Case: U.S. v. Forrest County

2:95-cv-00144 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: April 20, 1995

Closed Date: June 15, 1999

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In May of 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice notified Forrest County, Mississippi of its intention to investigate conditions of the county jail. In July of 1993, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the President of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors of its findings and made recommendations regarding security and supervision; medical and mental healthcare; overcrowding; personal hygiene; exercise; and access to a law library and legal materials. Apparently after negotiation, t…

In May of 1993, the U.S. Department of Justice notified Forrest County, Mississippi of its intention to investigate conditions of the county jail. In July of 1993, following the investigation, the DOJ notified the President of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors of its findings and made recommendations regarding security and supervision; medical and mental healthcare; overcrowding; personal hygiene; exercise; and access to a law library and legal materials. Apparently after negotiation, the Attorney General filed an action under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. section 1997 et seq., against the jail in 1995. Less than a month later, the district court for the Southern District of Mississippi (Judge Charles W. Pickering) approved 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. According to the docket on PACER, the county continued to submit status reports to the court until 1998, and in 1999 the court granted a joint motion to dismiss the case.

Summary Authors

Lauren Cutson (5/25/2005)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Maddox, William G. (District of Columbia)

Patrick, Deval L. (District of Columbia)

Peabody, Arthur E. Jr. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Dukes, James K. (Mississippi)

Hollimon, Jeffrey T. (Mississippi)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:95-cv-00144

Docket [PACER]

Jan. 30, 2004

Jan. 30, 2004

Docket

Notice Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Forrest County Jail in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

No Court

May 3, 1993

May 3, 1993

Notice Letter

Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Forrest County Jail in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

No Court

July 6, 1993

July 6, 1993

Findings Letter/Report
3

2:95-cv-00144

Consent Order

May 3, 1995

May 3, 1995

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:04 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT; Notice of Assignment mailed. (mbs (Entered: 04/24/1995)

April 20, 1995

April 20, 1995

Magistrate Judge Assignment-James C. Sumner. (mbs (Entered: 04/24/1995)

April 20, 1995

April 20, 1995

Case Management Conference set at 9:00 a.m. on 7/25/95; Location: U.S. Courthouse, Chambers #2, Hattiesburg, MS, before Magistrate Judge James C. Sumner; copies mailed to Attorneys Patrick, Pigott, Peabody and Maddox on 4/24/95. Copies to Attorneys Dukes and Hollimon on 4/25/95. (mbs Modified on 04/25/1995 (Entered: 04/24/1995)

April 24, 1995

April 24, 1995

2

ANSWER to Complaint by defendants Forrest County, Lynn Cartlidge, David Allen, Mike Keene, Johnny Dupree, Harry Hickman and Billy McGee (Attorneys Jeffrey T. Hollimon and James K. Dukes). (mbs (Entered: 04/25/1995)

April 25, 1995

April 25, 1995

3

CONSENT JUDGMENT: In order to avoid litigation and implement actions outlined by US and its experts parties agree to provisions set forth in detail in this Consent Order; Defendants to implement all provisions within 180 days of the signing of this order and are to file with Court every 90 days following signing of this order until it is terminated status report as to compliance with terms of this order and are to maintain sufficient records to document such compliance with access thereto to U.S.; Defendants to explain terms of this order to staff/deputies who will sign statement indicating they have read and understand this order; inmate handbook described in this order will advise inmates that the Jail is being operated under terms and conditions of this Order and shall be furnished by Defendant a copy of complete Order on request; Court to retain jurisdiction until it determines that Defendants have fully and faithfully implemented all terms of this order with power to delineate respective duties and responsibilities of individual defendants (signed by Judge Charles W. Pickering on 5/3/95); copies mailed. (mbs (Entered: 05/03/1995)

May 3, 1995

May 3, 1995

4

STATUS REPORT by defendants. (mbs Modified on 08/02/1995 (Entered: 08/02/1995)

Aug. 1, 1995

Aug. 1, 1995

5

STATUS REPORT filed by Defendants in compliance with Section V Par. 92 of Consent Order. (mbs (Entered: 10/20/1995)

Oct. 20, 1995

Oct. 20, 1995

7

STATUS REPORT by defendants. (mbs (Entered: 04/17/1996)

April 17, 1996

April 17, 1996

Magistrate Judge Assignment - Louis Guirola - pursuant to Standing Local Order filed May 3, 1996. (fe) (Entered: 05/08/1996)

May 8, 1996

May 8, 1996

8

STATUS REPORT by defendants (fe) (Entered: 10/17/1996)

Oct. 15, 1996

Oct. 15, 1996

9

STATUS REPORT by defendants (scp) (Entered: 01/13/1997)

Jan. 13, 1997

Jan. 13, 1997

10

STATUS REPORT by defendant Forrest County (fe) (Entered: 04/15/1997)

April 14, 1997

April 14, 1997

11

STATUS REPORT by defendant Forrest County (fe) (Entered: 07/14/1997)

July 14, 1997

July 14, 1997

12

STATUS REPORT by defendant Forrest County, defendant Lynn Cartlidge, defendant David Allen, defendant Mike Keene, defendant Johnny Dupree, defendant Harry Hickman, defendant Billy McGee (ldr) (Entered: 10/10/1997)

Oct. 10, 1997

Oct. 10, 1997

13

STATUS REPORT by defendants. (scp) (Entered: 01/08/1998)

Jan. 8, 1998

Jan. 8, 1998

14

STATUS REPORT dated 4/24/98 by defendant Forrest County (ldr) (Entered: 04/30/1998)

April 30, 1998

April 30, 1998

15

STATUS REPORT dated August 26, 1998 by defendants (ldr) (Entered: 08/31/1998)

Aug. 31, 1998

Aug. 31, 1998

16

JOINT MOTION by plaintiff United States to Dismiss Case (ldr) (Entered: 06/11/1999)

June 11, 1999

June 11, 1999

17

ORDER granting [16-1] joint motion to Dismiss Case. (signed by Judge Charles W. Pickering 6/15/99); copies mailed. (ldr) (Entered: 06/15/1999)

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

Case closed (ldr) (Entered: 09/30/1999)

June 15, 1999

June 15, 1999

18

Plaintiff request copy of record in this matter (ldr) (Entered: 01/26/2004)

Jan. 23, 2004

Jan. 23, 2004

Response to letter by Clerk which was filed on (1/23/04). Plaintiff mailed memo regarding cost of retrieving file from Record Center (ldr) (Entered: 01/26/2004)

Jan. 26, 2004

Jan. 26, 2004

19

Letter from plaintiff Billy Ray Ford requesting copies of this case; copy of this letter, and first response dated 1/26/04 mailed to pro se clerk (ldr) (Entered: 01/30/2004)

Jan. 30, 2004

Jan. 30, 2004

Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 20, 1995

Closing Date: June 15, 1999

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Forrest County Jail (Hattiesburg, Forrest), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1995 - 1999

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run