Case: Harris v. Bell

2:73-cv-00115 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Filed Date: Aug. 14, 1973

Closed Date: Sept. 8, 1975

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Case Summary

Deplorable conditions at the State Board of Training Schools Facility in Booneville, Missouri (hereinafter T.S.B.) incited plaintiff Fredericka Harris to file a lawsuit in August 1973 against the Superintendent of T.S.B. on behalf of her minor son, Lavon Harris, and other residents of T.S.B. similarly situated. Filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Central Division, Ms. Harris' complaint was in regard to the use and conditions of eighteen cells on the s…

Deplorable conditions at the State Board of Training Schools Facility in Booneville, Missouri (hereinafter T.S.B.) incited plaintiff Fredericka Harris to file a lawsuit in August 1973 against the Superintendent of T.S.B. on behalf of her minor son, Lavon Harris, and other residents of T.S.B. similarly situated. Filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Central Division, Ms. Harris' complaint was in regard to the use and conditions of eighteen cells on the second and third floors of T.S.B. The plaintiff was represented by the National Juvenile Law Center at St. Louis University School of Law and private counsel.

The cells were used as maximum-security confinement units to segregate certain juveniles from the general T.S.B. population for disciplinary purposes. Only 6'6'' wide, the cells were dimly lit, lacked ventilation and were filthy. Inmates were denied recreation, exercise, religious services, necessities (soap, towels, etc.) and daily showers.

The Court (Judge Elmo Hunter) ordered the parties to negotiate, but negotiations broke down in 1974 due to a government reorganization. On September 5, 1974, the Court substituted and dismissed appropriate parties and negotiations resumed.

On September 8, 1975, the Court (Judge Hunter) approved a consent decree between the parties whereby the defendant agreed to twenty provisions set forth by the plaintiff. Harris v. Bell, 402 F. Supp. 469 (W.D. Mo. 1975). The decree provided that conditions and provisions of the incarceration units be brought into compliance with constitutional standards, including affording accused juveniles with due process before an impartial panel of staff-members, as well as setting the maximum time for incarceration in the units at seven days.

We have no further information about this case.

Summary Authors

Stacey Jensen (5/17/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Hunter, Elmo Bolton (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Fleming, Anne K. (Missouri)

Schiller, Wendy W. (Missouri)

Spiller, Dudley P. (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

Dean, Preston (Missouri)

Judge(s)

Hunter, Elmo Bolton (Missouri)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:73-cv-00115

Consent Decree

Jan. 1, 1975

Jan. 1, 1975

Order/Opinion

2:73-cv-00115

Stipulations of Fact

Sept. 8, 1975

Sept. 8, 1975

Order/Opinion

402 F.Supp. 402

Docket

Last updated March 18, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Missouri

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: Aug. 14, 1973

Closing Date: Sept. 8, 1975

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Juveniles at the State Board of Training Schools facility in Booneville, Missouri

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Missouri, State

Training School for Boys in Boonville (Boonville), City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

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: 1975 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Bathing and hygiene

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Search policies

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Disciplinary segregation

Library (non-law) access

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Type of Facility:

Government-run