(Washington, DC)  At his weekly press briefing today, Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced that with the termination of Women Prisoners of DC v. District of Columbia class action lawsuit, the DC Department of Corrections ends 33 years of court oversight and court orders.  On Thursday, September 9, 2004, US District Court Judge Emmett G. Sullivan dismissed the Order in Women Prisoners upon the filing of a mutual consent motion of the parties thus terminating the last case in which the Courts maintained oversight of the DC Department of Corrections.

Mayor Williams praised the ruling by Judge Sullivan as further evidence that the District is committed to improving city services and programs for all of its citizens.  “The director and staff at DC Department of Corrections continue to demonstrate their commitment to meeting the highest standards.  I commend them and the Attorney General’s office for this historic accomplishment.”

Corrections Department Director Odie Washington stated, “We have already made great strides toward building a model jail, and we are pleased that the last court order has been terminated, so we can continue to concentrate on building an effective and accredited correctional system that not only meets but exceeds national standards.”  Director Washington cited the $30 million dollar capital improvement program approved by the Mayor and City Council for playing a major role in helping to end court oversight and improve conditions.

The Women Prisoners case, which was filed in October 1994, alleged that the Department provided unequal programs and services for women prisoners as compared to similarly situated male prisoners, including educational, vocational, work training and apprenticeship programs.  The case also alleged inadequate OB/Gyn care, poor physical plant conditions and sexual harassment of female prisoners.  The Department of Corrections improved the quality of the environment services and programs available to female prisoners and implemented a program for the prevention of sexual misconduct in the prison system that included training of all employees and inmates, an incident reporting process and a zero tolerance disciplinary policy.  The case was one of 15 filed over the past 33 years that addressed conditions in the department.

Last year, the cases of Campbell v. McGruder and Inmates v. Jackson were terminated, ending 32 years of court oversight of the DC Jail in two of the oldest cases in the US  District Court.  Those cases focused on environmental and safety conditions at the Jail.

For more information, contact the DC Department of Corrections, Office of Communications at (202) 671-2135.