The Justice Department opened a federal civil rights investigation Monday into conditions inside the District of Columbia’s jails.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the department’s Civil Rights Division, notified Mayor Muriel Bowser in a letter dated Oct. 19. The Washington Times and the Washington Examiner reported on the probe. The department posted the letter and a news release on justice.gov.
What investigators will look at
The department will decide whether the D.C. Department of Corrections has a pattern or practice of violating the constitutional rights of inmates and detainees. The letter lists four areas:
- Use of force: Whether the jails fail to protect people from excessive force.
- Medical care: Whether inmates get adequate medical care.
- Living conditions: Whether the buildings are safe and sanitary.
- Food: Whether inmates get adequate nutrition.
The review covers conditions for everyone held in the D.C. jail since Jan. 1, 2021. The department said it has reached no conclusions.
“The Constitution protects the rights of every incarcerated American, including those held in custody in our nation’s capital,” Dhillon said in the release.
Why now
The department said it has received many complaints about the jails, including a report from the District’s own auditor.
That May 2025 report from the Office of the D.C. Auditor found the rate of deaths in custody at the jail was 3.5 times the national average during its review period. Overdose deaths ran 10 times higher. The auditor also found the department did not control parasites, vermin and mold, and spent about $30 million on overtime because of staffing shortages. The Department of Corrections disputed many of the findings at the time.
What happens next
- The law: The probe falls under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, which lets the department investigate jails and prisons for systemic violations.
- Possible outcomes: If investigators find no violations, the department will close the case. If they find systemic problems, the letter says the department will share its findings and try to work out fixes with the city before going to court.
- Who was notified: Copies went to Corrections Director Thomas Faust, Warden Joe Page III and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb.
- Tips: The department asked anyone with information to report it at civilrights.justice.gov/report.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice news release and Civil Rights Division letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser, Oct. 19, 2026; Office of the D.C. Auditor, May 28, 2025; The Washington Times; Washington Examiner.
