Filed Date: Jan. 16, 1990
Closed Date: 2005
Clearinghouse coding complete
On January 16, 1990, juveniles at the Indiana Boys School, a correctional facility in Plainfield, Indiana, filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all present and future students against the superintendent of the school and commissioner of the Indiana Department of Corrections under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The plaintiffs, who were represented by Legal Services of Indiana, asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, claiming that the school's confinement conditions violated the juveniles' constitutional rights. They sought to reduce overcrowding and to increase the school's staff. They also sought changes in the school's medical, psychiatric and special education services.
On September 26, 1991, the parties entered into a Consent Decree. The Decree called for the defendants to lower the population of the school and to amend the school's disciplinary policies in accordance with the American Correctional Association standards. They also agreed to rehabilitate the medical unit and to provide more comprehensive services; to offer appropriate education, including individualized educational programs for students with disabilities; and to provide psychiatric treatment. Finally, the Decree required the defendants to pay for the plaintiffs' attorneys fees, and the plaintiffs to notify the class members of the proposed settlement terms. The Consent Decree provided for continued monitoring of the school's conditions for three years. On December 20, 1991, the court (Judge Sarah Evans Barker) entered a judgment approving the terms of the Consent Decree.
In May 1993, the plaintiffs sought to hold the defendants in contempt for violating the Decree. Subsequently the parties engaged in negotiations, and in what appears to be December 1993, the parties entered stipulations to amend the Decree.
On July 7, 1994, the court (Judge Barker) entered an order modifying the terms of the Consent Decree. The court ordered the school's population to be capped at 490, and to work to reduce the population to 400.
On February 22, 1995, the court (Judge Barker) entered an order in response to the parties' dispute over the amount of attorneys fees the defendants owed the plaintiffs. The court ordered the defendants to pay $4,135.00. W.C. v. DeBruyn, 833 F. Supp. 354 (S.D. Ind. 1995).
Thereafter, the parties continued to dispute the timeline for reducing the school's population and for adhering to other conditions of the Consent Decree.
On August 31, 2005, the District Court (Judge Barker) granted the defendants' unopposed motion to terminate the prospective relief in the case, under the provisions of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. The Court terminated the Consent Decree, as amended, and the case was closed.
Summary Authors
Laura Uberti (5/20/2006)
Barker, Sarah Evans (Indiana)
Bennett, Julie E. (Indiana)
Falk, Kenneth J. (Indiana)
Arthur, David A. (Indiana)
Carter, Pamela (Indiana)
Barker, Sarah Evans (Indiana)
Last updated March 27, 2024, 3:15 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Indiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 16, 1990
Closing Date: 2005
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All present and future students at the Indiana Boys School.
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Indiana Department of Corrections and Indiana Boys School, State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
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: 1991 - 2005
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: