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Case Name
Collins v. Schoonfield
JC-MD-0001
Docket / Court
71-500-H ( D. Md. )
State/Territory
Maryland
Case Type(s)
Jail Conditions
Case Summary
In 1971, eight pre-trial detainees filed a complaint against the Wardens of Baltimore City Jail and members of the Board of the jail. All plaintiffs sought equitable relief and all but one sought damages as well. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Judge Frank Kaufman) granted ...
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In 1971, eight pre-trial detainees filed a complaint against the Wardens of Baltimore City Jail and members of the Board of the jail. All plaintiffs sought equitable relief and all but one sought damages as well. The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Judge Frank Kaufman) granted class certification and separated the equitable issues from the issues as to damages. The court addressed eleven equitable issues, including solitary confinement procedures, punishment for constitutionally protected behavior, procedural due process, mail censorship, medical conditions, food, non-legal visitation and phone calls, practices adversely affecting trial preparation and effective representation by counsel, books, religious freedom, and equal protection. In 1972, the court issued interim decrees, ordering defendants to abate their unconstitutional practices in accordance with the court's findings regarding the eleven issues. Collins v. Schoonfield, 344 F. Supp 257 (D. Md. 1972).
At a separate trial in 1972 a different judge (Judge Alexander Harvey II) heard the issues regarding damages. Five plaintiffs complained that their time in solitary confinement constituted excessive and cruel and unusual punishment and violated their due process rights. The court found in favor of the defendants on all issues. Collins v. Schoonfield, 363 F. Supp. 1152 (D. Md. 1973).
In April 1981, this case was consolidated with
Duvall v. Glendening
. Subsequent history is described at that link.
Lauren Cutson - 05/19/2005
compress summary
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Constitutional Clause
Due Process
General
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Disciplinary procedures
Disciplinary segregation
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Law library access
Library (non-law) access
Phone
Religious programs / policies
Visiting
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, general
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
42 U.S.C. ยง 1983
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
City of Baltimore
Plaintiff Description
pre-trial detainees in the Baltimore City Jail
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
Unknown
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Unknown
Nature of Relief
Damages
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Litigation
Order Duration
1971 - 1973
Filed
1971
Case Ongoing
Yes
Related Cases
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Case Listing
PC-MD-0006
: Duvall v. Glendening (Duvall v. Hogan) (D. Md.)
Additional Resources
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Prospecting for Prospective Relief: The Story of Seeking Compliance with a Federal Court Decree Mandating Humane Conditions of Confinement in the Baltimore City Jail
Date: Oct. 1, 1990
By: Frank M. Dunbaugh
Citation: 70 Prison J. 57 (1990)
[ Detail ]
After Decision: Implementation of Judicial Decrees in Correctional Settings (Part V: A Case Study of Collins v. Schoonfield)
Date: Oct. 1, 1977
By: M. Kay Harris (Temple Faculty)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
After Decision: Implementation of Judicial Decrees in Correctional Settings
Date: Oct. 1, 1977
By: M. Kay Harris & Dudley P. Spiller (Temple University Faculty)
Citation: (1977)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
D. Md.
05/15/1972
Reported Opinion
(344 F.Supp. 257)
JC-MD-0001-0002.pdf
|
WESTLAW
|
LEXIS
|
Detail
Source: Google Scholar
D. Md.
09/18/1973
Reported Opinion
(363 F.Supp. 1152)
JC-MD-0001-0001.pdf
|
WESTLAW
|
LEXIS
|
Detail
Source: Google Scholar
People
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Judges
Harvey, Alexander II
(D. Md.)
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JC-MD-0001-0001
Kaufman, Frank Albert
(D. Md.)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Bass, Stanley A.
(New York)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
Coshnear, Lawrence B.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001
Elder, Michael S.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Matera, Joseph A.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
Millemann, Michael A.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
Morgan, Charles F.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001
Sachs, Stephen H.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
West, Luther C.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0002
Defendant's Lawyers
Caplan, Hilary D.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Chlan, Charles E.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Hartman, Ambrose T.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Hughes, William
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Lewis, Neil J.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
ODoherty, Patrick A.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Russell, George L. Jr.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
Sugar, Carol S.
(Maryland)
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JC-MD-0001-0001 | JC-MD-0001-0002
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