Detroit City Wire

DETROIT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has reached a landmark settlement agreement with Wayne County concerning inmates with disabilities. After receiving numerous complaints, the U.S. Attorney’s Office opened an investigation of the Wayne County Jail under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132.

The complaints alleged that Wayne County routinely failed to provide crucial services to inmates with disabilities, including access to appropriate prescription medication, mental health services, and medical equipment. Additionally, some complaints alleged a failure to conduct medical and mental health assessments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also learned that eight inmates committed suicide over a thirteen-month period during 2016 and 2017.

The investigation substantiated several of the complaints and yielded additional concerns regarding the services, programs, and activities provided in the Wayne County Jail.

“Wayne County has a long and troubled history of providing inadequate services to inmates who have disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison. “We recognize that Wayne County is transitioning inmates into a new facility. However, a new building does not ensure access to those vital services. This agreement addresses systemic issues that have prevented inmates who have disabilities from equal access to services, programs, and activities while at the Wayne County Jail.”

Ison added: “Wayne County has fully cooperated with our investigation and this settlement agreement demonstrates our shared commitment to improving services for inmates with disabilities at the Wayne County Jail.”

The settlement agreement requires Wayne County to implement a series of reforms at the jail, including:

- Procedures to identify inmates who have disabilities upon arrival.

- Programs ensuring each inmate's access to services regardless of their location within the facility.

- Access to physical health, mental health, and dental services for all inmates with disabilities.

- Programs like detoxification and treatment for opioid use disorder.

- Appropriate administration of medication.

- Robust revisions to the suicide prevention program.

To ensure compliance with the agreement, Wayne County will provide compliance reports to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and retain at least one expert consultant to help implement its terms. The agreement will remain in effect for three years unless Wayne County demonstrates durable compliance.

The investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon Ackenhausen and Michael El-Zein of the Civil Rights Unit, along with Executive Assistant United States Attorney Luttrell Levingston.

The full enforcement of the ADA is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Established in 2010, its Civil Rights Unit prioritizes federal civil rights enforcement efforts.

For more information on these efforts or a copy of the agreement, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/programs/civil-rights.

Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination or experienced a civil rights violation can submit a complaint via email at usamie.civilrights@usdoj.gov or by phone at (313) 226-9151. Complaints can also be submitted through the Civil Rights Division's complaint portal.