Filed Date: Jan. 23, 1969
Closed Date: 1976
Clearinghouse coding complete
On January 23, 1969, African-American juveniles brought a class action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, challenging the conditions of confinement at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children. Plaintiffs alleged equal protection and due process violations and sought declaratory and injunctive relief. The U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] intervened in the action as a party plaintiff on November 11, 1969.
Following discovery, the parties resolved the case by way of a Consent Decree. The Decree, entered July 23, 1971 by District Judge Johnson, called for the Alabama Industrial School (formerly known as the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children) was ordered to accept male juvenile delinquents between the ages of I5 and 18, without regard to race. The Decree also called for reforms in the areas of education and rehabilitation, vocational programs, staffing levels and qualifications, corporal punishment, discipline and medical and health care. It also set maximum capacity levels.
The District Court ordered the file administratively closed on October 5, 1972.
On December 6, 1975, defendants filed a motion to modify the Court's decree of July 23, 1971. By order of the District Court dated January 6, 1976, the 1971 Decree was modified, so as to allow defendants to place committed students in training schools on the basis of need and not restrict such placements to sex and age.
We have no further information on this case.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/26/2007)
Johnson, Frank Minis Jr. (Alabama)
Lavender, Claud W. Jr. (Alabama)
DeMent, Ira (Alabama)
Lawrence, Paul S. (District of Columbia)
Leonard, Jerris (District of Columbia)
Johnson, Frank Minis Jr. (Alabama)
Last updated March 30, 2024, 3 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Alabama
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 23, 1969
Closing Date: 1976
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All juveniles detained at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children.
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
Alabama Industrial School (f/k/a Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children), State
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: 1970 - 1976
Issues
General:
Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Discrimination-basis:
Medical/Mental Health: