Filed Date: Sept. 13, 1978
Closed Date: Nov. 14, 1979
Clearinghouse coding complete
In September of 1978, two inmates of the Maryland Correctional Institution (MCI) in Hagerstown, Maryland, filed a pro se lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the Maryland Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of their confinement violated their constitutional rights. Specifically, they complained of overcrowding, inadequate medical conditions, and inadequate food service.
A few months later, the court (Judge Roszel Cathcart Thomsen) appointed counsel for the plaintiffs, and the new counsel asked the court to certify the case as a class action on behalf of all inmates at the prison. The defendants did not object, and the court granted class certification.
On September 21, 1979, the parties entered into a Consent Decree, which was adopted by the court on November 14, 1979. Washington v. Keller, 479 F.Supp. 569 (D.Md. 1979). The Consent Decree provided for improvement of the housing areas, lowering of population levels, limiting double-bunking of inmates, programming, staffing levels, and services of the prison. We have no further information on the proceedings in this case.
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (2/14/2007)
Adkins, E. Dale III (Maryland)
Bekman, Paul D. (Maryland)
Andrews, Phillip M. (Maryland)
Caplis, Stephen B. (Maryland)
Cuzmanes, Paul (Maryland)
Harvey, Alexander II (Maryland)
Thomsen, Roszel Cathcart (Maryland)
Last updated March 18, 2024, 3:04 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Maryland
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 13, 1978
Closing Date: Nov. 14, 1979
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Inmates of the Maryland Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Maryland
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Maryland Correctional Institution (Hagerstown), State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1979 - None
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: