WASHINGTON, D.C. — Six people who have been held at the District of Columbia’s Central Detention Facility filed a federal class-action lawsuit Oct. 15, alleging jail officials repeatedly served meals containing rodents, insects and other contaminants despite complaints about food safety.
The lawsuit, Jackson v. District of Columbia, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the conditions violated Fifth Amendment protections for people held before trial. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages.
According to the complaint, incidents between 2023 and August 2026 included rodent droppings in grits, insects in oatmeal, mice in salads and suspected animal fur in potatoes. The plaintiffs allege the contamination persisted despite grievances and reports to correctional employees.
One plaintiff, Kevin Condray, reported finding a small dead mouse after biting into rice and beans in 2023. Condray said he asked an officer for help but was told to dispose of the animal.
Instead, Condray kept the mouse as evidence. Medical personnel later photographed the remains and administered a tetanus vaccination, according to the complaint.
Another plaintiff, Pernell Jackson, said he discovered what appeared to be part of a mouse in a salad in August 2024. The complaint alleges Jackson became ill and experienced ongoing distress afterward, prompting him to avoid meals provided by the jail.
Plaintiff Mustafa Wright alleged he encountered a cockroach in potatoes in November 2025 and later found another insect while eating cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving.
Wright filed a grievance following the incidents and expressed concerns about continuing to eat jail meals.
The lawsuit also describes responses from correctional staff that allegedly minimized contamination reports. One plaintiff said he was threatened with solitary confinement after reporting a mouse in his food.
A separate incident report from 2025 indicated that an officer failed to inspect a food tray before it reached a detainee.
The complaint also raises concerns about sanitation in the facility’s kitchen, including reports of rodents near stored ingredients and allegations that milk bags were distributed with droppings on their surfaces.
The plaintiffs allege the conditions exposed them to potential foodborne illnesses and created ongoing concerns about the safety of meals served at the facility.
Food quality concerns at the jail have previously surfaced in outside reviews. A 2023 survey published by the nonprofit DC Greens found that 89% of respondents reported receiving insufficient food to feel full, while more than 70% reported being served spoiled meals.
Some detainees said they relied on commissary purchases to avoid meals they considered unsafe. Wright’s wife reported sending approximately $400 per month for additional food, placing a financial burden on their household.
The D.C. Department of Corrections said food service is monitored through inspections, audits and pest control measures. The department also said it remains committed to providing meals that meet federal nutritional standards.
Aramark, which has operated the jail’s food service since 1996, said food safety is a priority and maintained that the incidents cited in the lawsuit had not been reported to the company.
The contractor also said its menus are designed to meet applicable dietary requirements.
In 2024, the D.C. Council approved several measures intended to improve meals and nutrition at the facility. However, the council’s public safety committee reported in 2025 that budget reductions prevented funding for the new requirements.
The lawsuit comes as the District considers bids for its next jail food service contract, according to the council office.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages over the alleged conditions, which they contend violated constitutional protections for people detained before trial. The court has not ruled on the allegations.
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