In 1972, inmates at the Nevada State Prison filed a Section 1983 class action suit in the District of Nevada, pro se, against officials of the Nevada State Prisons. Plaintiffs alleged that defendants violated the Fourteenth Amendments' due process clause be denying them the right to call witnesses, produce evidence or obtain legal counsel during disciplinary proceedings within the prison. Plaintiffs also complained of denial of adequate medical care, mail privileges, and visiting privileges. Charles Zeh, Washington County Legal Aid Society, was appointed to represent the plaintiffs.

Following trial in April 1974, the District Court (Judge Bruce R. Thompson) held that prisoners who were subject to disciplinary proceedings were entitled to certain due process rights including the right to legal counsel. Judge Thompson also held that plaintiffs were not being denied adequate medical care and treatment. Craig v. Hocker, 405 F. Supp. 656 (D. Nev. 1975).

In July 1980, the parties filed a consent decree that required defendants to improve the living conditions of the prison, reform administrative segregation and classification procedures, reform mail regulations, and improve access to judicial process. As part of the consent decree, defendants also agreed to submit to the court, within 60 days, a plan for implementing the agreed changes.

The docket for this case is not available on PACER, and therefore our information ends with the consent decree, dated July 18, 1980.

Eoghan Keenan - 06/10/2005


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