Inmates Sue D.C. Jail Over Dead Mice, Roaches in Meals

A jail in D.C. repeatedly served food with dead mice and insects to incarcerated individuals, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by six people currently or formerly housed at the Central Detention Facility in Southeast D.C., alleges that since July 2023, inmates were served cockroaches in oatmeal, dead mice in salad, milk containers covered in mouse poop and more, all while jail staff dismissed concerns about food safety.

The class action lawsuit seeks financial damages, alleging the jail violated inmates’ rights under the Fifth Amendment, which outlines protections for people in pretrial incarceration. The lawsuit was first reported by The Washington Post.

Pernell Jackson has been in the D.C. jail under pretrial detention since August 2022. The lawsuit recounts that he was served a salad on an evening in late August 2024. Jackson topped the meal with bacon bits, eggs, turkey and dressing, then closed the container and shook it up. He took a few bites, then bit something chewy.

“Jackson looked down at his tray and discovered at least one deceased mouse in his salad. He immediately jumped back from the meal tray and vomited,” the lawsuit says.

He reported the contaminated food to jail staff, who took photos of the salad that are included in the lawsuit. The photos, reviewed by The Washington Sun, appear to show at least two dead mice in the meal. Medical staff evaluated Jackson and diagnosed him with gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach and intestines, according to the lawsuit. He was given pain and antinausea medication before returning to his cell.

The complaint alleges Jackson sustained lasting physical and psychological effects from the incident, including vomiting, loss of appetite, fear of foodborne illness and “fear for [his] living condition.” He has started purchasing commissary food, which is prepackaged and not prepared in the jail kitchen, to avoid the facility’s meal service, according to the lawsuit.

He is one of many inmates who have had similar experiences, according to the lawsuit. The instances outlined in the complaint are not isolated and “reflect a pervasive and well-documented pattern of unsanitary food conditions” at D.C. Department of Corrections facilities, the court filing says.

The lawsuit said plaintiff Mustafa Wright found an insect in his food, photographed by a correctional officer. (courtlistener.com)

The D.C. Department of Corrections and the D.C. Office of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“The District of Columbia has been on notice of these systemic failures through resident grievances, agency inspections, agency audits, third-party reporting, and legislative scrutiny—yet has failed to implement any meaningful reforms to protect the health and safety of individuals in its custody,” the lawsuit says.

For years, the facility has faced scrutiny for poor conditions including structural decay, inadequate medical care and high rates of death among inmates. A 2025 report from the Office of the D.C. Auditor cites reports of food contaminated with “bugs, rodents, and screws” as well as potentially contaminated water.