Case: CRIPA Investigation of the Escambia County Jail

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Case Summary

In 2009, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (“DOJ”) opened this investigation into the conditions of confinement at the Escambia County Jail, a jail in Pensacola, Florida, that housed approximately 1300 prisoners as of May 2013. The investigation sought to explore: practices relating to the level of security; the adequacy of medical and mental health services; sanitation and environmental conditions. The investigation was undertaken pursuant to DOJ's authority under the Civil Rig…

In 2009, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (“DOJ”) opened this investigation into the conditions of confinement at the Escambia County Jail, a jail in Pensacola, Florida, that housed approximately 1300 prisoners as of May 2013. The investigation sought to explore: practices relating to the level of security; the adequacy of medical and mental health services; sanitation and environmental conditions. The investigation was undertaken pursuant to DOJ's authority under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.

At the same time as this investigation, DOJ also investigated ESCO's policing practices.

After some years of investigation, which included multiple tours of the facility by DOJ lawyers and expert consultants, the DOJ sent a Findings Letter on May 22, 2013, to the Escambia County Administrator and Escambia County Sheriff. The Findings Letter stated that DOJ had found the conditions at the facility were routinely violating the constitutional rights of prisoners. Specifically, the Findings Letter stated that: (1) Escambia County Jail has ignored obvious and serious security risks to prisoner safety; (2) The Jail’s use of black-only pods impermissibly discriminated against African-Americans; and (3) Escambia County Jail has ignored obvious and serious risks to prisoners’ mental health. The Findings Letter included proposed remedial measures. It also commended the Escambia County Jail for cooperating during the investigation and implementing improvements responsive to DOJ’s concerns (for example, the Jail agreeing to cease using black-only pods). The Letter expressed the DOJ’s intention to continue working with the Jail in a cooperative fashion going forward.

According to the DOJ's annual report to Congress, the investigation was closed in 2014 after an apparent natural gas explosion destroyed a significant part of the Jail.

Summary Authors

Chris Pollack (2/21/2019)

Jonah Hudson-Erdman (9/5/2021)

Related Cases

DOJ Investigation of Escambia County Sheriff's Office, No Court (None)

People


Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Austin, Roy L. (District of Columbia)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Justice Department Finds Unconstitutional Conditions of Confinement at Escambia County, Fla. Jail

May 22, 2013

May 22, 2013

Press Release

Re: Investigation of the Escambia County Jail

May 22, 2013

May 22, 2013

Findings Letter/Report

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:45 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Closing Date: 2014

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States 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

Escambia County (Escambia), County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

General:

Conditions of confinement

Incident/accident reporting & investigations

Racial segregation

Policing:

Excessive force

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Grievance procedures

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Race:

Black

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Medication, administration of

Mental health care, general

Self-injurious behaviors

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run