Department Of Justice Letter To Harris County Jail Texas

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United States Department Of Justice

Dear Judge Emmett:

This is to inform you that the United States Department of Justice is commencing an investigation of the Harris County Jail ("HCJ") pursuant to our authority under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Person's Act, 42, U.S.C., 1997. In conducting the investigation, we are obliged to determine whether there are systematic violations of the Constitution of the United States in the conditions at HCJ.

Our investigation will focus on protection of inmates from harm, environmental conditions, and inmate medical and metal health care. We have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation. We believe that you and other County officials want to operate HCJ consistent with the requirements of the Constitution.

During the course of our investigation, we will consider all relevant information, particularly the efforts the County has undertaken to ensue compliance with federal law. We also will offer to provide recommendation on ways to improve conditions at the facility, when appropriate. Provided that the County cooperates fully with our investigation, if we conclude that there are no systematic violations of constitutional or other federal rights, we will notify you that we are closing the investigation.
If, on the other hand, we conclude that there are such violations, we will provide detailed, written findings and identify the minimum measures we believe are necessary to remedy the violations. In addition, we will identify any financial, technical, or other assistance the Unites States may be able to provide to assist the County in correcting the identified deficiencies.

In over 20 years of enforcing the Civil rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, the good faith efforts of state or local jurisdictions working with us have enabled us routinely to resolve our claims without resort to contested litigation.
We encourage Harris County to cooperate with our investigation and can assure you that we will seek to minimize any potential disruption our efforts may have on the operations of the institution."

Sincerely,
Grace Chung Becker
Acting Assistant Attorney General