Filed Date: 1978
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1978, inmates at the Sebastian County jail filed a class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Eighth Amendment, alleging that their constitutional rights were violated by overcrowding and lack of exercise, inadequate diet, forced exposure to religious witnessing, restricted visitation privileges, denial of access to newspapers, insufficient medical care, and inadequate security. The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (Judge Paul X. Williams) dismissed the class action.
The United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (Judge Gerald William Heaney) partially reversed and remanded, holding that the jail was unconstitutionally overcrowded and that many prisoners are deprived of exercise. Additionally, the court held that the diet was deficient, and inmates were being unconstitutionally exposed to religious witnessing against their will. On the other issues the 8th Circuit affirmed the District Court. Campbell v. Cauthron, 623 F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1980). The docket was not available on PACER, and, accordingly, we do not have further information on the case.
Summary Authors
David Terry (3/8/2006)
Gibson, Floyd Robert (Missouri)
Heaney, Gerald William (Minnesota)
Horan, Matthew T. (Arkansas)
Fields, Ronald G. (Arkansas)
Porter, J. Lamar (Arkansas)
Gibson, Floyd Robert (Missouri)
Heaney, Gerald William (Minnesota)
Last updated April 15, 2024, 3:16 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Arkansas
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1978
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
inmates at the Sebastian County Jail in Arkansas
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Sebastian County Jail (Sebastian), County
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1980 - 1980
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Sanitation / living conditions
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: