The Office of the District of Columbia Auditor, in conjunction with the Counsel for Court Excellence, hav released a new report, Urgent Need for New D.C. Jail, that details dangerous and deteriorating conditions at the D.C. Jail. This audit offers the most comprehensive review to date of facility operations, documenting a crisis marked by rising deaths, structural decay, staff shortages, and inadequate medical and behavioral health care. This report collected data for and covers an “audit period” of July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024 and makes a series of Findings and Recommendations on eleven different topics: 1) Conditions of Jail Facilities, 2) Staffing and Supervision, 3) Deaths in Custody, 4) Violence and Use of Force, 5) Healthcare, 6) Visitation and Other Resident Communication Opportunities, 7) Restrictive Housing, 8) The Grievance Process, 9) Food, 10) Programming, and, 11) Legal Access.
The findings are damning, but no surprise to anyone who has been in the D.C. Jail or had a loved one held there.
At Golden Law, we know the human costs of these failings. Every statistic tells the story of real people who are hurt by the city's failure to act.
If you've been harmed at the D.C. Jail, contact us. We can review your situation and help you understand your options.