U.S. Department of Justice¶
United States Attorney¶
Southern District of New York¶
The Silvio J. Mollo Building One Saint Andrew’s Plaza New York, New York 10007¶
May 5, 2021¶
BY ECF¶
The Honorable Alison J. Nathan¶
United States District Court¶
Southern District of New York¶
United States Courthouse¶
40 Foley Square¶
New York, New York 10007¶
Re: United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN)¶
Dear Judge Nathan:¶
The Government respectfully submits this letter in response to the Court’s Order dated April 29, 2021, which directed the Government to confer with legal counsel at the Metropolitan Detention Center (“MDC”) regarding the use of flashlights in security checks at MDC. (Dkt. No. 257). The Government has conferred with legal counsel at MDC in accordance with the Court’s Order, and legal counsel provided the information set forth herein.¶
MDC staff conduct flashlight checks at night as a matter of course throughout the facility for the safety and security of the inmates at the institution. During these flashlight checks, MDC staff point a flashlight at the ceiling of each cell to illuminate the cell sufficiently to confirm that the inmate is present in the cell, breathing, and not in distress. MDC staff conduct flashlight checks every 30 minutes for inmates housed in the Special Housing Unit (the “SHU”) and conduct flashlight checks of inmates in the general population multiple times each night at irregular intervals, but at an average of at least once per hour.¶
With respect to the defendant, MDC staff conduct flashlight checks every fifteen minutes because the defendant, while not on suicide watch, is on an enhanced security schedule. That is¶
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because MDC has identified a number of factors that raise heightened safety and security concerns with respect to this defendant, including: (1) the nature of the charges, (2) the potential stress for inmates that can arise in high-profile cases, and (3) the need to ensure the defendant’s safety while she is incarcerated in a cell by herself—a housing determination made by MDC staff based on various factors, including the defendant’s expressed concern for her safety if she were to be housed in the general population. $ ^{1} $¶
As to the Court’s question whether the defendant can be provided with “appropriate eye covering,” MDC legal counsel has informed the Government that the defendant cannot be provided with an eye mask. Eye masks are not available for purchase in commissary and are not issued to inmates and, therefore, are considered contraband. The defendant is permitted, however, to use non-contraband items to cover her eyes at night.¶
Should the Court have any questions or require any additional details regarding this topic, the Government will promptly confer with legal counsel at MDC and provide additional information.¶
Respectfully submitted,¶
AUDREY STRAUSS¶
United States Attorney¶
By:¶
Assistant United States Attorneys Southern District of New York¶
Cc: Defense Counsel (By ECF)¶
1 The MDC has determined the defendant’s current housing assignment based, in part, on her concerns about being housed in the general population and as an alternative to her being housed in the SHU. By contrast, in the SHU, most inmates have a cellmate which provides an additional check should something go wrong or should an inmate need medical attention in the middle of the night.¶
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