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Case Name
Melvin P. v. Lauderdale County
JI-AL-0003
Docket / Court
87-HM-5128 ( N.D. Ala. )
State/Territory
Alabama
Case Type(s)
Juvenile Institution
Attorney Organization
Youth Law Center
Case Summary
On April 1, 1987, Melvin P., a 17 year old a minor, filed class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against Lauderdale County, Alabama, several county commissioners, as well as police officers and judges. The plaintiff alleged that Lauderdale County Jail ...
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On April 1, 1987, Melvin P., a 17 year old a minor, filed class action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against Lauderdale County, Alabama, several county commissioners, as well as police officers and judges. The plaintiff alleged that Lauderdale County Jail practices were in violation of his rights under the 14th Amendment, including: due process, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, right to privacy, and right to treatment in least restrictive conditions; he sought injunctive and declaratory relief. Specifically the complaint alleged unsanitary conditions, insufficient staff, inadequate safety in the event of fire, lack of medical or mental health screening or services, and juveniles being in frequent contact with adult inmates. It also challenged the constitutionality of holding juveniles for crimes that were not punishable for adults. The complaint was brought by the Youth Law Center of San Francisco, California, as a class action under 42 U.S.C. 1983, and the Juvenile Delinquency Act, 42 U.S.C. 5601 et seq. Private attorneys represented the defendants.
On April 26, 1989, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (Judge Elbert Bertram Haltom Jr.) permanently enjoined the defendants, and their successors in office, from confining and detaining any juvenile in the Lauderdale County, Alabama Jail, or permitting anyone else to do the same. The injunction simultaneously dismissed the civil action brought by Melvin P.
The docket on PACER contains no information about the proceedings and there are no published opinions in this case.
Greg Venker - 05/15/2006
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Affected Gender
Male
Constitutional Clause
Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Due Process
Freedom of speech/association
General
Fire safety
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Totality of conditions
Youth / Adult separation
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, general
Mental health care, general
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5672
42 U.S.C. ยง 1983
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Lauderdale County Jail
Plaintiff Description
All juveniles who are currently, have been during the year prior to the filing of this Complaint, and in the future will be confined in the Lauderdale County Jail.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
Youth Law Center
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Litigation
Order Duration
1989 - n/a
Filed
04/01/1987
Case Closing Year
1989
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
N.D. Ala.
04/01/1987
87-5128
JI-AL-0003-9000.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
N.D. Ala.
03/01/1987
Complaint for Civil Rights
JI-AL-0003-0001.pdf
|
Detail
N.D. Ala.
04/26/1989
Order
JI-AL-0003-0002.pdf
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Detail
People
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Judges
Haltom, Elbert Bertram Jr.
(N.D. Ala.)
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JI-AL-0003-0002 | JI-AL-0003-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Bell, James Raymond
(California)
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JI-AL-0003-0001
Benn, John R.
(Alabama)
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JI-AL-0003-0001
Shauffer, Carole B.
(California)
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JI-AL-0003-0001
Soler, Mark I.
(California)
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JI-AL-0003-0001
Defendant's Lawyers
Baccus, Steve A.
(Alabama)
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JI-AL-0003-9000
McDaniel, William J.
(Alabama)
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JI-AL-0003-9000
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