In 1986, inmates at Craggy Prison in Asheville, North Carolina, filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against the North Carolina Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that their constitutional rights had been violated by the conditions of their confinement.

On August 28, 1987, the parties entered into a settlement agreement, which provided for lowering of the inmate population, elimination of triple bunking of inmates, improved medical services, dietary changes in accord with medical needs of inmates, mental health services, fire safety, CPR training for staff, kitchen sanitation, ventilation, heating, library access, clean clothing, new blankets and mattresses, window and door screens, and improved disciplinary procedures. We have been unable to locate a docket for this lawsuit, and therefore have no further information on the proceedings in this case.

We do know, however, that as a result of the settlement, the state closed the old prison, which had opened in the 1930s, and built a new 312-bed facility; this cost $8.4 million, part of a $28.5 million Emergency Prison Facilities Development program. The new prison opened in May 1989. See "https://www.ncdps.gov/Adult-Corrections/Prisons/Prison-Facilities/Craggy-Correctional-Center">the state's description of this history.

Presumably the case is done.

Kristen Sagar - 02/14/2007


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