Filed Date: June 2, 1981
Clearinghouse coding complete
On June 2, 1981, inmates at the Scott County Jail in Benton County, Missouri, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against representatives of Benton County in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by inadequacies in the areas of overcrowding, fire safety, mail delivery, food storage and preparation, sanitation, hygiene, visitation procedures, dental care, mental health care, medical care, telephone usage, recreation, security, and abuse by staff.
On October 25, 1982, the parties entered into a Consent Decree in the case. The Decree provided for changes in the areas of inmate safety, sanitation, lighting, heating, plumbing, cooling, ventilation, extermination of vermin, staff training, fire safety, laundering of clothing, recreation, library materials, medical care, dental care, visitation, mail, disciplinary procedures, grievance procedures, and attorneys' fees.
We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.
However, it should be noted that according to public information, Scott County built a new jail facility some time subsequent to this litigation.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (1/18/2007)
Fuchs, Robert B. (Missouri)
Goldstein, Richard (Missouri)
Payne, J. Michael (Missouri)
Gilmore, Thomas R. (Missouri)
Hirschowitz, Louis (Missouri)
Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:01 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Missouri
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: June 2, 1981
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates at the Scott County Jail in Benton County, Missouri.
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Scott County Jail (Scott County), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1982 - 0
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: