AG Joins Lawsuit Against Brooklyn Jail That Went Without Heat

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — New York Attorney General Letitia James has joined a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons following a week-long power outage that kept prisoners in a Brooklyn jail without heat or access to their attorneys and medications.

James' amicus brief, filed Friday, joins a lawsuit Brough by the Federal Defenders of New York, who claimed that the federal bureau violated the inmates' constitutional rights in their handling of the power outage, which began after an electrical fire on Jan. 27. Power was restored to the Metropolitan Detention Center a week later after days of protests and national outcry.

“The reported conditions at MDC were unacceptable and inhumane,” James said. “Being incarcerated should not result in being denied basic human rights. Our facilities must have proper protocols and procedures in place in the event of emergencies."

The U.S. Department of Justice has said that it is investigating the incident.

The lawsuit calls for the appointment of a "special master" to inspect the MDC and assess current conditions at the facility. In her brief, James cites the state's experience in handling emergencies such as power outages at prisons to highlight the need for the special master.

The lawsuit says lawyers heard from their clients — including some attorneys who were able to tour the facility during the power outage — that the fire had caused little or no heating, hot water, electricity or access to certain medical services, telephones, computers, televisions or commissary.

But prison officials, the lawsuit claims, continued to send out "false and/or misleading" statements about how heat, hot water and medical services were still being provided despite the electricity problems.

"There is a humanitarian crisis taking place at the main federal detention facility in
this District," the lawsuit alleges. "The Defendants' deprivation of MDC detainees' constitutional rights has caused and is causing irreparable harm to the Federal Defenders and its clients."

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