Filed Date: 1966
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Prisoners at the Arkansas State Penitentiary filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The prisoners alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by cruel and unusual punishment through the use of a strap or hide to whip inmates as a form of discipline.
On June 3, 1967, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Judges Oren Harris and Gordon E. Young) enjoined the use of the strap in the state penitentiary until the prison administration could develop proper and adequate safeguards. Jackson v. Bishop, 268 F.Supp. 804 (E.D.Ark. 1967). The prisoners appealed this decision.
On December 9, 1968, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (Judge Harry A. Blackmun) vacated the district court's judgment and remanded the case, holding that since the strap was cruel, any use of it violated the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Jackson v. Bishop, 404 F.2d 571 (8th Cir. 1968).
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (3/14/2006)
Blackmun, Harry Andrew (District of Columbia)
Harris, Oren (Arkansas)
Arnold, William S. (Arkansas)
Langston, Don (Arkansas)
Purcell, Joe (Arkansas)
Blackmun, Harry Andrew (District of Columbia)
Harris, Oren (Arkansas)
Young, Gordon Elmo (Arkansas)
Last updated April 15, 2024, 3:05 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Arkansas
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1966
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Prison inmates alleging cruel and unusual punishment
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Arkansas State Penitentiary, State
Arkansas Department of Corrections, 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:
Order Duration: 1968 - 0
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Type of Facility: