Erie County, Improper Inmate Care, New York 2023

ERIE COUNTY, NY - In a shocking turn of events, the Justice Department has announced that it will be terminating a consent decree regarding the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility. This news comes after Erie County successfully achieved substantial compliance with the decree and maintained compliance for over 18 months, as required by the decree.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, “Under the consent decree, Erie County made fundamental improvements to conditions in the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility.”

The decree, which was brought under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), prohibited a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. Specifically, the department found systemic deficiencies related to suicide prevention, medical care, and mental health care, which resulted in the preventable death of incarcerated individuals.

The county has made substantial progress in the facilities' medical and mental health programs, protection of incarcerated individuals from harm, and environmental health and safety. For example, the county has established a Medical Review Committee that oversees the implementation of medical policies and procedures, performs quarterly quality management reviews of the sick call process, and analyzes medical data to ensure access to quality care.

The county has also developed a Stabilization Treatment Unit designed for the therapeutic benefit of individuals with serious mental illness. Additionally, the county has implemented provisions of the consent decree requiring constant observation and frequent assessments by mental health professionals for individuals requiring a crisis level of care, who may be at risk of suicide.

Defendant: Erie County, Location: Erie County, NY. Charge: Improper Inmate Care. Date: 2011 (consent decree), Outcome: Consent decree terminated.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-improvements-conditions-erie-county-holding-center-and-erie