Case: Frazier v. Donelon

2:72-00814 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: March 20, 1972

Closed Date: Feb. 12, 1975

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Case Summary

In 1972, inmates of the Jefferson Parish Prison in Louisiana filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Louisiana Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The plaintiffs alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by prison policies regarding censorship of their mail, visitation rights, access to religious services, access to the telephone, and access to sexually explicit reading materials.The parties entered into mediat…

In 1972, inmates of the Jefferson Parish Prison in Louisiana filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Louisiana Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The plaintiffs alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by prison policies regarding censorship of their mail, visitation rights, access to religious services, access to the telephone, and access to sexually explicit reading materials.

The parties entered into mediation in an effort to reach a settlement agreement, but they could not reach an agreement on the issues pertaining to censorship of mail and access to sexually explicit reading materials. On August 23, 1974, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana (Judge Jack Gordon) held that the defendants had the right to ban sexually stimulating reading matter and to censor inmate mail if it were not legal mail, but that the defendants did not have the authority to open and read inmate legal mail. Frazier v. Donelon, 381 F.Supp. 911 (E.D.La. 1974). The plaintiffs appealed this decision.

On September 12, 1975, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision without a reported opinion. Frazier v. Donelon, 520 F.2d 941 (5th Cir. 1975). The plaintiffs appealed this decision.

On February 23, 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Frazier v. Donelon, 424 U.S. 923 (1976).

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (4/4/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Gordon, Jack Murphy (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Fontham, Michael R. (Louisiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Broussard, Robert I. (Louisiana)

Collins, Lionel R. (Louisiana)

Eason, Alvin R. (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:72-00814

Reported Opinion

Aug. 23, 1974

Aug. 23, 1974

Order/Opinion

381 F.Supp. 381

75-01196

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Sept. 12, 1975

Sept. 12, 1975

Order/Opinion

520 F.2d 520

75-05905

Memorandum Decision

Supreme Court of the United States

Feb. 23, 1976

Feb. 23, 1976

Order/Opinion

424 U.S. 424

Docket

Last updated March 29, 2024, 3:10 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 20, 1972

Closing Date: Feb. 12, 1975

Case Ongoing: Perhaps, but long-dormant

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates of parish jail alleging that refusal and censorship of their mail and alleged curtailment of their right to read certain materials abridged their constitutional rights

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

President of Jefferson Parish, Regional

Councilmen of Jefferson Parish, Regional

Sheriff of Jefferson Parish, Regional

Warden of Jefferson Parish Prison, Regional

Warden of Jefferson Parish Prison, Regional

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1974 - None

Issues

General:

Mail

Parents (visitation, involvement)

Phone

Religious programs / policies

Siblings (visitation, placement)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Discrimination-basis:

Religion discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run