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District leaders defend DC Jail amid reports of unsafe and unsanitary conditions

After a U.S. Marshal report of inmates being denied basic necessities and safety issues weren't being addressed, the jail invited reporters to see for themselves.

WASHINGTON — D.C. leaders are on the defense, disputing reports by the U.S. Marshall's office claiming there are poor and unsanitary conditions inside the DC Jail.

In an effort to expand transparency, District officials opened the jail doors Tuesday, to give reporters a rare look to look at conditions inside, explain their COVID-protocols and highlight various educational programs. 

In October, Marshals conducted a surprise inspection, following allegations of unsanitary conditions, which led to hundreds of inmates getting transferred to the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.  According to the report, inmates complained of standing sewage and clogged toilets, and some even alleged they were being denied food and water as punishment. 

D.C.'s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Chris Geldart admitted that the Central Detention Facility, which is 45 years old, has some maintenance problems but denies what the Marshalls call "systemic failures" that led to uninhabitable conditions inside.

“To say that we haven't paid attention to the facility over all this time and it was just when the January 6th people came here that people paid attention, you may be talking about Congress, you may be talking about the U.S. Marshalls, but I can tell you from the Department of Corrections and the city, we pay attention to this facility every day," Geldart said. 

The Central Treatment Facility, where alleged Capitol rioters are being housed, is about 30 years old. The USMS said it found no conditions that would necessitate transferring inmates out of the CTF. Conditions at the CTF have been a regular source of complaints from January 6 defendants and from supporters on the right, who have attempted to label them as “political prisoners.”

Geldart said he invited reporters to see conditions for themselves. But the sole camera allowed in (footage was shared amongst reporters) was not granted access to numerous sections of the jail. When reporters asked to see maximum security cells, the tour stopped momentarily as District leaders talked amongst themselves. They eventually did allow reporters to walk into empty cells without cameras, as they had been the subject of many complaints. Everything was in working order. 

"The humanity in how I operate as the director and expectations I have for the men and women that work in our facility that care deeply about the people that are here, that would never be tolerated," said Department of Corrections Director Quincy Booth. "And as far as the accusation of water being turned off and food being denied, I'm going to be candid with you - you would know about it."

Geldartb said the jail has on-site maintenance crews to get to problems quickly, saying that when inmates file grievances they're addressed that day. He added that each person housed in the jail has access to 24-hour medical care. There are currently 1,326 incarcerated men and women at the D.C. jail -- well below the capacity of 35,000. 

“I spent a good portion on the north side and it was not a pleasant experience,” inmate Tom Keelan, who was chosen to speak to reporters, said. "Hot in the summer without air conditioner, cold in winter with no heat.”  

“I think you’ll always have complaints due to the fact that we’re in prison,” said another inmate.

Keelan said things have improved since he was transferred to another unit and got into the "Lead Up" program at the jail. 

“The Lead Up program is amazing,” he said. "Dr. Lopez has put together a beautiful place where we can learn and be educated."

"We’re trying to get ourselves together so we can get back to the community and be a positive change that our community needs,” added another program participant, Larry Brown.  

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