United States v. Dallas County

3:07-cv-01559 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Filed Date: Sept. 12, 2007

Closed Date: Nov. 4, 2011

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In November 2005, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), 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 Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas. Based on its investigation, the DOJ concluded that the conditions and practices at the jail violated the constitutional rights of convicted inmates and pre-trial detainees. On December 8, 2006, the DO…

In November 2005, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ"), 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 Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas.

Based on its investigation, the DOJ concluded that the conditions and practices at the jail violated the constitutional rights of convicted inmates and pre-trial detainees. On December 8, 2006, the DOJ issued a letter advising Dallas 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 care, (2) mental health care, and (3) environmental health and safety.

On September 12, 2007, the DOJ filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, alleging the same violations that were detailed in the findings letter. The parties entered a consent decree with the court shortly thereafter, and the court approved it on November 6, 2007. Under the terms of the consent decree, the defendants agreed to institute changes in the following areas: medical intake screening, acute medical care, chronic medical care, communicable disease treatment and management, follow-up care, record-keeping, facilities, administration of medication, specialty care, staffing, training, supervision, dental care, mental health care evaluation, mental health care treatment, suicide prevention, laundry, sanitation, environmental control, and fire safety.

Dr. Michael Puisis was appointed as the monitor. On July 15, 2008, the first independent monitor's report was filed; subsequent reports appear in the docket every six months. 

The parties filed a Notice of Termination in 2011 requesting the end of court supervision based on the County’s progress and compliance to that point in time with the Agreed Order. The District Court granted the request on October 27, 2011, thereby ending court supervision at the jail.

However, the parties recognized concerns with regards to adequate medical and mental care being provided at Dallas County Jail. On March 12, 2012, the parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) “to complete the necessary reforms and to ensure continued sustained compliance.” The parties agreed the MOU would remain in effect until the Defendants have achieved substantial compliance with all provisions, and the parties incorporated the previous court order as part of the MOU.

As part of the MOU, defendants must maintain or achieve compliance in the following areas of (1) medical care (intake screening; acute care; chronic care; follow-up care; specialty care; staffing, training, and supervision; quality assurance review; and dental care); (2) mental health care (timely and appropriate evaluation; psychotherapeutic medication administration; and suicide prevention); and (3) sanitation and environmental conditions (sanitation of laundry; protection from biohazards; environmental control; maintenance and sanitation of facilities; and fire and life safety). The parties also agreed to continue using the expert monitor. Lastly, the defendants must submit annual compliance reports to the DOJ.

As of March 8, 2024, there have been no further updates.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (10/2/2008)

Anna Dimon (1/31/2015)

Venesa Haska (3/8/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4390133/parties/united-states-v-dallas-county-texas/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Abernathy, Terri J (Texas)

Altman, Stephen D (Texas)

Armijo, Rumaldo R (Texas)

AUSA, Jesse M (Texas)

Attorney for Defendant

Ardolf, Tammy Jean (Texas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other
Attorney for Plaintiff

Abernathy, Terri J (Texas)

Altman, Stephen D (Texas)

Armijo, Rumaldo R (Texas)

AUSA, Jesse M (Texas)

Babu, Kavitha J (Texas)

Baka, Gregory (Texas)

Barr, Russell D. (Texas)

Barrett, David K (Texas)

Bartlett, Anastasia D. (Texas)

Beck, Matthew (Texas)

Branda, Joyce R (Texas)

Brandon, Susan S. (Texas)

Brown, Geoffrey J.L. (Texas)

Brown Cutlar, Shanetta Y. (District of Columbia)

Burke, Matthew (Texas)

Burrell, Meredith (Texas)

Camacho, Renee L (Texas)

Carman, Sean Kevin (Texas)

Chanoine, Hannah W (Texas)

Clayton, Lindsay Laurie (Texas)

Cohen, Richard Edward (Texas)

Comisac, Rena J. (District of Columbia)

Corcoran, Thomas F (Texas)

Davis, Evan J (Texas)

Deutsch, David (District of Columbia)

Durham, Jessie Huff (Texas)

Dworkin, Howard Sheldon (Texas)

Eichenholtz, Seth D. (Texas)

Epperley, Linda A. (Texas)

Fisher, Douglas M. (Texas)

Franze-Nakamura, Francis (Texas)

Gale, Alan S (Texas)

Gallagher, Mark A. (Texas)

Given, Emily (Texas)

Goldberg, Arthur R (Texas)

Greene, Gavin L (Texas)

Guthrie, Robert Gay (Texas)

Hall, Jennifer Lynne (Texas)

Harrington, Quinn Patrick (Texas)

Hendry, Melanie Dyani (Texas)

Hertz, Michael F (Texas)

Hikida, Katherine M (Texas)

Hoffman, Grayson A (Texas)

Horwitz, Matthew Joseph (Texas)

Houten, Kathryn E (Texas)

Hurtado, Samuel A. (Texas)

Iannarone, Liberatore Joseph (Texas)

Jackson, Shelley (District of Columbia)

Johnson, Kristin Berger (Texas)

Jordan, Aaron O (Texas)

Kaminski, Gerald Francis (Texas)

Kawakami, Kent A (Texas)

Keegan, Ruth Fuess (Texas)

Kennebrew, Delora (Texas)

Kern, Charles Douglas (Texas)

Kim, Wan J. (District of Columbia)

Kinner, Russell B (Texas)

Kipnis, Brian C (Texas)

Kirwan, Tanya I. (Texas)

Kotz, Stephen R. (Texas)

Larkin, William F. (Texas)

Lawrence, Kathleen O'Malley (Texas)

Lee, John E (Texas)

Leiderman, Joel David (Texas)

Lesperance, Karen Folster (Texas)

Levingston, Luttrell (Texas)

Lucero, Manuel (Texas)

Mark, Carolyn G (Texas)

McElvain, Joel (Texas)

McEvoy, Lauren Mary (Texas)

McFadden, Lane M. (Texas)

Messec, Paige (Texas)

Murphy, Michael D (Texas)

Murray, Jeffrey (Texas)

Mysliwiec, Paul (Texas)

Nolan, William E. (District of Columbia)

O'Brien, Thomas Peter (Texas)

Office, United States (Texas)

Ong, Marisa A (Texas)

Parker, John R (Texas)

Parker-DOJ, John R (Texas)

Paxton, Lauren Mary (Texas)

Pease, William H. (Texas)

Perez, Alfred Juarez (Texas)

Perez, Thomas E. (District of Columbia)

Phillips, Heather (Texas)

Powell, Kelly (Texas)

Roberts, Darwin P (Texas)

Roper, Richard B. III (Texas)

Saldana, Sarah R. (Texas)

Schwab, Mikel W. (Texas)

Seff, Daniel A. (Texas)

Sharinn, Harvey (Texas)

Smith, Jonathan Mark (District of Columbia)

Spina, Thomas Spina (Texas)

Stanford, Jon K (Texas)

Strong, James C. (Texas)

Tait, Monica E (Texas)

Taylor, Brock (Texas)

Tingle, Michal (Texas)

Valerino, Gary J. (Texas)

Waldorf, James J (Texas)

Weiss, Daniel H. (District of Columbia)

Wiethe, Donetta Donaldson (Texas)

Wogaman, Paul J (Texas)

Woods, Thomas M (Texas)

Woods, James C. (Texas)

Yim, Deborah E (Texas)

Zimmerman, Erika M. (Texas)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:07-cv-01559

Docket [PACER]

USA v. Dallas County

Nov. 4, 2011

Nov. 4, 2011

Docket

Re: Investigation of the Dallas County Jail, Dallas, Texas

DOJ investigation: Dallas County Jail

No Court

Dec. 8, 2006

Dec. 8, 2006

Findings Letter/Report
1

3:07-cv-01559

Complaint

USA v. Dallas County

Sept. 12, 2007

Sept. 12, 2007

Complaint

2007 WL 3312213

8

3:07-cv-01559

Agreed Order

USA v. Dallas County

Nov. 6, 2007

Nov. 6, 2007

Settlement Agreement

2007 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 98386

10

3:07-cv-01559

Inmate Declaration

USA v. Dallas County Texas

Oct. 15, 2008

Oct. 15, 2008

Declaration/Affidavit
11-3

3:07-cv-01559

Dallas County Jail 3rd Monitoring Report

Jan. 14, 2009

Jan. 14, 2009

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
11-2

3:07-cv-01559

Mental Health Care - Remedial Measure of Agreed Order

Jan. 14, 2009

Jan. 14, 2009

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
19-1

3:07-cv-01559

Dallas County Jail 8th Monitoring Report

June 18, 2011

June 18, 2011

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
19-2

3:07-cv-01559

Overview Re: the Behavioral and Psychiatric Services Programs

June 18, 2011

June 18, 2011

Monitor/Expert/Receiver Report
20

3:07-cv-01559

Joint Notice of Termination

USA v. Dallas County Texas

Nov. 4, 2011

Nov. 4, 2011

Other

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4390133/united-states-v-dallas-county-texas/

Last updated June 6, 2025, 11:30 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Dallas County, Texas, Lupe Valdez filed by United States of America. (Gov't-No Fee) (npk) (Entered: 09/12/2007)

Sept. 12, 2007

Sept. 12, 2007

PACER
2

CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PERSONS/DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by United States of America. (npk) (Entered: 09/12/2007)

Sept. 12, 2007

Sept. 12, 2007

RECAP
3

Certificate of the Attorney General by United States of America (npk) (Entered: 09/12/2007)

Sept. 12, 2007

Sept. 12, 2007

PACER
4

Order Designating Case for ECF - see order for specifics. (Signed by Judge David C Godbey on 9/12/07) (npk) (Entered: 09/12/2007)

Sept. 12, 2007

Sept. 12, 2007

PACER
5

ORDER: A hearing is set in this case on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. to consider approval of the proposed consent decree. The hearing will be held in Courtroom 1358. (Signed by Judge David C Godbey on 9/13/07) (skt) (Entered: 09/14/2007)

Sept. 13, 2007

Sept. 13, 2007

PACER
6

NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Peter L Harlan on behalf of Dallas County, Texas, Lupe Valdez. (Harlan, Peter) (Entered: 09/19/2007)

Sept. 19, 2007

Sept. 19, 2007

PACER
7

TRANSCRIPT of Hearing to Consider Approval of Proposed Consent Decree held on September 25, 2007 before Judge David C. Godbey. Court Reporter Name/Phone Number: Linda Robbins/214-748-8068. District Clerk Phone Number: 214-753-2633. ***The Official Record of the transcript is on file with the clerk's office. Contact either the clerk's office or the court reporter at phone numbers listed above to obtain a copy of the Official Record.*** (klm) (Entered: 10/05/2007)

Oct. 4, 2007

Oct. 4, 2007

PACER
8

AGREED ORDER re Proposed Consent Decree. (see order for specifics) (Signed by Judge David C Godbey on 11/6/2007) (tln) (Entered: 11/07/2007)

Nov. 6, 2007

Nov. 6, 2007

PACER
9

NOTICE of Filing first Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Part 1 Medical/Sanitation, # 2 Appendix Part 2 Mental Health) (Parker, John) (Entered: 07/15/2008)

2 Appendix Part 1 Medical/Sanitation

View on PACER

3 Appendix Part 2 Mental Health

View on PACER

July 15, 2008

July 15, 2008

PACER
10

Inmate Declaration filed by Lakeith Amir-Sharif (Non-party) (mfw) (Entered: 10/16/2008)

Oct. 15, 2008

Oct. 15, 2008

RECAP
11

NOTICE of Filing of Second Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Independent Monitor's Report (Mental Health Care), # 2 Appendix Independent Monitor's Report (Medical and Sanitation)) (Parker, John) (Entered: 01/14/2009)

1 Appendix Independent Monitor's Report (Mental Health Care)

View on PACER

2 Appendix Independent Monitor's Report (Medical and Sanitation)

View on PACER

Jan. 14, 2009

Jan. 14, 2009

PACER
12

NOTICE OF FILING OF THIRD OFFICIAL INDEPENDENT MONITOR'S REPORT filed by United States of America (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 06/10/2009)

June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009

PACER
13

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS 4th Monitoring Report to 12 Notice (Other) by Plaintiff United States of America. (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 06/10/2009)

June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009

PACER
14

ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS Mental Health Report to 12 Notice (Other) by Plaintiff United States of America. (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 06/10/2009)

June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009

PACER
15

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by United States of America re 12 Notice (Other), 14 Additional Attachments to Main Document, 13 Additional Attachments to Main Document Certificate of Service (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 06/10/2009)

June 10, 2009

June 10, 2009

PACER
16

NOTICE of Filing of Fourth Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Appendix Medical and Sanitation Assessment, # 2 Appendix Mental Health System Assessment) (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 01/15/2010)

2 Appendix Medical and Sanitation Assessment

View on PACER

3 Appendix Mental Health System Assessment

View on PACER

Jan. 15, 2010

Jan. 15, 2010

PACER
17

NOTICE of Filing Fifth Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s), # 2 Exhibit(s)) (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 07/09/2010)

1 Exhibit(s)

View on PACER

2 Exhibit(s)

View on PACER

July 9, 2010

July 9, 2010

PACER
18

NOTICE of Filing of Seventh Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) Medical and Sanitation Report, # 2 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report) (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 12/16/2010)

1 Exhibit(s) Medical and Sanitation Report

View on PACER

2 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report

View on PACER

Dec. 16, 2010

Dec. 16, 2010

PACER
19

NOTICE of Filing of Eighth Independent Monitor's Report filed by United States of America (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit(s) Medical and Sanitation Report, # 2 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report, # 3 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report Appendix) (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 06/18/2011)

1 Exhibit(s) Medical and Sanitation Report

View on PACER

2 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report

View on PACER

3 Exhibit(s) Mental Health Report Appendix

View on PACER

June 18, 2011

June 18, 2011

PACER
20

NOTICE of Termination (Joint) filed by Dallas County, Texas, United States of America, Lupe Valdez (Parker-DOJ, John) (Entered: 11/04/2011)

Nov. 4, 2011

Nov. 4, 2011

PACER

Case Details