Cook County Jail violates inmate rights, U.S. finds

The Chicago Tribune reports:

The constitutional rights of inmates at Cook County Jail are systematically violated, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Chicago, which just released the findings of a 17-month investigation of the facility.

The jail is accused of failing to adequately protect inmates from physical harm by staff and other inmates. The jail also has failed to provide adequate medical care and sanitary conditions, resulting "in unconstitutional living conditions," a statement from the office said.

Federal authorities delivered a 98-page letter to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Sheriff Tom Dart on Friday, prosecutors said. The investigation began in February 2007.

The county now has 49 days to address the findings before any legal action is taken by the U.S., officials said. But federal officials made it clear that they hope to resolve the matter short of a lawsuit.