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Document DOJ-OGR-00023476

AI Analysis

Summary: The investigation report found that MCC New York staff failed to conduct required cell searches, allowed excessive linens in Epstein's cell, and had a non-functional security camera system due to longstanding deficiencies and poor management decisions. These failures occurred in the period leading up to Epstein's death on August 10, 2019. The report highlights a pattern of negligence and incompetence within the facility.
Significance: This document is potentially important because it reveals significant failures and deficiencies in the operation of MCC New York, particularly with regards to the supervision of Jeffrey Epstein and the functionality of the security camera system.
Key Topics: Failure to conduct cell searches in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) Excessive linens in Epstein's cell Deficiencies with MCC New York's security camera system
Key People:
  • The Warden - Responsible for the overall management of MCC New York
  • Day Watch SHU Officer in Charge - Failed to conduct or document cell searches
  • Evening Watch SHU Officer in Charge - Failed to ensure cell searches were conducted and failed to log cell searches
  • Noel - SHU Officer in Charge during a shift on August 9 or 10, 2019
Document Type
Report
Date
Unknown
Pages
1
Folder
IMAGES009

Full Text

TRUSCOPE, but that it was primarily the SHU Officer in Charge's responsibility to do so. The Evening Watch SHU Officer in Charge told the OIG that he and other staff members did not conduct any cell searches during his shift in the SHU on August 9. Additionally, the OIG determined that there was an excessive amount of bed linen within Epstein's cell. The Captain reviewed photographs of Epstein's cell and told the OIG that the excessive linens were a security issue because they could give inmates materials to fashion an improvised noose or use as escape paraphernalia. The OIG found that on August 9, 2019, the Day Watch SHU Officer in Charge either failed to conduct the required cell searches or failed to document the cell searches that he conducted in the SHU, and that the Evening Watch SHU Officer in Charge failed to ensure that MCC New York staff assigned to the SHU conducted cell searches and himself failed to log cell searches in violation of BOP policy and MCC New York SHU Post Orders. Additionally, the OIG found that it was a performance failure for the Day Watch SHU Officer in Charge, the Evening Watch SHU Officer in Charge, and Noel, who served as the SHU Officer in Charge during their respective shifts on August 9 and 10, 2019, to have permitted Epstein to have an excessive amount of linens in his cell. E. MCC New York Staff Failed to Ensure that the Institution's Security Camera System was Fully Functional Resulting in Limited Recorded Video Evidence This investigation and review revealed longstanding deficiencies with MCC New York's security camera system. These deficiencies resulted in nearly all of the cameras in and around the SHU where Epstein was being housed to not record video starting in late July 2019 and continuing through the date of Epstein's death on August 10, 2019. According to forensic analysis conducted by the FBI after Epstein's death, on July 29, 2019, a disk failure in MCC New York's DVR 2 system caused approximately half of the institution's cameras—including nearly all of the cameras in and around the SHU—to display only a live video feed with no video recording. MCC New York personnel did not learn of this system failure until 11 days later on August 8, 2019. MCC New York personnel determined that the DVR 2 system needed to be rebuilt to restore recording functionality. Despite the lack of recording functionality, this repair was not completed until after Epstein's death. The Warden told the OIG that he was generally aware that there were problems with the camera system. The Warden sought and received approval from BOP to replace the entire camera system and in September 2018, BOP entered into contracts totaling over $730,000 to purchase new equipment for the camera replacement project. Although MCC New York management procured new DVR components approximately 9 months prior to Epstein's death, the new system was not installed in a timely manner. The new cameras required new conduit and wiring to be installed before the camera installation. Management faced staffing shortages, temporary rotating facility managers, and other competing priorities that did not allow for completion of the installation of the wiring or the new camera system. The OIG determined that as of August 2021—nearly 3 years after MCC New York contracted for replacement camera equipment—the system upgrade still had not been completed.87 87 The BOP temporarily closed MCC New York in October 2021 due to substandard conditions that are unrelated to this investigation and review.