After a 17-month investigation initiated by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the Department of Justice has released a report finding that Cook County Jail “systematically violates inmates" federal constitutional rights. The Sun-Times has more:
- The jail failed to adequately protect inmates from harm and serious risk of harm — including excessive use of force by staff and violence by other inmates.
- Failure to provide adequate medical and mental health care — including suicide prevention.
- Failure to provide safety and sanitation — “all resulting in unconstitutional living conditions,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s office
Thankfully, U.S. prosecutors can now force a correction of deficiencies at the county jail, which are a long time coming. As you may remember, this is the same institution where a 2004 Cook County special grand jury found widespread abuses, including a massive beating of inmates by guards in 1999.
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