Steube Demands Answers on Conditions of Custody for Non-Violent U.S. Capitol Protestors, Condemns Politicization of Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) sent a letter to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Director of the D.C. Department of Corrections inquiring about the conditions of custody for those awaiting trial on charges connected to the January 6 protest at the U.S. Capitol. This letter comes amid reports of non-violent offenders being held for extended periods of time, either in solitary confinement or other extreme conditions without explanation.
“Political motivations should not be taken into consideration when determining conditions of custody, especially for non-violent individuals who have not been convicted of a crime,” Steube said. “Yet reports have surfaced that many of the suspects arrested in connection with the January 6 protests are being held in solitary confinement or in other extreme conditions without a satisfactory explanation.”
The letter requests a response to the following inquiries:
“1. Describe the process by which your agency determines the conditions of custody for inmates being held in pre-trial detention (“pre-trial inmates”). Specifically, describe how your agency determines if a pre-trial inmate will be placed in solitary confinement, protective custody, or in a special type of custody where they are more restricted than the general population of pre-trial inmates (collectively referred to hereinafter as “solitary confinement”).
2. How many pre-trial inmates are currently in your agency’s custody? How many pre-trial inmates in your agency’s custody are currently in solitary confinement?
3. How many pre-trial inmates in your agency’s custody are being held on charges connected to the January 6 protests? How many pre-trial inmates in your agency’s custody being held on charges connected to the January 6 protests are currently in solitary confinement?
4. List all pre-trial inmates in your agency’s custody being held on charges connected to the January 6 protests that are currently in solitary confinement. Please provide background on why they are in solitary confinement.
5. Describe the process by which prosecutors, judges, or any other government entity outside of your agency, can recommend or order changes to the conditions of custody for pre-trial inmates.
6. For pre-trial inmates in your agency’s custody being held on charges connected to the January 6 protests, have any had their conditions of custody changed due to recommendations or orders by prosecutors, judges, or any other government entity outside of your agency? If yes, please list those inmates. Additionally, please provide details on the conditions of their pre-trial custody and how they were changed in response to recommendations
or orders by prosecutors, judges, or any other government entity outside of your agency.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
###
