Case: Barnes v. Government of the Virgin Islands

1:76-00191 | District Court of the Virgin Islands

Filed Date: March 10, 1976

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In the early 1970's, various prisoners at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands filed lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Government of the Virgin Islands in the U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands. The plaintiffs, represented by Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by various unstated deficiencies in the facility's operations.On March 31, 1976, the U.S. District Court fo…

In the early 1970's, various prisoners at the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility in the U.S. Virgin Islands filed lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Government of the Virgin Islands in the U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands. The plaintiffs, represented by Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by various unstated deficiencies in the facility's operations.

On March 31, 1976, the U.S. District Court for the District of the Virgin Islands (Judge Warren Young) appointed a commission of five people (three citizens and two inmates) to investigate the facility and to submit their findings and recommendations to the court. On May 1, 1976, the commission submitted its final report to the court, and the court adopted the commission's findings as its own.

On May 20, 1976, the court (Judge Young) held that the prison did not meet constitutionally required standards in the areas of medical care, dental care, psychiatric care, provision of food, visitation, mail, disciplinary procedures, and religious programming. The court ordered the defendants to bring these areas up to the constitutional standard and warned them that if they did not do so, the prisoners would be sent to institutions on the mainland. The court further warned the defendants that if these instructions were not followed, the court would refuse to incarcerate nondangerous offenders in the future. Barnes v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 415 F.Supp. 1218 (D.V.I. 1976).

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (5/3/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Young, Warren Howard (Virgin Islands)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Hamlin, Thomas L. (Virgin Islands)

Attorney for Defendant

Amalie, Charlotte (Virgin Islands)

Branch, Milton C. (Virgin Islands)

Judge(s)

Young, Warren Howard (Virgin Islands)

Attorney for Plaintiff

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:76-00191

Memorandum Opinion with Order

May 20, 1976

May 20, 1976

Order/Opinion

415 F.Supp. 415

Docket

Last updated March 25, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Virgin Islands

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 10, 1976

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmate

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Government of the Virgin Islands, None

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Free Exercise Clause

Freedom of speech/association

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: 1976 - None

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Religious programs / policies

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run