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Case Name
United States v. Indiana
MH-IN-0001
Docket / Court
IP84-C-0411-N/A ( S.D. Ind. )
State/Territory
Indiana
Case Type(s)
Mental Health (Facility)
Special Collection
Civil Rights Division Archival Collection
Attorney Organization
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Case Summary
On March 16, 1984, the United States filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq, against the State of Indiana, the Indiana Department of Mental Health (IDMH), and officers of various state agencies, in the U.S ...
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On March 16, 1984, the United States filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq, against the State of Indiana, the Indiana Department of Mental Health (IDMH), and officers of various state agencies, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. The government asked the court for permanent injunctive relief, alleging that conditions at Logansport State Hospital (LSH) and Central State Hospital (CSH) constituted unconstitutional conditions of confinement. Specifically, it contended that the defendants failed to provide sufficient staff, keep adequate records, provide adequate residential care, adequately communicate medical information to staff, maintain an adequate physical environment, prescribe and administer psychotropic medication safely, employ measures assuring the quality of residential care, adequately protect residents for risks associated with telephone orders, and adequately monitor and review pro re nata prescriptions of psychotropic medications.
Previously, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) notified the Governor of Indiana on June 16, 1982, and on October 6, 1983, of its intention to investigate alleged unconstitutional conditions at the institutions. State officials cooperated with these investigations and indicated, from the outset, a willingness to remedy long outstanding deficiencies at the institutions. The Governor created a Commission on Directions in Mental Health and the General Assembly appropriated a large increase in funding for capital projects in state hospitals. Consequently, state and federal officials determined to negotiate a settlement agreement rather than engage in protracted litigation.
The same day as the complaint was filed, March 16, 1984, the parties entered into a settlement agreement. The settlement agreement established (1) general principles and (2) protocols with respect to (a) increased minimum staffing, (b) monitoring the advance of objectives including staff attendance, record keeping, quality of care, staff communication, medication administration, and restraints and seclusion, (c) monitoring plans for implementation of the agreement, and (d) monitoring compliance.
On April 6, 1984, the District Court (Judge James E. Noland) approved the consent decree. Judge Nolan ordered that the decree was binding on all parties and that defendants had to give full access to the DOJ to inspect for compliance, and provided that the Court would retain jurisdiction of the matter, enabling any party to apply for further orders as necessary to ensure compliance.
We have no more information on this case.
Josh Altman - 06/15/2006
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Constitutional Clause
Due Process
General
Record-keeping
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Totality of conditions
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, general
Medication, administration of
Plaintiff Type
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Type of Facility
Government-run
Causes of Action
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
Indiana
Indiana Department of Mental Health
Logansport State Hospital
Plaintiff Description
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
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
1984 - n/a
Filing Year
1984
Case Closing Year
1984
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
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An Analysis of CRIPA Findings Letters Issued to Jails for Constitutional Violations by the Department of Justice
Date: Apr. 15, 2016
By: Jeff Mellow, Bryce E. Peterson & Mijin Kim (John Jay College of Criminal Justice Faculty)
Citation: Am. J. Crim. Just. (April 2016)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Documents
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Docket(s)
84-411
(S.D. Ind.)
MH-IN-0001-9000.pdf
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Detail
Date: 04/06/1984
General Documents
Complaint
MH-IN-0001-0001.pdf
|
Detail
Date: 03/16/1984
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section
Motion to Adopt Consent Decree and Settlement Agreement as Incorporated Therein
MH-IN-0001-0002.pdf
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Detail
Date: 03/16/1984
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section
Decree
(S.D. Ind.)
MH-IN-0001-0003.pdf
|
Detail
Date: 04/06/1984
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section
People
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Judges
Noland, James Ellsworth
(FISC, S.D. Ind.)
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MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003 | MH-IN-0001-9000
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Barker, Sarah Evans
(Indiana)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002
Frohboese, Robinsue
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Held, Alan
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Hendriksen, James
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Maccoon, John P.
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Marshall, Edith S.
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Peabody, Arthur E. Jr.
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Reynolds, William Bradford
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001 | MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
Smith, William French
(District of Columbia)
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MH-IN-0001-0001
Defendant's Lawyers
Pearson, Linley E.
(Indiana)
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MH-IN-0001-0002 | MH-IN-0001-0003
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