DOJ IG Report on MCC Failures — Epstein Death Investigation Findings

Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan on August 10, 2019. The investigation examined the operational, staffing, and management failures that allowed the death to occur despite Epstein's status as a high-profile federal detainee.

The OIG investigation was one of several inquiries into the MCC failures, alongside the criminal case against the two guards who falsified records.

Background

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his cell at MCC on the morning of August 10, 2019. He had been held at the facility since his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges on July 6, 2019. The NYC Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a suicide by hanging.

Prior to his death, Epstein had been found injured in his cell on July 23, 2019, with marks on his neck. He was placed on suicide watch following this incident but was removed from suicide watch approximately six days later — a decision that has been the subject of significant scrutiny.

Key Findings

Staffing Failures

The OIG investigation identified chronic staffing problems at MCC:

The facility was severely understaffed, with correctional officers regularly working mandatory overtime
On the night of Epstein's death, the two officers assigned to his unit failed to perform the required 30-minute wellness checks for approximately eight hours
During this period, the officers were sleeping and browsing the internet at their desks
The officers subsequently falsified records to indicate they had performed the required checks
Staffing shortages were a long-standing, documented problem at MCC, not unique to the night of Epstein's death

Infrastructure Deficiencies

The investigation found significant physical infrastructure problems:

Surveillance cameras near Epstein's cell either malfunctioned or produced unusable footage
The camera system throughout MCC was outdated and unreliable
Physical conditions in the facility were deteriorated
Maintenance and repair backlogs were extensive

Management and Oversight Failures

The OIG identified systemic management failures:

The decision to remove Epstein from suicide watch was not adequately documented or justified
Communication between shift supervisors about Epstein's status was inadequate
Oversight of correctional officer duties was insufficient
Institutional protocols for monitoring high-profile detainees were not followed

Suicide Watch Decision

The removal of Epstein from suicide watch was identified as a critical decision point:

Epstein was placed on suicide watch after the July 23 incident
A psychologist determined he could be removed from watch after approximately six days
The OIG examined whether this determination was adequately supported
The decision-making process and documentation were found to be deficient

The Guards' Criminal Case

Based in part on the OIG investigation, the DOJ brought criminal charges against the two correctional officers:

Tova Noel and Michael Thomas were charged in November 2020 with conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false records
The charges were based on their failure to perform required checks and their falsification of logs
The case was resolved through a deferred prosecution agreement requiring community service and cooperation with investigators
The agreement was criticized by some victims' advocates as too lenient

MCC Closure

In part due to the conditions highlighted by the Epstein case and the OIG investigation, MCC was closed in 2021. Federal detainees were transferred to other facilities. The closure was described as necessary for renovations, though the timeline and scope of any reopening remained uncertain.

Significance

The OIG report established that Epstein's death resulted from a convergence of institutional failures rather than a single point of failure:

Chronic understaffing created conditions where mandatory checks were routinely missed
Infrastructure decay meant surveillance systems were unreliable
Management failures allowed protocol violations to go undetected
The suicide watch decision was inadequately documented
The overall institutional culture at MCC had normalized substandard practices

DOJ Inspector General Report on MCC Failures (2019-2020)