Case: Hensley v. Wilson

5:83-cv-00286 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Filed Date: Oct. 6, 1983

Closed Date: 1988

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

Plaintiffs, four Kentucky inmates, brought this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, claiming, among other things, procedural due process violations in the way prison disciplinary hearings were conducted. Plaintiffs complained that the prison disciplinary committee found plaintiffs guilty of infractions and ordered that the inmates' good time be forfeited without disclosing to the inmates the nature of the …

Plaintiffs, four Kentucky inmates, brought this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, claiming, among other things, procedural due process violations in the way prison disciplinary hearings were conducted. Plaintiffs complained that the prison disciplinary committee found plaintiffs guilty of infractions and ordered that the inmates' good time be forfeited without disclosing to the inmates the nature of the evidence against them or the names of confidential informants that supplied the evidence. Plaintiffs sought injunctive relief and monetary damages.

The District Court (Chief Judge Edward H. Johnstone) entered summary judgment and injunctive relief in favor of inmates and the correction officials appealed.

On June 20, 1988, the United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (Circuit Judge Ryan) affirmed in part and reversed in part. The Appeals Court held that (1) correction officials were entitled to qualified; (2) due process required the prison disciplinary committees to make independent assessment of informant reliability and contemporaneous record of that assessment. The Court, however, found that the disciplinary committees' assessment of the informant's reliability need not be disclosed to the inmates when prison security would be jeopardized. Hensley V. Wilson, 850 F2d 269 (6th Cir. 1988). The case was remanded for further proceedings.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/28/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Ryan, James Leo (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Megibow, Tod D. (Kentucky)

Attorney for Defendant

Cooper, Linda G. (Kentucky)

Jones, Barbara Willett (Kentucky)

Sexton, David A. (Kentucky)

Judge(s)

Ryan, James Leo (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

86-05547

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

June 20, 1988

June 20, 1988

Order/Opinion

850 F.2d 850

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Kentucky

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Oct. 6, 1983

Closing Date: 1988

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

State prison inmates bringing civil rights action against correction officials complaining of manner in which prison disciplinary hearings were conducted

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Kentucky State Penitentiary, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1986 - 1988

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Type of Facility:

Government-run