Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team recently made attempts to prevent the music mogul from being incarcerated following his arrest on charges of sex trafficking. During this effort, they outlined the dismal conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where Combs was taken. Reports describe the facility as having a reputation for horrific conditions, violence, and a history of inmate deaths.
Combs, aged 54, entered MDC Brooklyn on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to allegations of physically and sexually abusing women over a span of more than a decade. The jail, described by some as “hell on earth,” has been the only federal correctional facility in New York City since the closure of the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan in 2021.
MDC Brooklyn has a history of serious issues, including violent incidents, unsafe conditions, and staffing shortages. Although the Bureau of Prisons has acknowledged these challenges and is working to address them by increasing staff and managing facility maintenance, judges have expressed concern about the treatment of detainees there.
Both judges and advocates have criticized the Bureau of Prisons for what they deem dangerous conditions at MDC Brooklyn. Some judges are opting not to send defendants to the facility and are even granting reduced sentences because of the overcrowding and violence reported there.
The facility, which opened in the early 1990s, serves as a detention site for individuals awaiting trial in federal courts in the area. It has a capacity for around 1,200 detainees, but has faced scrutiny over the treatment of inmates, including restrictions on movement and visits.
Beyond Combs, many notable figures have been incarcerated at MDC Brooklyn, including R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and others involved in high-profile legal cases.
Combs’ attorneys have emphasized that MDC is unsuitable for pretrial detention and have called for his release on bail, referencing the troubling history of the jail. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams acknowledged the concerns surrounding the safety of individuals during pretrial detention.
An investigation into the Bureau of Prisons has revealed systemic issues, including frequent violence and inadequate oversight, prompting the Biden administration to enhance monitoring of the agency.