Filed Date: Jan. 31, 2007
Closed Date: Oct. 25, 2007
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This is a federal criminal case in which the defendant, Franz Copeland Sutton, took the unusual position that he was entitled to a lesser sentence because he was subjected to unlawful conditions of confinement while housed in the Passaic County Jail in New Jersey. Sutton argued that the Jail, which contracted with the federal government to house federal prisoners, was severely overcrowded during his seven months of confinement. He presented evidence that the Jail was 50 years old and housed more than twice the number of inmates it was designed to hold. He claimed that, because of the overcrowding and poor physical condition of the facility, inmates were subjected to poor hygiene and sanitation, triple bunking, and exposure to fire hazards. He also alleged that the Jail had been in violation of the municipal fire code for years.
The suit was ultimately resolved on October 25, 2007 when the District Court (Judge Katharine S. Hayden) found the Jail conditions to be so appalling that they warranted a reduction in Sutton's criminal sentence. U.S. v. Sutton, 2007 WL 3170128 (D.N.J. Oct. 25, 2007). This case was closed in 2007.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/21/2008)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5734887/parties/united-states-v-sutton/
Hayden, Katharine Sweeney (New Jersey)
Kim, Nicole Miah (New Jersey)
Carter, Peter Michael (New Jersey)
Hayden, Katharine Sweeney (New Jersey)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/5734887/united-states-v-sutton/
Last updated April 16, 2024, 3:12 a.m.
State / Territory: New Jersey
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 31, 2007
Closing Date: Oct. 25, 2007
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
U.S. Department of Justice (criminal division)
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Passaic County Jail (Passaic), County
Case Details
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Source of Relief:
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: