Residents urge Erie County Council to disclose prison settlements and investigate alleged abuse

During public comment at the July 21 Erie County Council meeting, Cindy Schreiber described multiple allegations of severe abuse and alleged medical neglect at the Erie County Prison, saying in part: “And then he's put in a cell to sit there, to sit there, not even to be provided care.”

Jen Paulson followed, asking the council to provide a full accounting of every settlement and legal cost tied to excessive-force or misconduct claims involving the prison and sheriff's office over the past five years. “Will the county provide a full account of every settlement and legal costs related to excessive force or misconduct claims at Erie County Prison and the sheriff's office over the past 5 years?” she asked, and pressed for information about oversight and whether the county tracks repeat officers or units tied to lawsuits.

Bishop John Crosby and Malcolm Pulliam also spoke about family members they said were harmed while in custody and urged the council to adopt policies beyond body cameras to prevent recurrence. Council staff responded that some personnel and arrest-related matters are within city or mayoral jurisdiction and not strictly within the council’s operational purview. The meeting record shows callers repeatedly asked for transparency about settlements and policy changes; the council did not announce a publication of a comprehensive settlements list during the meeting.

The requests included specific oversight questions: whether the county has implemented policy or procedural changes since the cited case, and whether the county’s insurer or administration is tracking repeat-offending officers or units. Speakers linked settlement costs to premium increases and urged the council to consider both monetary and human harms when weighing reforms. The council acknowledged the comments and said relevant inquiries would be routed to appropriate offices for follow-up.