Arkansas Prisoners File Suit
Press Release
January 23, 1969

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Press Releases, Volume 6. Arkansas Prisoners File Suit, 1969. 7ae169f1-b992-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/5cb0a5af-fadb-4179-bc99-f372ccdf0bd6/arkansas-prisoners-file-suit. Accessed April 19, 2025.
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pa ) iy a5 i oes Francis E. ers y /\ PRESS RELEASE piecoccuune egal efense lund Jack Greenberg NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 10 Columbus Circle. New York, N.Y. 10019 * JUdson 6-8397 Director, Public Relations Jesse DeVore, Jr. Jenuary 23, 136 3 NIGHT NUMBER 212-749-8487 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ARKANSAS PRISONERS FILE SUIT LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS---Following an order of a Federal District Judge, a suit has been filed against the Arkansas Department of Corrections for systematic maltreatment of prisoners in the state penal system. On Monday, January 26, the case of Holt v. Sarver will be tried in Federal District Court in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This complaint was filed on behalf of 24 inmates of the Arkansas State Penitentiary who are suing the state penal system in an effort to obtain decent living and working conditions and at least minimal rehabilitative: services. The Federal Judge who ordered the consolidated suit set down for trial is Judge J. Smith Henley. Lastweek Judge Henley fined a former Superintendent of the Tucker State Prison Farm in Arkansas $1,000 for brutality to inmates. The suit will be tried on the eve of the February session of the State Legislature, which would have to act to remedy the deficiencies complained of by the prisoners. The complaint says that under Act 50 of 1968 of the Acts of Arkansas, the state must provide an affirmative program of rehabi- litation and restoration of adult offenders as useful, law-abiding citizens within the community. The Act further states that “persons committed to institutional care of the Department shall be dealt with humanely with efforts directed to their rehabili- tation." The prisoners also contend that many have no shoes and are provided none, that food is inadequate, clothes for outdoor work are not provided and sanitation and health standards are of such low standards as to constitute cruel and inhumane punishment. In seeking relief the plaintiffs are asking the following: (a) a declaratory judgment that the prison officials' acts, policies and practices violate plaintiffs' rights secured by the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amend- Ment and the rights secured by the Thirteenth Amendment. (b) a permanent injunction enjoining defendants from impri- soning plaintiffs without providing meaningful rehabilitative opportunities and requiring defendants to formulate and implement a plan of rehabilitation including adequate vocational, educational, medical and other programs for all inmates of the institutions operated by defendants. (c) a permanent injunction enjoining defendants from accept- ing or retaining custody of plaintiffs until such time as defen- dants can: 1. Adequately clothe and feed plaintiffs, 2. protect the life and health of plaintiffs, 3. protect plaintiffs from the abuses of daily guarding S25 y 1 President Hon. Francis E. Rivers L BAYA) Ee PRESS RELEASE Director Counsel egal Efonse inal Jack Greenberg NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. Direct Ee eens 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N. ¥. 10019 * JUdson 6.8397 Jesse DeVore, Jr. NIGHT NUMBER 212-749-8487 , <2 and control by fellow inmates ("Trustys"), 4. provide adequate medical and dental care, 5. prohibit racial segregation, 6. provide trained and paid personnel to operate and manage the Department's institutions, 7. provide procedural safeguards in the imposition of discipline, 8. provide a disciplinary area which does not con- stitute cruel and unusual punishment. (a) a permanent injunction enjoining defendants from re- quiring plaintiffs to perform any form of labor without com- pensation, and (e) a permanent injunction enjoining the continued use of the "Trusty" guard system. According to William B. Turner attorney for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which is handling this case, this is the first time lawyers have tried to enjoin a state penal system. More suits of this type will certainly be filed in other states in the near future according to Mr. Turner. =30— NOTE: Please bear in mind that the LDF is a completely separate and distinct organization eventthough we were established by the NAACP and those initials are retained in our name. Our correct designation is NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., frequently shortened to LDF.