Feds investigating King County Jail

SEATTLE – The U.S. Justice Department has launched a civil rights investigation of the King County Jail following incidents of sexual abuse and allegations of inadequate suicide and disease prevention.

Jail and public health officials met with Justice Department lawyers on Monday, and they plan to cooperate fully with the investigation, said jail director Reed Holtgeerts.

Two former jail guards have been convicted of sex-related acts with female inmates, while another is to be retried following a hung jury. Seven inmates have committed suicide since January 1999