Case: CRIPA Investigation of San Luis Obispo County Jail

No Docket | No Court

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

In an August 31, 2021 findings letter, the DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys' office for the Central District of California found that the conditions at the San Luis Obispo County Jail violated the Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). DOJ had began a Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) investigation of the jail in 2018. In a fifty page report, DOJ found that the jail failed provide adequate medical and mental health treatment, placed people with mental illnesses in restrictive housing for prolonged periods of time, failed to prevent employees from using excessive force on incarcerated people, all in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, and denied incarcerated people with disabilities equal access to services and programs, in violation of the ADA. The jail now must respond to these allegations by mid-October, or face a lawsuit.

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Clarke, Kristen M. (District of Columbia)

Wilkison, Tracy L. (California)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Re: Investigation of the San Luis Obispo County Jail

Aug. 31, 2021

Aug. 31, 2021

Press Release

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:31 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

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

Defendants

San Luis Obispo County (San Luis Obispo), County

Defendant Type(s):

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

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Special Case Type(s):

Out-of-court

Available Documents:

None of the above

Outcome

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Policing:

Excessive force

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Administrative segregation

Disciplinary segregation

Solitary confinement/Supermax (conditions or process)

Disability and Disability Rights:

Mental impairment

Discrimination-basis:

Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)

Type of Facility:

Government-run