Justice Department Opens Civil Rights Investigation Into D.C. Jails Over Force, Medical Care, Sanitation and Food

The Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the District of Columbia's jails, telling Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday that it will examine whether the D.C. Department of Corrections violates the constitutional rights of the people it holds.

The investigation was announced Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, by the department's Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. In a two-page letter to Bowser dated the same day, Dhillon wrote that the department "is commencing an investigation into the District of Columbia Department of Corrections ('DOC') facilities" and that the letter "is official notice as required by statute." The letter was reviewed by The Digital Free Press.

What the DOJ Civil Rights Investigation Will Examine

According to the letter, the department will determine whether the District "engages in a pattern or practice of violating the constitutional rights of inmates and detainees held at DOC facilities" in four ways:

- "failing to protect them from use of excessive force" - "failing to provide adequate medical care" - "failing to provide safe and sanitary physical conditions of confinement" - "failing to provide adequate nutrition"

The letter says the investigation "will examine conditions of confinement for all D.C. jail inmates since January 1, 2021."

The department is acting under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, known as CRIPA. The department's press release says the law gives it authority to investigate violations of prisoners' constitutional rights that result from a "pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of such rights."

"The Constitution protects the rights of every incarcerated American, including those held in custody in our nation's capital," Dhillon said in the release. "We are committed to upholding our federal civil rights laws so that no inmate is confined in unconstitutional conditions or subject to unconstitutional mistreatment at the District of Columbia Department of Corrections."

The release says the department "has received numerous allegations regarding conditions in D.C. DOC facilities, including a report from the District of Columbia's own Auditor."

Both the letter and the release stress that no findings have been made. "We have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of this investigation," Dhillon wrote, adding that the department will "consider all relevant information, including the efforts the District has taken to ensure compliance with the Constitution."

What the D.C. Auditor Reported

The Justice Department did not say which Auditor report it was referring to. The most recent jail report from the Office of the D.C. Auditor, titled "Urgent Need for New D.C. Jail," was published May 28, 2025.

According to the Auditor's press release on that report, it contained 39 findings and 61 recommendations. The release said the rate of deaths in custody at the jail during the audit period "had climbed to 3.5 times the national average, and the rate of overdose-related deaths was 10 times higher." The release's subheadline said $30 million was spent on overtime because of staffing shortages.

"A new jail to replace the aging Correctional Detention Facility has been discussed for more than 20 years and it's past time to act," D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson said at the time.

The Department of Corrections pushed back on that report. The Auditor's release said the department "took exception to many of the findings and recommendations," and that its comments were included in the report. The release quoted a letter from DOC Director Thomas Faust acknowledging that "there is no question that the structure of the CDF facility presents real limitations in delivering programming and services."

As of Monday afternoon, neither the mayor's office nor the Department of Corrections had posted a public statement on the federal investigation on their websites.

What Happens Next

Dhillon's letter says attorneys from the Civil Rights Division "will contact your office to discuss next steps," and it names Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jonas Geissler as the contact. The letter was copied to Faust; Joe Page III, the DOC warden; Tony Towns, the department's acting general counsel; and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb.

The letter lays out two possible outcomes. "If we ultimately determine that there are no constitutional violations, we will notify you that we are closing the investigation," Dhillon wrote. "If we determine that there are systemic violations, we will inform you of our findings and attempt to work with the DOC to remedy those violations."

The letter also encourages the District to cooperate and says the department will "seek to minimize any potential disruption our investigation may have on DOC operations." It adds that in the department's experience, "the good faith efforts of jurisdictions to work with us have routinely enabled us to resolve our claims without resorting to contested litigation."

The department's release says CRIPA investigations of other correctional systems, "where violations have been found," have led to settlement agreements that "have led to important reforms." It asks anyone with relevant information to contact the department through civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

TDFP has asked the Justice Department, Mayor Bowser's office and the D.C. Department of Corrections for comment and will update this story.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, "Justice Department Notifies the District of Columbia of Investigation into Whether Conditions in the D.C. Department of Corrections Correctional Facilities Violate the Constitution" (Press Release 26-1121, Oct. 19, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-notifies-district-columbia-investigation-whether-conditions-dc-department ; Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, letter to Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (Oct. 19, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1466936/dl ; Office of the D.C. Auditor, "Urgent Need for New D.C. Jail" (May 28, 2025): https://dcauditor.org/report/dc-jail-report-update-report-5-28-25/ and press release: https://dcauditor.org/press_releases/urgent-need-for-new-d-c-jail/