In 1973, prisoners in the San Diego County jail system filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, challenging their conditions of confinement. The plaintiffs, represented by California Indian Legal Services and the Native American Rights Fund, alleged among other things that they were being denied access to their mail and to counsel, subjected to discipline without due process, provided with inadequate exercise and unsanitary clothing and conditions, and being kept in overcrowded facilities. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

On October 29, 1973, the District Court granted a preliminary injunction. The injunction restrained prison officials from interfering with prisoner mail unless they could prove it was being used to smuggle contraband and required them to implement due process protections in their disciplinary procedure, segregate pre-trial detainees from other prisoners per California law, and allow plaintiffs' attorneys access to their clients in private.

On April 30, 1974, the parties settled, and the County agreed to a population cap and other measures to prevent overcrowding, as well as an improvement in sanitation (including provision of fresh clothing and linens) and an increase in outdoor exercise opportunities.

As of the time of this writing, we have no further information about the case.

Christopher Schad - 08/16/2012


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