Garcia v. Board of County Commissioners, El Paso County

Vincent Garcia committed suicide in the El Paso County Jail in 1983. His family filed a wrongful death and civil rights action against the sheriff and the Board of County Commissioners. When the case was resolved in 1985, Judge Zita Weinshienk entered a consent judgment. It requires the El Paso County Sheriff to adopt certain measures designed to reduce the risk of similar suicides in the future. The measures include improvement of certain physical facilities, additional training of deputies, improved intake and screening procedures, and creation of a separate ward for prisoners with serious mental health needs.

In early 2003, the County filed a motion seeking to terminate the consent judgment.

On behalf of Mr. Garcia's family, the ACLU then intervened in the case to oppose the County's request. The ACLU's brief documented a series of recent successful suicides in the jail and other problems in the jail's treatment of persons with serious mental health needs. The brief included facts obtained during the ACLU's investigation that resulted in a then-pending class action against the jail on behalf of prisoners with serious mental health needs. After a hearing, the district court granted the County's motion.