Case: Talley v. Stephens

65-00033 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

Filed Date: 1965

Closed Date: Nov. 15, 1965

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Case Summary

Three prisoners of the Arkansas State Penitentiary filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The plaintiffs alleged that they had been unconstitutionally subjected to cruel and unusual corporal punishment by prison guards and that they had been unconstitutionally denied access to courts for redress of their grievances.

On November 15, 1965, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Judge Jesse S. Henley) enjoined the defendants from using corporal punishment on prisoners until adequate safeguards had been established and permanently enjoined the defendants from intimidation or other interference with inmate access to courts. Talley v. Stephens, 247 F.Supp. 683 (E.D.Ark. 1965).

This case predates Pacer, and we have no further information on the litigation.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (6/20/2007)

Jessica Kincaid (3/15/2015)

People


Judge(s)

Henley, Jesse Smith (Missouri)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bullion, Bruce T. (Arkansas)

Ramsay, Louis L. Jr. (Arkansas)

Attorney for Defendant

Bennett, Bruce (Arkansas)

Jackson, Fletcher (Arkansas)

Judge(s)

Henley, Jesse Smith (Missouri)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

65-00033

Reported Opinion

Talley v. Stephens

Nov. 15, 1965

Nov. 15, 1965

Order/Opinion

247 F.Supp. 247

Resources

Docket

Last updated Jan. 26, 2024, 3 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Arkansas

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1965

Closing Date: Nov. 15, 1965

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Prisoners alleging the practices of the penitentiary superintendent violate prisoners' constitutional rights

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Arkansas Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1965 - None

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Type of Facility:

Government-run