Case: In Re: Jail Population, Orleans Parish

3:82-cv-00653 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Filed Date: July 23, 1982

Closed Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is one of a collection of § 1983 inmate cases filed in Louisiana federal courts to challenge the operation and conditions of confinement in the Louisiana prison system and in parish and city jails through Louisiana. These cases have worked their way through the federal courts for the last three decades.In an effort to avoid inconsistent decrees, in Hamilton v. Morial, 644 F.2d 351 (5th Cir. 1981) [See JC-LA-3 of this collection] the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that all federal …

This is one of a collection of § 1983 inmate cases filed in Louisiana federal courts to challenge the operation and conditions of confinement in the Louisiana prison system and in parish and city jails through Louisiana. These cases have worked their way through the federal courts for the last three decades.

In an effort to avoid inconsistent decrees, in Hamilton v. Morial, 644 F.2d 351 (5th Cir. 1981) [See JC-LA-3 of this collection] the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that all federal litigation against state, parish or local prison facilities, relating to inmate population issues, be consolidated in the District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Thereafter, many Louisiana state, parish, and city facilities entered into consent decrees which specified inmate population limits and officer-to-inmate ratios. Since 1981, those facilities were under the judicial oversight of District Judge Frank J. Polozola of the Middle District of Louisiana. Over the years Judge Polozola revised the decrees to adjust population caps and officer-to-prisoner ratios as necessary.

In this case, the original Consent Decree was approved and entered by the District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on September 22, 1982 and the case was closed.

The Consent Decree was modified on August 22, 1989, July 3, 1991 and May 21, 1994 to reflect changes to population caps.

On August 4, 1994, District Judge Polozola ordered that all cases involving population caps for parish prisons be reopened and reconsidered.

On December 23, 1997, the case was again closed. The PACER docket notes no further activity.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/9/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Polozola, Frank Joseph (Louisiana)

Judge(s)

Polozola, Frank Joseph (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:82-cv-00435

Docket (PACER)

In Re: Orleans Parish

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Docket

3:82-cv-00650

Docket (PACER)

In Re: Orleans Parish

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Docket

3:82-cv-00653

Docket (PACER)

In Re: Orleans Parish v.

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Docket

3:81-cv-00341

Docket (PACER)

In Re: Orleans Parish v.

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Docket

3:82-cv-00653

3:81-cv-00341

3:82-cv-00435

3:82-cv-00650

Stipulation and Consent Decree

Sept. 22, 1982

Sept. 22, 1982

Order/Opinion

3:82-cv-00653

Supplemental Stipulation and Consent Decree

Aug. 24, 1989

Aug. 24, 1989

Order/Opinion

3:82-cv-00653

Stipulation and Consent Decree

July 3, 1991

July 3, 1991

Order/Opinion

3:82-cv-00653

Stipulation and Consent Decree

July 3, 1991

July 3, 1991

Order/Opinion

3:81-cv-00341

71-00098

Stipulation and Consent Decree

May 12, 1994

May 12, 1994

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated March 17, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

This case is skeleton docketed (rgm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

May 26, 1982

May 26, 1982

1

Original file, certified copy of transfer order and docket sheet received from District of Eastern Louisiana (bm) (Entered: 08/25/1994)

May 27, 1982

May 27, 1982

Case closed (bm) (Entered: 08/25/1994)

May 28, 1982

May 28, 1982

Set magistrate assignment. (bm) (Entered: 08/25/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

9

ORDER...clerk shall reopen each case involving population limits for parish prisons, and city and local jails and lockups... ( signed by Judge Frank J. Polozola ), issued notices. (bm) (Entered: 08/25/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

Case reopened (bm) (Entered: 08/25/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

Case closed (rgm) (Entered: 12/23/1997)

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 23, 1982

Closing Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates housed in the Orleans Parish Jail.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Orleans Parish (Orleans), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1982 - None

Issues

General:

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Pre-PLRA Population Cap

Type of Facility:

Government-run