Congressman Dan Goldman's Statement on Ongoing Issues at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center

New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman issued the following statement on the ongoing issues at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC). 

“Over the last two years, there have been steady reports of deteriorating conditions at MDC harming inmates and corrections officers alike, including chronic understaffing, perpetual solitary confinement, and widespread violence. 

“With Edwin Coredero's recent death, at least four inmates under the MDC's care have died in the last seven months. A federal judge earlier this year cited the prison system’s ‘dreadful’ conditions as a reason not to remand a defendant to MDC. 

“Earlier this year, I toured MDC with the Warden and executives from the Bureau of Prisons, all of whom acknowledged the improvements needed at the facility. Unfortunately, conditions have only gotten worse.   

“In May of last year, I cosponsored the Federal Prison Oversight Act, which would require the Department of Justice’s Inspector General to conduct rigorous oversight of the federal prison system and create an independent Ombudsman to investigate health and safety issues at sites like the MDC prison.  

“Now passed by Congress, as soon as President Biden signs the ‘Federal Prison Oversight Act’ into law, I will file a formal request for an investigation by the Ombudsman into the MDC facility.  

“The current situation and conditions at Brooklyn MDC are untenable. The Federal Bureau of Prisons has a responsibility to ensure the health, safety, and fundamental rights of incarcerated people in their care. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that the issues at MDC are properly addressed and corrected.”  

###