Filed Date: Jan. 21, 1986
Clearinghouse coding complete
On January 21, 1986, pregnant inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts filed a class-action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Massachusetts Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as damages, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by poor medical care during their pregnancies. Specifically, they complained about nutritional inadequacies, exposure to infectious disease, lack of treatment for drug addictions, and lack of exercise.
On April 7, 1992, the parties reached a settlement in the case. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Judge Walter Jay Skinner) approved the settlement on June 24, 1992. Under the agreement, pregnant inmates were to be provided with a physician-approved pregnancy diet, one hour of exercise per day, prenatal counseling and education, maternity clothing, separation from inmates with communicable diseases, and regular medical examinations. In addition, the settlement agreement stated that pregnant inmates would not be put in waist chains during their third trimester of pregnancy.
We have only the complaint and settlement agreement, thus we have no further information on the proceedings in this case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (5/10/2006)
Barkow, Barry (Massachusetts)
Braudy, Anne (Massachusetts)
Kaczynski, Michelle (Massachusetts)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:30 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Massachusetts
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 21, 1986
Case Ongoing: Unknown
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Pregnant inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, Massachusetts
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Massachusetts Department of Corrections, State
Massachusetts Correctional Institution (Farmingham), 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:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1992 - 0
Issues
Reproductive rights:
Reproductive health care (including birth control, abortion, and others)
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Affected Sex or Gender:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: