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Pennsylvania State Correctional Institutions Face Investigations for Negligent Operation of Prisons
The Justice Department has announced the opening of civil investigations into two state correctional institutions (SCI) in Western Pennsylvania: SCI Pittsburgh and SCI Cresson. The investigations aim to determine whether these prisons have violated the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by failing to protect prisoners from harm, including violence and sexual abuse.
The allegations against SCI Pittsburgh include prisoner-on-prisoner and officer-on-prisoner violence, as well as systematic targeting of prisoners based on their race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other status. This violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The investigation into SCI Cresson focuses on the provision of inadequate mental health care to prisoners with mental illness, failure to protect them from harm, and subjecting them to excessively prolonged periods of isolation, all in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
The Justice Department will seek to determine whether there is a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution by officers or staff at SCI Cresson and SCI Pittsburgh. The investigation will involve visits to the facilities, review of records, interviews with corrections officials, prisoners, and other witnesses, including family and community members, and advocates.
The investigation is separate from any potential federal criminal investigation involving these facilities. The public can submit additional information to the Justice Department via email at pennsylvaniaprisons.community@usdoj.gov, starting from December 2, 2011.
The Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania are jointly investigating this matter.
Defendant/Respondent: Pennsylvania State Correctional Institutions
Exact Criminal Charges: Negligent operation of prisons, violating the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
City and State: Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: Ongoing investigation
Sentence or Outcome: Ongoing investigation
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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