Filed Date: Sept. 15, 1977
Closed Date: Jan. 8, 1987
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Inmates in Illinois filed a complaint in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois alleging that prison officials failed to keep Alexander County Jail to minimum standards. Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance and Saint Louis University Law School represented the plaintiffs. Citing Bush v. Viterna, 795 F.2d 1203 (5th Cir. 1986), Illinois Department of Corrections officials filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In a January 8, 1987 order, the court (Chief Judge James L. Foreman) granted the motion. Ortiz v. Turner, 651 F. Supp. 309 (S.D. Ill. 1987). The court held that Illinois law does not obligate the Department of Corrections to enforce jail standards. To hold so, the court reasoned, would be to make the State officials vicariously liable for the acts (or failures of action) of county officials, upon whom Illinois law places the responsibility for maintaining the jails.
Summary Authors
Ben Kelly (3/5/2006)
Morgan v. City of Houston, Southern District of Texas (1976)
Foreman, James L. (Illinois)
Chase, Richard D. (Illinois)
Eastman, Herbert A. (Missouri)
Schmidt, Thomas (Illinois)
Foreman, James L. (Illinois)
Last updated Feb. 14, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Illinois
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 15, 1977
Closing Date: Jan. 8, 1987
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates in Alexander County Jail in Illinois
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Turner (Alexander County Jail, Alexander), County
Case Details
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Type of Facility: