Doe v. Foti Complaint

Doe v. Foti was a civil rights class action challenging conditions of confinement for juveniles in the Conchetta Facility, Orleans Parish Prison, in New Orleans, and the policies and practices of defendants of confining juveniles in that Detention Center. Specific allegations included an inadequate educational program consisting of at best five hours of school per week, but no school program for juveniles on lock-down units and no provision of federally mandated special education and related services; inadequate provision of basic supplies such as pillows, bed sheets, deodorant, socks, shoes, underwear and seasonally appropriate clothing; inadequate laundry practices; inadequate food and unsanitary food service and food transport practices; inadequate ventilation, heating and cooling in the facility; lack of appropriate training and supervision of staff; abusive disciplinary practices; inadequate medical, dental and mental health services; inadequate visitation and inadequate indoor and outdoor activities. This case settled on the first day of trial, resulting in a reduction of the population in the facility by one-half, improvements in classroom size and student-teacher ratios to provide adequate education services. In addition, defendants have agreed to build a gymnasium, increase visitation, increase the amount of food provided, and implement a new classification system. Following the settlement, the defendants moved all young wards to the South White facility, which we inspected and found acceptable.