This class action, filed July 19, 2006, alleges that prisoners in the Garfield County Jail in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, are subjected to a pervasive pattern of disproportionate and excessive force carried out by deputies’ misuse and abuse of pepperball guns, restraint chairs, tasers, electroshock belts, and pepper spray. The jail has no written policies that limit deputies’ use of the first four of these devices, and the suit alleges that the one-page policy on pepper spray is insufficient as written and widely violated in practice.
In an amended complaint filed on August 1, 2006, attorneys for prisoners also alleged that the jail regularly denies mental health care to indigent prisoners with serious mental health needs. The suit further alleges that the jail regularly imposes harsh disciplinary sanctions without providing prisoners with notice, an opportunity to be heard, and other procedural protections required by due process.
While ACLU attorneys were investigating the prisoners’ allegations in the month before this suit was filed, the Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario adopted a new policy on attorney visits. The new policy prevented ACLU attorneys from meeting with some prisoners who had written to the ACLU seeking legal assistance. That policy, which the ACLU originally challenged in a separate lawsuit, is also at issue in this class action.
Update: The District Court granted class certification in a 2008 order. The Tenth Circuit reversed that ruling. Vandehey v. Vallario, 554 F.3d 1259 (10th Cir. 2009). The individual plaintiffs later accepted a settlement.
ACLU news releases:
- "ACLU files class action lawsuit challenging abuse of prisoners in Garfield County Jail," ACLU News Release, July 19, 2006
- "Federal court orders class action status in ACLU case on behalf of prisoners in Garfield County Jail," ACLU News Release, March 14, 2008
Media:
- “ACLU sues over prisoner treatment,” The Denver Post, July 19, 2006
- “Garco sheriff: ACLU allegations ‘pathetic’,” The Aspen Times, July 21, 2006
- “County denies mental health care to indigent inmates, lawsuit says,” 9 News, August 29, 2006
- “ACLU adds to suit against Garco Sheriff,” Summit Daily, August 29, 2006
- “Vallario files response to ACLU suit,” Post Independent, October 2, 2006
- “Garfield County Jail changes address mental health care,” Summit Daily, February 22, 2007
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“ACLU investigates Garfield County jail suicide,” Post Independent, June 14, 2007
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“GarCo Jail civil rights lawsuit costs taxpayers over $569K,” Post Independent, November 2, 2008
- "ACLU Lawsuit on Excessive Force at Garfield County Jail," Colorado Matters, Colorado Public Radio, April 5, 2010
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“Garfield sheriff says use of force in jail reduced,” Grand Junction Sentinel, March 8, 2011
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“Garfield County Settles ACLU Lawsuit Over Jail,” CBS News, May 9, 2011
- "Garfield County settles ACLU jail lawsuit," The Denver Post, May 10, 2011
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“Garfield settles ACLU suit over jail operations,” Grand Junction Sentinel, May 9, 2011
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“Garfield County settles 2006 inmate-abuse lawsuit,” Grand Junction Sentinel, May 10, 2011
ACLU case number
2006-03
