Around 400 inmates will be moved from the DC Department of Corrections’ facilities after an unannounced inspection revealed unsanitary living conditions, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.
The DC inmates will be transferred by the US Marshals Service (USMS) to a federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania as a consequence of the latest inspection that took place last month.
Inspectors also found that detainees have been subjected to “systemic” mistreatment, including the punitive denial of food and water, at the DC jail that is home to more than 1,000 inmates.
“The USMS inspection was prompted by recent and historical concerns raised regarding conditions at the DC DOC facilities, including those recently raised by various members of the judiciary,” the Marshals Service said, adding that conditions at the facilities do not meet the minimum standards of confinement as per the Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards.
DC’s deputy mayor for public safety and justice, Christopher Geldart, said in a statement that it was the DC Department of Corrections’ (DOC) mission to provide a safe and humane environment for everyone under their detention.
“We regularly work on structural repairs to the aging detention facility; however, the allegations in the summary letter from the Acting U.S. Marshal are deeply concerning,” said Geldart, vowing that the DC government would address the issues found in the report.
The DC administration is expecting to received the complete report to find out more details, along with latest inspection reports from the Corrections Information Council, according to Geldart.
“We take seriously the responsibility of caring for justice-involved DC residents and believe they should remain in DC. DOC leadership is evaluating moving inmates within the facility so that issues raised can be addressed efficiently and expeditiously,” he added.