Settlement Reached in Federal Lawsuit Involving Franklin County Jail

PASCO, Wash. (AP) — A settlement has been reached in a federal lawsuit that contends inmates at the Franklin County Jail in Pasco were grossly mistreated and their mental health needs ignored.

Under the settlement announced Thursday, Franklin County agreed to add new mental health services, make renovations inside the jail and update policies and procedures.

That's according to Columbia Legal Services, the Seattle legal-aid organization that filed the lawsuit in 2014.

The Tri-City Herald reports the jail must hire 11 new corrections employees over the next two years and ensure all staff is properly trained.

A federal judge must approve the settlement before it becomes final.

The settlement comes after months of mediation. It does not require the sheriff's office to admit liability or that the allegations in the lawsuit were true.