Case: Stockton v. Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children

69-cv-02834 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Filed Date: Jan. 23, 1969

Closed Date: 1976

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On January 23, 1969, African-American juveniles brought a class action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, challenging the conditions of confinement at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children. Plaintiffs alleged equal protection and due process violations and sought declaratory and injunctive relief. The U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] intervened in the action as a party plaintiff on November 11, 1969.Following discovery, the pa…

On January 23, 1969, African-American juveniles brought a class action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, challenging the conditions of confinement at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children. Plaintiffs alleged equal protection and due process violations and sought declaratory and injunctive relief. The U.S. Department of Justice [DOJ] intervened in the action as a party plaintiff on November 11, 1969.

Following discovery, the parties resolved the case by way of a Consent Decree. The Decree, entered July 23, 1971 by District Judge Johnson, called for the Alabama Industrial School (formerly known as the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children) was ordered to accept male juvenile delinquents between the ages of I5 and 18, without regard to race. The Decree also called for reforms in the areas of education and rehabilitation, vocational programs, staffing levels and qualifications, corporal punishment, discipline and medical and health care. It also set maximum capacity levels.

The District Court ordered the file administratively closed on October 5, 1972.

On December 6, 1975, defendants filed a motion to modify the Court's decree of July 23, 1971. By order of the District Court dated January 6, 1976, the 1971 Decree was modified, so as to allow defendants to place committed students in training schools on the basis of need and not restrict such placements to sex and age.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/26/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Johnson, Frank Minis Jr. (Alabama)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Lavender, Claud W. Jr. (Alabama)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

DeMent, Ira (Alabama)

Lawrence, Paul S. (District of Columbia)

Leonard, Jerris (District of Columbia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

69-cv-02834

Docket Sheet

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

Jan. 6, 1976

Jan. 6, 1976

Docket

69-cv-02834

Complaint

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

Jan. 23, 1969

Jan. 23, 1969

Complaint

69-cv-02834

Complaint in Intervention

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

Nov. 6, 1969

Nov. 6, 1969

Complaint

69-cv-02834

Verified Proposed Finding of Fact of the United States

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

July 19, 1971

July 19, 1971

Findings Letter/Report

69-cv-02834

Decree

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

July 23, 1971

July 23, 1971

Order/Opinion

69-cv-02834

Order

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

July 23, 1971

July 23, 1971

Order/Opinion

69-cv-02834

Order

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

Oct. 5, 1972

Oct. 5, 1972

Order/Opinion

69-cv-02834

United States' Proposed Conclusions of Law

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

July 19, 1974

July 19, 1974

Pleading / Motion / Brief

69-cv-02834

Order

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

Jan. 6, 1976

Jan. 6, 1976

Order/Opinion

1442609

Correspondence

Stockton v. Ala. Industrial School for Negro Children

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama

April 15, 1977

April 15, 1977

Correspondence

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:17 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Alabama

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 23, 1969

Closing Date: 1976

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

All juveniles detained at the Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children.

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Alabama Industrial School (f/k/a Alabama Industrial School for Negro Children), State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

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: 1970 - 1976

Issues

General:

Assault/abuse by residents/inmates/students

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Racial segregation

Rehabilitation

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, unspecified