Case: Padgett v. Stein

3:72-00487 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Filed Date: Sept. 22, 1972

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Case Summary

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 p…

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)

People


Judge(s)

Sheridan, Michael Henry (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Gilbert, Jeffry L. (Pennsylvania)

Linder, Alan (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

Roe, Gordon A. (Pennsylvania)

Judge(s)

Sheridan, Michael Henry (Pennsylvania)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:72-00487

Reported Opinion

Dec. 16, 1975

Dec. 16, 1975

Order/Opinion

406 F.Supp. 406

Docket

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Pennsylvania

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

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:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

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: 1973 - 0

Issues

General:

Fire safety

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run