Case: John L. v. City of New Orleans Youth Study

2:79-05082 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Dec. 18, 1979

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Case Summary

In approximately 1979, youths confined at the Youth Study Center in New Orleans filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the City of New Orleans alleging that defendant's room detention (lock down) policy violated the youths' constitutional rights. Subsequently, the plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, and the defendant entered into a joint stipulation governing lock down at the Youth Study Center. The parties set the maxim…

In approximately 1979, youths confined at the Youth Study Center in New Orleans filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana against the City of New Orleans alleging that defendant's room detention (lock down) policy violated the youths' constitutional rights. Subsequently, the plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, and the defendant entered into a joint stipulation governing lock down at the Youth Study Center.

The parties set the maximum duration of time youths could be sent to lock down for committing specific offenses. The times varied based on the severity of the offense, but the maximum duration of lock down time the youths could serve was twenty-four hours. In the event a youth committed a serious violation that posed an extreme threat to other children or personnel, the Youth Study Center retained the right to hold that child in lock down in excess of twenty-four hours, but it had to notify the Juvenile Court within that time that it could no longer affect control over the child and needed instruction from the Juvenile Court as to the further treatment of the child.

The parties agreed that every alternative means to effectuate behavioral modification should be attempted and that only physical attacks and sexual offenses would lead to immediate lock down, while all other offenses would require administrative review before deciding whether lock down was appropriate. The parties further agreed that youths in lock down were still allowed educational instruction, social services, visitation, and medical services. We have no further information other than the joint stipulation.

Summary Authors

Emilee Baker (5/18/2006)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Scheckman, Steven Robert (Louisiana)

Shauffer, Carole B. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Anzelmo, Salvador (Louisiana)

Shichat, Marc G. (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:79-05082

Joint Stipulation Governing Room Detention (Lock Down) at the Youth Study Center

Jan. 1, 1979

Jan. 1, 1979

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated March 26, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 18, 1979

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Youth detained at the Youth Study Center in New Orleans.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

City of New Orleans (New Orleans, Orleans), City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Available Documents:

None of the above

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: 1979 - None

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Visiting

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run