County responds to DOJ lawsuit

BUFFALO, N .Y. (RELEASE) - Erie County Executive Chris Collins, Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard and Erie County Attorney Cheryl Green held a joint news conference this afternoon responding to the lawsuit filed by the United States Department of Justice regarding the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility.

>> Read Justice Department's release here.

“The County of Erie under my direction and alongside Sheriff Howard over the past few months has fought the Department of Justice’s frivolous efforts to require county taxpayers to provide hotel rooms for prisoners,” said Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

“The DOJ has no legal foundation to support its allegations related to Erie County and this complaint demonstrates the weakness of the DOJ’s case.”

“Specifically, we have fought their efforts to require hardworking county taxpayers to provide a standard of care for prisoners that is simply not available to the average county taxpayer,” continued Collins. “Simply put, I will not let county taxpayers foot the bill so that Washington can ensure hotel rooms for prisoners.

This administration has sought to work with the federal government to resolve this issue while protecting county taxpayers at all costs. Unfortunately, the liberal activists driving this agenda continue to insist on a level of care far exceeding what is required under the United States Constitution.

This lawsuit filed today is a frivolous attempt to intimidate Erie County taxpayers into paying the bill to provide an excessive level of care for people who have broken the law.”

Collins and the Howard reminded taxpayers of the following facts:
• Since 2004, Erie County taxpayers have spent nearly $370 million to run both facilities.
• The suicide rate at both facilities is much lower than the national average for local jails and is lower than the rate in New York State prisons.
• Erie County meets, and in some instances exceeds, the constitutionally minimum requirements for providing medical services to inmates.

“The Department of Justice continues to ignore the work that has been done by my office and this Administration to improve conditions at the jail and holding center,” said Sheriff Timothy B. Howard. “Instead, the DOJ has relied on dishonest means and unfounded allegations by prisoners to advance their political agenda. We will continue to fight this on behalf of Erie County taxpayers.”