Case: Johnson v. Bell

2:78-cv-71747 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Filed Date: 1978

Closed Date: Feb. 27, 1987

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Case Summary

Federal correctional inmates sentenced to terms under the Youth Corrections Act ("YCA") filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of approximately 200 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, against the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the United States Parole Commission, alleging that the Defendants violated the constitutional rights of the Plaintiffs by failing to comply with the YCA. Plaintiffs wer…

Federal correctional inmates sentenced to terms under the Youth Corrections Act ("YCA") filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of approximately 200 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan, against the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the United States Parole Commission, alleging that the Defendants violated the constitutional rights of the Plaintiffs by failing to comply with the YCA. Plaintiffs were represented by the Wayne State University Legal Clinic.

On March 12, 1980, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Judge Phillip Pratt) found that the Defendants had failed to comply with the letter and spirit of the YCA in four significant respects. Johnson v. Bell, 487 F.Supp. 977 (E.D. Mich. 1980). First, defendants had failed to establish a classification process that assessed each individual inmate upon commitment in order to develop a personalized treatment plan as required by the YCA. Second, defendants had failed to segregate youth offenders from all other offenders, and to segregate committed youth offenders according to their needs, as required by the YCA. Third, defendants had failed to provide facilities, conditions of confinement, and treatment programs specifically tailored to youth offenders. The court declined to set forth guidelines for these programs, but held that the YCA required facilities and programs which were different than those at ordinary, adult-offender prisons. Finally, the defendants had failed to adapt its Parole Guidelines to the different needs of youth offenders, as recognized in the YCA. Because prior rulings in other districts, namely Brown v. Carlson, 431 F.Supp 755 (E.D. Wisc. 1977), and Watts v. Hadden, 469 F.Supp. 223 (D. Colo. 1979), had found similar issues of noncompliance with the YCA, the court felt the problem was systemic and best addressed by a comprehensive remedial plan; the parties were ordered to cooperate and present a mutually acceptable order.

In 1983, the district court approved a plan. Plaintiffs appealed. In 1985, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Judge Nathaniel R. Jones) found that the plan approved by the District Court did not comply with the YCA in certain respects. Martin v. Attorney General of the United States, 771 F.2d 102 (6th Cir. 1985). Specifically, the court found that the Parole Commission's use of age as a factor in determining parole release dates did not violate the YCA; that the plan's placement of youth offenders in institutions based on their release residence did not comply with the individualized classification and treatment required by the YCA; and that the Parole Commission could not give greater attention to the rehabilitation and response of youth offenders than it did to adult offenders. (The YCA was appealed in 1984, but was applicable to plaintiffs' sentences.)

Subsequent litigation addressed the award of attorney's fees to plaintiffs' attorneys. In 1986, the District Court (Judge Pratt) awarded fees to plaintiffs' attorneys under the Equal Access to Justice Act. Johnson v. Meese, 654 F.Supp. 265 (E.D.Mich. 1986). In 1987, Judge Pratt declined to increase the hourly fees in response to inflation or the plaintiffs' arguments that the complexity of the case called for such an increase. Johnson v. Meese, 654 F.Supp. 270 (E.D.Mich. 1987).

We do not have the docket in this case.

Summary Authors

Megan Raynor (4/17/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Jones, Nathaniel Raphael (Ohio)

Pratt, Philip (Michigan)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Geer, Martin A. (Michigan)

Attorney for Defendant

Chickinell, Rockne (Maryland)

Gaskin, Deborah J. (Michigan)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:78-cv-71747

Memorandum Opinion and Order

March 12, 1980

March 12, 1980

Order/Opinion

80-01273

80-01274

80-01280

80-01295

80-01297

80-01316

83-01448

83-01449

Reported Opinion

Martin v. Att'y General of the US

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Aug. 19, 1985

Aug. 19, 1985

Order/Opinion

2:78-cv-71747

Memorandum Opinion and Order

Johnson v. Meese

Sept. 4, 1986

Sept. 4, 1986

Order/Opinion

2:78-cv-71747

Memorandum Opinion and Order

Johnson v. Meese

Feb. 27, 1987

Feb. 27, 1987

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 22, 2024, 3:06 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Michigan

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1978

Closing Date: Feb. 27, 1987

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

approximately 200 inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution in Milan, Michigan sentenced to terms under the Youth Corrections Act

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Federal Bureau of Prisons (Milan), State

Case Details

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1980 - None

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Counseling

Education

Juveniles

Recreation / Exercise

Discrimination-area:

Discipline

Type of Facility:

Government-run