Hampton Roads Regional Jail, Constitutional Violations, Virginia 2016

The Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Virginia, is facing allegations of violating the constitutional rights of its prisoners. According to a recent investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the jail has failed to provide constitutionally adequate medical and mental health care to prisoners, placing them in restrictive housing for prolonged periods of time under conditions that violate the Constitution.

The investigation, which was initiated in December 2016 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), found evidence of significant violations of inmates’ constitutional rights to adequate medical and mental health care, as well as violations of the ADA. Specifically, the investigation concluded that the jail fails to provide constitutionally adequate medical and mental health care to prisoners, including those with serious mental illness.

“The Constitution guarantees all prisoners necessary medical care, including mental health care, treatment, and services,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Our investigation found reasonable cause to conclude that the Jail fails to provide constitutionally adequate medical and mental health care and that prisoners experience serious harm as a result.”

U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger of the Eastern District of Virginia added, “Our investigation uncovered evidence of significant violations of inmates’ constitutional rights to adequate medical and mental health care, as well as violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We look forward to working with the Jail to ensure the rights of those incarcerated are not violated.”

The investigation was conducted by attorneys with the Special Litigation Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Department via phone at (844) 644-0225 or by email at Community.HamptonRoads@usdoj.gov.

The Hampton Roads Regional Jail is a correctional facility located in Portsmouth, Virginia. It has a capacity for approximately 1,400 inmates. The jail provides a range of services to its prisoners, including medical and mental health care, education, and employment opportunities.

The investigation into the Hampton Roads Regional Jail is ongoing, and the Justice Department is working with the jail to ensure that the rights of its prisoners are protected. The Department has provided the jail with written notice of the supporting facts for these alleged conditions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address them.