In 1978, plaintiffs filed class action suit against Simpson County and several officers and board members of the Simpson County Jail in the district court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Attorneys from the Central Mississippi Legal Services represented plaintiffs. In 1979, after negotiation, the court approved a consent decree requiring defendants to change regulations, policies, and procedures at the jail. In 1992, plaintiffs filed a contempt motion, and the court (Judge Tom S. Lee) re-opened the case.In May of 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice notified Simpson County, Mississippi of its intention to investigate conditions of the county jail. In November of 1993, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the President of the Simpson County Board of Supervisors of its findings and made recommendations regarding staffing and supervision; policies and procedures; medical and mental health care; suicide prevention; sanitation; fire safety; and overcrowding. In 1995, the Attorney General intervened in plaintiffs' case against Simpson County and filed an action under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. section 1997 et seq., against the jail. Shortly thereafter, the district court issued a consent decree. The consent decree laid out steps the county must take to improve issues discussed in the DOJ's letter of findings and recommendations. In addition, the parties agreed that defendants would pay plaintiffs' attorneys fees. On October 20, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi (Judge Tom Lee) granted a joint motion for dismissal and dismissed the case.

Kristen Sagar - 06/04/2007


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