Filed Date: Sept. 22, 1972
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1972, inmates at the York County Prison, represented by Central Pennsylvania Legal Services, filed a Section 1983 class action suit in the Middle District of Pennsylvania against officials of the York County Prison (a jail). Plaintiffs alleged that conditions of confinement constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Specifically plaintiffs complained of: overcrowding; improper visitation rules; inadequate security staffing; racial discrimination; and inadequate fire regulations.
The parties entered into a consent decree, which was approved by the court. The decree required defendants to: comply with the state minimum requirements for county prisons; permit all inmates visitations of at least ninety minutes per week; and not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed or national origin.
In 1975, plaintiffs sought enforcement of the consent decree, alleging that defendants had failed to adopt the state minimum requirements for county prisons and refused to implement the visitation procedures required by the consent decree. The District Court (Judge Michael Henry Sheridan) held that the defendants were in full compliance with minimum state requirements except as they pertained to visitation rules, overcrowding, employment of the required number of correctional officers, and, possibly, safety standards and fire regulations and issued an order requiring defendants to come into compliance. Padgett v. Stein, 406 F. Supp. 287 (M.D. Pa. 1975).
The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the most recent decision, dated December 16, 1975.
Summary Authors
Eoghan Keenan (6/10/2005)
Sheridan, Michael Henry (Pennsylvania)
Gilbert, Jeffry L. (Pennsylvania)
Linder, Alan (Pennsylvania)
Roe, Gordon A. (Pennsylvania)
Sheridan, Michael Henry (Pennsylvania)
Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:08 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 22, 1972
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
inmates at the York County Prison
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
York County Prison (York), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201
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: 1973 - 0
Issues
General:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Discrimination-basis:
Type of Facility: