Government Loses Hard Drives It Was Supposed to Put ICE Detention Center Footage On
Jason Koebler
404 Media
Government Loses Hard Drives It Was Supposed to Put ICE Detention Center Footage OnThe filing notes that the five missing cameras are specifically from detainee isolation cells, “despite those cells being a key part of Plaintiffs’ complaint. The produced feeds show egregious conditions but were insufficient to provide Plaintiffs the discovery necessary to fully investigate their claims.” These cells were designed to hold one person at a time, but were allegedly being used to hold multiple detainees at a time during a critical period that the lawsuit covers; “such cells are also where ICE holds detainees with acute medical or mental health conditions, including those who have suffered medical emergencies while in detention, and where it holds detainees who have been subjected to use of force by ICE officers while inside the facility,” they add.
The discovery process in a court case seems like yet another thing that exists because of adherence to norms. What happens when you just pretend like you lost the evidence or destroy it? I’m sure there is some formal legal penalty for that, but how likely is its practical application? And even so, what if you’re promised a pardon?