mental retardation facilities in Tennessee and Wisconsin, issued a
findings letter covering all four secure juvenile facilities in
Louisiana, and opened an investigation of 11 juvenile facilities in
Georgia.
CRT also continued investigations of publicly operated nursing
homes, investigating three of the country’s largest and successfully
completing a case involving a nursing home in Washington, D.C. A
working group was established to coordinate and enhance this
work.
The Civil Division filed suits to remedy sexual misconduct by
prison guards in women’s prisons in Arizona and Michigan, and
began to address serious problems in mental health care in the Los
Angeles County jails. It implemented the Prison Litigation Reform
Act in all Department work involving correctional facilities.
BOP issued a new policy to ensure protection of religious rights
of inmates in special housing units and to establish procedures for
introducing new religious beliefs and practices. BOP also worked
closely with leaders of the Jewish, Rastafarian, and Nation of Islam
faiths to more effectively meet the religious needs of inmates. BOP
issued program guidelines for important holy days of major reli-
gions to ensure programming consistency in the field.
Additionally in 1997, the Department renewed its commitment
to protecting the rights of patients and health care providers
against threats of force and physical obstruction of reproductive
health facilities under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances
(FACE) Act. The Civil Division continued to work closely with the
U.S. Attorneys and State Attorneys General in prosecuting FACE
violations. The Department filed three new civil cases under FACE
and was successful in obtaining relief in four ongoing FACE cases.
In Terry v. Reno, the Supreme Court denied the plaintiff ’s petition
challenging the constitutionality of the Act.
Employment Rights
In 1997, the Department continued to pursue pattern or practice
employment discrimination cases. For example:
In settlement agreements reached