The Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in lower Manhattan was the federal detention facility where Jeffrey Epstein was held from his arrest in July 2019 until his death on August 10, 2019.
Arrival and Initial Conditions
Epstein arrived at the MCC following his July 6, 2019 arrest. The MCC was a well-known detention facility for high-profile federal defendants — Bernie Madoff, El Chapo, and John Gotti had been held there. Despite its history with notable inmates, the MCC was a chronically understaffed and poorly maintained facility.
Suicide Watch
On July 23, 2019, Epstein was found in his cell with marks on his neck. He was placed on suicide watch — 24-hour observation by guards, no ligatures or items that could be used for self-harm, and restrictions on cell furnishings. Cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer charged with murder, was present at the time of the July 23 incident.
Removal from Suicide Watch
Despite standard protocols that would require extended observation, Epstein was removed from suicide watch on July 29, 2019 — just six days after the incident. The Bureau of Prisons’ decision to remove him was approved based on an evaluation by a psychiatrist. Epstein was moved to a different unit.
The Night of August 9–10
The MCC guards assigned to monitor Epstein — Tova Noel and Michael Thomas — both fell asleep during their shifts and failed to conduct required 30-minute wellness checks. Surveillance footage covering the corridor outside Epstein’s cell was non-functional for a period. Epstein was found unresponsive the morning of August 10.
Structural and Systemic Issues
The MCC had documented staffing shortages, mandatory overtime policies forcing guards to work extended shifts, and maintenance backlogs. These structural failures contributed to the conditions that allowed whatever occurred in Epstein’s cell to go unobserved. The MCC was subsequently closed in 2021 due to accumulated maintenance, safety, and management failures.