Case: Julie v. Black

3:81-00455 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

Filed Date: July 16, 1981

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Case Summary

In 1981, six juveniles held in the La Crosse County Jail, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the County of La Crosse in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief, alleging deficiencies in the operation of the jail that were violative of their constitutional rights. On March 29, 1982, the District Court (Judge Bar…

In 1981, six juveniles held in the La Crosse County Jail, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the County of La Crosse in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, asked the court for declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief, alleging deficiencies in the operation of the jail that were violative of their constitutional rights.

On March 29, 1982, the District Court (Judge Barbara B. Crabb) approved a consent decree. The consent decree detailed protocols for (1) intake and booking, (2) separation and overcrowding, (3) supervision and monitoring, (4) medical and mental health, (5) hygiene and nutrition, (6) visitation, (7) telephone access, (8) mail access, (9) rules, discipline, and control, (10) recreation and exercise, (11) education, (12) transportation, (13) training, and (14) grievances.

Specifically, the consent decree required that: (1) during intake and booking juveniles had to be thoroughly screened for medical and mental health conditions, given an opportunity to call an attorney and relatives, and provided with a summary of rules and policies; (2) juveniles had to be separated from the sight and sound of adult inmates, and could not be held in a cell or block in excess of its designed capacity; (3) the sheriff had to ensure adequate staff, equipment, and physical layout enabled adequate supervision, including frequent inner block checks and maintenance of a log book; (4) frequent medical and mental health exams had to be given and treatment provided; (5) juveniles had to be given sundries, regularly washed bedding, and nutritional meals; (6) private visitation had to be allowed daily; (7) telephone access had to remain uncensored and unmonitored; (8) mail had to remain sealed and uninspected; (9) notice of the rules had to be provided to all residents and no corporal or mental abuse could be employed as punishment; (10) time had to be provided for recreation and exercise, and reading material, television and radio had to be provided; (11) during the school year, social workers had to arrange for certified teachers to provide instruction; (12) physical constraints could not be used during transport of juveniles, apart from certain exceptions, and separation policies had to remain in effect; (13) staff had to receive a specified number of training hours, and records had to be kept; and (14) the jail had to maintain a grievance procedure to provide an orderly, fair, simple, and expeditious method of resolving grievances.

The consent decree further ordered that the County Personnel and Safety Supervisor would act as a compliance officer, and that, for five years, an independent compliance monitor would monitor the enforcement of the order by visiting and inspecting the jail, interviewing juveniles and officials, inspecting records and other actions deemed necessary.

Under the consent decree, the defendants agreed to compensate the plaintiffs' for $3,500, setting a schedule of payment to each named plaintiff, and pay $6,500 in attorneys' fees and costs.

Because we have only the consent decree, we have no more information on this file.

Summary Authors

Josh Altman (5/24/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Crabb, Barbara Brandriff (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Dixon, Thomas E. (Wisconsin)

Harlowe, Harold L. (Wisconsin)

Hirsch, Eileen (Wisconsin)

Attorney for Defendant

Fitzpatrick, Thomas M. (Wisconsin)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:81-00455

Consent Judgment

March 29, 1982

March 29, 1982

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Wisconsin

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: July 16, 1981

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

juveniles held in the La Crosse County Jail, in La Crosse, Wisconsin

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

La Crosse County Jail, County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

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: 1982 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Youth / Adult separation

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run