Present Status and Background on Ruiz v. Estelle (Texas Prison Case)

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William Turner Oral History

    FACT SHEET 

December 5, 1978 For information: 

Se] 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. 

lund 10 Columbus Circle, New York, N.Y. 10019 © (212) 586-8397 

Dallas- Sam Biscoe 214-744-1444 
S.F. - Bill Turner 415-434-0410 
N.Y. - Joel Berger 212-486-8397 

( RUIZ V. ESTELLE 
(Texas Prison Case) 

Present Status 

Trial began on October 2, 1978 and is underway before 

Federal Judge William Wayne Justice in U.S. District Court, 

Houston, Texas. Trial is expected to last until Christmas. 

Trial attorneys are Sam Biscoe and Bill Turner. 

Background 

The Texas State prison system is known for its efficiency, 

security and economy. Last year there were only three pri- 

son escapes; prison labor produces factory goods and farm 

produce, enabling the system to operate at a profit. 

Ruiz originated in the early 1970s when individual prisoners 

filed separate complaints of cruel and unusual punishment 

and denial of civil rights against the Texas Department of 

Corrections (TDC). Finding merit in seven of the complaints, 

Judge Justice refused to dismiss them. LDF agreed to re- 

present the inmates. In 1974, Judge Justice consolidated 

the complaints and certified the suit as a class action on 

behalf of all Texas prisoners against TDC Director Jim Estelle, 

Contributions are deductible for U.S. income tax purposes -more- 

The NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATIONAL FUND is not part of the National Association for the Advancement of Colorea People although it 
was founded by it and shares its commitment to equal rights. LOF has had for over 20 years a separate Board, program, staff, office and budget. 



Texas Prison case -2 

and the nine members of the Texas Board of Corrections, 

the policy-making body of TDC. He sought the advice of 

the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division which re- 
with an 

sponded/amicus curiae brief on behalf of the prisoners. 

The Justice Department has joined LDF attorneys in the 

investigation, preparation and trial of the case. 

Issues 

The inmates' principal allegation is that living and 

working conditions in the Texas prisons constitute cruel 

and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amend- 

ment. Their evidence includes severe overcrowding; unsafe 

working conditions on the farms and in the factories; in- 

sufficient prison and medical staff; inadequate protection 

(of inmates) from assaults by guards or other inmates; 

inadequate medical care; denial of access to the courts 

and their lawyers, and denial of due process in discipli- 

nary proceedings. 

Throughout the prisons, each inmate averages less than 

25 square feet of living space in violation of the standards 

promulgated by the American Correctional Association (defend- 

and Estelle is on its Executive Board) which require more 

than twice this amount. On the question of overcrowding, 

eonsiderably greater space allocations have been held uncon- 

stitutional by federal judges in other states. 

The inmates maintain that they live in constant fear of 

physical attack from other inmates, prison guards, and 

inmate-guards (also known as building tenders). The ratio 

of personnel to inmates in the system is about half the 

national average. 

-more- 



Texas Prison case -3 

The stringent economic policies of TDC also result in 

the use of untrained inmates as medical help who perform 

minor surgery, dispense drugs and take X-rays. A Correc- 

tions Department surgeon acknowledged in his testimony that 

the prisoners often receive "poor medical care" from "un- 

qualified medical personnel" in "very unclean" prison hospi- 

tals. The surgeon substantiated the inmates stories of 

brutality, stating that he had examined "hundreds" of 

inmates who had been assaulted or beaten. 

During the seven years the suit has been pending, the 

involved prisoners have been subject to pressure to cease 

their activities. Ruiz, who has had a role in many prisoner 

suits against Texas prison officials, has been a constant 

victim of harrassment. 

Note to Editors: The NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL 
FUND, INC. (LDF) is not a part of 
the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People although 
it was founded by that organization 
and shares its commitment to equal rights.