In approximately 1980, juveniles at the Athens County Juvenile Detention Center filed a class action lawsuit against the County of Athens in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that their confinement in the detention center violated certain of their constitutional and statutory rights. Plaintiffs, represented by private counsel, sought declaratory and injunctive relief and money damages.

On March 5, 1981, the district court (Judge Robert M. Duncan) certified the class to include all juveniles under the age of eighteen who were or would be confined in the Athens County Juvenile Detention Center since September 1, 1978. On November 9, 1982, the parties entered into a settlement agreement. This was conditioned on the plaintiffs' class filing an application with the court for authority to settle the matter, which the named plaintiffs filed on November 12, 1982.

On November 18, 1982, the district court ordered for a hearing on the proposed settlement agreement to take place on December 14, 1982. Based on that hearing the court (Judge Duncan) issued a consent decree finding the proposed settlement fair and reasonable. The settlement agreement covered issues including how rooms should be furnished, proper procedures for initial intake, standards for pre-hearing detention, guidelines for fingerprinting and photographing, required standards for medical attention, procedures for handling intoxicated juveniles, notification of law enforcement agencies, and monthly exchange of information between the Sheriff and counsel for plaintiffs and the district court. We have no further information on this case.

Emilee Baker - 05/24/2006


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