In 1998, inmates in the Bristol County Jail filed a class action suit on behalf of all present and future inmates challenging the overcrowded conditions at the jail. The Superior Court of Massachusetts (Judge John C. Cratsley) enjoined defendant from using port-a-bunks, allowing inmates to sleep in common areas, and from triple bunking any cell. This preliminary injunction would last until November 16, 1998 when the new unit of the jail was scheduled for completion. In addition, the court enjoined defendant from confining more than one inmate per cell once the new unit opened. The court denied some of plaintiffs' requested injunctive relief with respect to housing of local arrestees, closing the prison due to fire code violations, inmate co-pay policy, and appointment of a Special Master to oversee the Sheriff. Kelley v. Hodgson, 1998 WL 1181663 (Mass. Super. 1998). The docket for this case is not available to us, so we don't have much more information. But according to a lawyer on the case, it remains open as of November 2006.

Lauren Cutson - 05/23/2005


compress summary