Filed Date: 1979
Clearinghouse coding complete
Juvenile detainees at the Taft Youth Center, the Spencer Youth Center, and the Tennessee Reception and Guidance Center filed a lawsuit against the Tennessee Department of Corrections in the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee, alleging excessive force and physical abuse, excessive discipline, sexual abuse, and failure to protect. The juveniles were represented by the Youth Legal Assistance Project, Legal Services of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, the National Center for Youth Law, and the Vanderbilt Legal Aid Program.
On February 16, 1979, the Chancery Court for Davidson County, Tennessee (Chancellor Ben H. Cantrell) entered a consent decree prohibiting physical abuse, sexual abuse, and excessive discipline, as well as establishing a monitoring system and grievance procedures to protect the juveniles. We have no further information on this case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (11/26/2006)
Horst, Allston Vander (Tennessee)
Howard, David C. (Missouri)
Kozlowski, David Arthur (Tennessee)
Overby, Russell J. (Tennessee)
Delaney, Robert L. (Tennessee)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 3:26 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Tennessee
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1979
Case Ongoing: Unknown
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Students at the Taft Youth Center, Spencer Youth Center, and the Tennessee Reception and Guidance Center alleging abuse
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Outcome: Unknown
Defendants
Tennessee Department of Corrections, State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
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: 1979 - None
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Sexual abuse by residents/inmates
Sex w/ staff; sexual harassment by staff
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Type of Facility: