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Case Name
Desrosiers v. Androscoggin Co.
JI-ME-0001
Docket / Court
85-00091P ( D. Me. )
State/Territory
Maine
Case Type(s)
Juvenile Institution
Attorney Organization
Youth Law Center
Case Summary
On April 5, 1985, a juvenile detained at the Androscoggin County jail filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine against Androscoggin County, the sheriff, the county commissioners, and two district court judges. The plaintiffs, who were ...
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On April 5, 1985, a juvenile detained at the Androscoggin County jail filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine against Androscoggin County, the sheriff, the county commissioners, and two district court judges. The plaintiffs, who were represented in part by the Youth Law Center, asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions, policies and practices at the Androscoggin County jail violated the guarantee of due process, prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq., and various Maine statutes. The class included all current and future juveniles detained in Androscoggin County jail, and those who had been detained there after April 15, 1985. The Androscoggin County jail was being used to confine both adults and juveniles and the jail failed to keep juveniles separate from the adults. The juveniles were kept under unsanitary conditions, had no opportunity for recreation or education, and the jail neither performed a medical or psychological examination nor provided medical or psychological services.
The jail failed or refused to remedy these conditions and policies. On June 24, 1985, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (Judge Gene Carter) dismissed the action against the district court judges, because they were neutral adjudicators and had no stake in the litigation. Desrosiers v. Androscoggin County, 611 F. Supp. 897 (D.C.Me. 1985). On March 18, 1986, the District Court entered a consent judgment, which required Androscoggin to cease using the jail for the detention of juveniles, and required that any facility maintained for the purpose of detaining juveniles be staffed by individuals with special training or education in the handling of juveniles who have been convicted of crimes. The court retained jurisdiction over the case for one year. We have no further information on this case.
Kristen Sagar - 11/05/2007
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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
General
Education
Recreation / Exercise
Sanitation / living 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
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Androscoggin County
Plaintiff Description
juveniles detained at the Androscoggin County Jail in Maine
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
Youth Law Center
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Mixed
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration
1986 - n/a
Filed
04/05/1985
Case Closing Year
1986
Case Ongoing
No
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
D. Me.
06/10/1996
85-91
JI-ME-0001-9000.pdf
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Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
D. Me.
06/24/1985
Memorandum and Order Granting Defendant Judges' Motion to Dismiss
(611 F.Supp. 897)
JI-ME-0001-0003.pdf
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WESTLAW
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LEXIS
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Detail
Source: Google Scholar
D. Me.
07/01/1985
First Amended Civil Rights Complaint for Declaratory, Injunctive, and Other Equitable Relief and Damages (Class Action)
JI-ME-0001-0001.pdf
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Detail
D. Me.
03/18/1986
Consent Judgment
JI-ME-0001-0002.pdf
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Detail
People
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Judges
Carter, Gene
(D. Me.)
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JI-ME-0001-0002 | JI-ME-0001-0003 | JI-ME-0001-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Choate, Andrew
(Maine)
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JI-ME-0001-0001 | JI-ME-0001-0003
Shauffer, Carole B.
(California)
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JI-ME-0001-0001 | JI-ME-0001-0003
Soler, Mark I.
(California)
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JI-ME-0001-0001 | JI-ME-0001-0003
Defendant's Lawyers
Eisenstein, Martin I.
(Maine)
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JI-ME-0001-0003
Frank, Robert S.
(Maine)
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JI-ME-0001-0003
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