York County will pay $135K to prisoners over treatment by controversial jail trainer C-SAU

York County officials will pay $135,000 to plaintiffs alleging they suffered from unconstitutional conditions of confinement at the York County Prison, according to a settlement..

In 2021, over 45 current and former prisoners filed a class action suit in the U.S. District Court in Harrisburg regarding York County and its officials hiring Joseph Garcia and Corrections Special Application Unit, LLC, or C-SAU , based in Greenville, South Carolina, to develop policies for York County Prison and to train staff members.

"The uses of violence and militaristic tactics and weapons specified in this Complaint are dangerous, rampant, merciless, unrelenting, unjustified, immoral, and unconstitutional," wrote attorneys Leticia C. Chavez-Freed and Alan Denenberg, who represent the plaintiffs. "County Defendants have a non-delegable duty to ensure they implement constitutional training of and policies for YCP staff. They knowingly and purposely failed to do so through their own conduct and decision-making, as well as through hiring, retaining, and working with Garcia and CSAU1."

More: York County commissioners approve 2-year, $252,770 contract with controversial jail trainer

In 2020, the York County Board of Commissioners approved a $122,850 contract with C-SAU to provide equipment such as Kel-Tec KSG tactical, pump-action shotguns and training for up to 18 corrections officers.

One year later, the commissioners approved a two-year, $252,770 contract extension with the contractor.

In April 2021, The Pennsylvania Prison Society, a 230-year-old nonprofit organization that advocates for humane conditions in jails and prisons, wrote prison Warden Clair Doll a letter expressing concerns .

More: 'Ridiculous': York County Prison's controversial trainer pepper-sprayed deputies in S.C.

According to court documents obtained through a Right-To-Know Request, the 32 current plaintiffs qualify for settlement funds and are not make "disparaging comments, remarks or statements or social media posts" regarding county officials or the subject matter of the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs also reserve the right to continue to pursue any and all claims against Garcia and C-SAU.

Denenberg said Garcia has not responded to the lawsuit or any attempts to contact him. He said the next step is to file a motion requesting a hearing.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: York County will pay $135K to prisoners over treatment by controversial jail trainer C-SAU