Filed Date: May 23, 1973
Closed Date: Feb. 6, 1980
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1973, pre-trial detainees filed a complaint in federal district court for the District of Maryland against officials of the Maryland Division of Correction, three state trial court judges, and the wardens of the Baltimore City and County jails. Under Section 1983, plaintiffs challenged defendants' procedures for transferring pretrial detainees from city and county jail to the custody of the Division of Correction. At some point, the Prisoner Assistance Project of the Legal Aid Bureau agreed to represent plaintiffs.
In 1978, plaintiffs moved for summary judgment seeking declaratory and injunctive relief. The District Court (Judge James R. Miller, Jr.) denied plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment. Epps v. Levine, 457 F. Supp. 561 (D. Md. 1978). In 1979, plaintiffs moved for summary judgment challenging the conditions of confinement under section 1983. Judge Miller denied plaintiffs' motion, holding that the plaintiffs failed to show that the conditions imposed were for a punitive purpose or clearly in excess of the legitimate governmental interest of maintaining security and order. Epps v. Levine, 480 F. Supp. 50 (D. Md. 1979). Finally, in February 1980, Judge Miller entered a consent decree establishing procedures for the purpose of assuring ""that pre-trial detainees are detained with the least restrictions necessary to accomplish the State's interest in insuring that they appear at trial and in maintaining security and order within its institution."" Epps v. Levine, 484 F. Supp. 474 (D. Md. 1980).
There was no PACER docket available for this case.
Summary Authors
Eoghan Keenan (5/25/2005)
Coshnear, Lawrence B. (Maryland)
Elcano, Mary S. (Maryland)
Fishman, Richard G. (Maryland)
Caplis, Stephen B. (Maryland)
Frankel, Henry J. (Maryland)
Miller, James Rogers Jr. (Maryland)
Last updated March 31, 2024, 3:17 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Maryland
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 23, 1973
Closing Date: Feb. 6, 1980
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Detainees who were being held in the Maryland Penitentiary while awaiting trial in Maryland courts seeking to restrain the state from imposing certain conditions of confinement upon them
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1980 - None
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Type of Facility: