Filed Date: Feb. 2, 1968
Closed Date: 1974
Clearinghouse coding complete
This class action civil rights pro se lawsuit was filed on February 2, 1968 against the Virginia prison system, alleging unlawful racial segregation of inmates and general unconstitutional conditions of confinement.
Our information in this case is limited to the typed docket for the U.S. District Court in Virginia, which is somewhat difficult to read.
According to the docket, the District Court initially entered a TRO, prohibiting the defendants from the following: denying inmate access to attorneys; using instruments against inmates to cause physical pain, except in situations of self defense; using tear gas except in extreme circumstances; denying mattresses and bedding to inmates; denying access to the courts and using solitary confinement in a manner that would cause inmates mental or physical harm.
A trial on the matter commenced in December of 1968 and continued into 1969. The District Court separated the claims of general prisoner mistreatment from the segregation claims. On October 16, 1969, the District Court entered an order and injunction calling for defendants to desegregate the Virginia prison system and to report to the Court as to their efforts to do so. It appears that following that order, memorandums were filed with the Court detailing the status of compliance with the desegregation order.
On July 19, 1974, the District Court ordered that the case be dismissed.
We have no further information on this matter.
Summary Authors
Dan Dalton (2/17/2007)
Bryan, Albert Vickers Jr. (Virginia)
Butzner, John Decker Jr. (Virginia)
Freedman, Lawrence R. (District of Columbia)
Button, Robert Y. (Virginia)
Harp, Reno S. III (Virginia)
Bryan, Albert Vickers Jr. (Virginia)
Butzner, John Decker Jr. (Virginia)
Merhige, Robert Reynold Jr. (Virginia)
Last updated March 24, 2024, 3:09 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Virginia
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Feb. 2, 1968
Closing Date: 1974
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All inmates in the Virginia prison system.
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Commonwealth of Virginia, State
Virginia State Penitentiary, 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:
Order Duration: 1968 - 1974
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Type of Facility: