Noah Goldberg and Molly Crane-Newman
New York Daily News
BROOKLYN, NY — Inmates at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn are once again without heat — just one month after heat and power outages sparked outrage and protests at the jail, federal defense attorneys said Friday.
Deirdre von Dornum, a lawyer with the Federal Defenders of New York, told reporters outside Brooklyn Federal Court she had “first-hand knowledge” of at least three units in the jail without heat.
Inmates have reported cold air blowing into their cells through vents, accordingto von Dornum.
The federal Bureau of Prisons, which runs the jail, denied the accusation.
“Contrary to media reports, the heat at MDC Brooklyn is fully operational and the institution is operating normally,” the bureau said in an emailed statement to the Daily News.
The lockup was partially without heat for over a week during some of the coldest days of the year in late January and early February.
Protests drew a flurry of politicians to the 14-story-jail, including Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-Brooklyn), who toured the inside.
The Federal Defenders are suing the federal Bureau of Prisons for denying lawyers access to their clients inside the jail during those heat and power outages that caused “inhumane” conditions for inmates.
U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie told the Federal Defenders to amend their suit Friday, saying it must be brought by inmates.
“Federal Defenders is not the party who can bring this action,” Judge Brodie said. “That is the right of the accused and the accused only.”
Lawyers for the government argued inmates were denied visits due to an emergency. Both sides are due back in court Monday, and the Federal Defenders plan to add two or three inmates to the suit as plaintiffs.
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