Letter from William Reynolds to Alex Brock (Exhibit C)

    IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 7 8 -1 28 9

MARVIN JONES, on h i s  own b e h a l f  
and on b e h a l f  o f  t h o s e  s i m i l a r l y  
s i t u a t e d ,

P l a i n t  i f f s - A p p e l l a n t s ,

v e r s u s

FRED R. DIAMOND, ET AL . ,

D e f e n d a n t s - A p p e l l e e s .

A p p e a l  f r o m  t h e  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  D i s t r i c t  C o u r t  f o r  t h e  
S o u t h e r n  D i s t r i c t  o f  M i s s i s s i p p i

( J a n u a r y  29,  1981  )

B e f o r e  COLEMAN, C h i e f  J u d g e ,  BROWN, AINSWORTH,
GODBOLD, CHARLES CLARK, RONEY, GEE, TJOFLAT, HILL ,  FAY, 
RUBIN, VANCE, KRAVITCH, FRANK M. JOHNSON, J R . ,  GARZA, 
HENDERSON, REAVLEY, POLITZ,  HATCHETT, ANDERSON, RANDALL, 
TATE, SAM D. JOHNSON, THOMAS A. CLARK, C i r c u i t  J u d g e s . * *

RUBIN, C i r c u i t  J u d g e :

P r i s o n e r s  c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  C ou n t y  j a i l  i n  

P a s c a g o u l a ,  M i s s i s s i p p i ,  e i t h e r  a w a i t i n g  t r i a l  o r  a l r e a d y  

c o n v i c t e d ,  c o n t e n d  t h a t  c o n d i t i o n s  and  p r a c t i c e s  in  t h a t  j a i l  

v i o l a t e  f e d e r a l  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  g u a r a n t e e s , —̂  i n c l u d i n g  t h e

] _ /  We h av e  in  t h e  p a s t  h e a r d  a number o f  c a s e s  i n v o l v ­
i n g  p r i s o n e r  g r i e v a n c e s .  S e e , e . g . ,  M i l l e r  v .  
C a r s o n ,  563  F . 2 d  741 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ;  Newman v .  
A l a b a m a ,  559  F . 2 d  283 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1977  ) ,  c e r t .
d e n i e d , ___  U.S .  ___ , 98 S.  C t .  31 44 ,  ____ L. Ed.  2d
___ ( 1 9 7 8 ) ;  W i l l i a m s  v .  E d w ar d s ,  547 F .2 d  1206 ( 5 t h
C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ;  G a t e s  v .  C o l l i e r ,  501 F .2 d  1291 ( 5 t h  
C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) .

e q u a l  p r o t e c t i o n  and d u e  p r o c e s s  c l a u s e s  o f  t h e  f o u r t e e n t h

- 1 -

* C i r c u i t  J u d g e  J e r r e  S.  W i l l i a m s  h a s  become a member  o f  t h e  C o u r t  
s i n c e  t h i s  c a s e  was t a k e n  u n d e r  s u b m i s s i o n .  He e l e c t s  n o t  t o  
p a r t i c i p a t e  i n  t h e  d e c i s i o n .



amendment ,  t h e  f r e e d o m  o f  s p e e c h  c l a u s e  o f  t h e  f i r s t  amend­

m e n t  and  t h e  c r u e l  and  u n u s u a l  p u n i s h m e n t  c l a u s e  o f  t h e  

e i g h t h  amendment .  A s s e r t i n g  a c l a s s  a c t i o n  c l a i m  u n d e r  42 

U . S . C .  § 1 9 8 3 ,  t h e y  s e e k  d e c l a r a t o r y  and  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f .  

The o r i g i n a l  c o m p l a i n t  a l s o  s o u g h t  c o m p e n s a t o r y  and p u n i t i v e  

da m ag e s  on b e h a l f  o f  a l l  members o f  t h e  c l a s s ,  a g r o u p  l a t e r  

e s t i m a t e d  t o  i n c l u d e  more t h a n  8 , 5 0 0  p e r s o n s .  A f t e r  t r i a l  on 

t h e  m e r i t s ,  a t  w h i c h  t h e r e  was  t e s t i m o n y  a b o u t  t h e  i n d i ­

v i d u a l  c o m p l a i n t s  o f  t e n  c l a s s  members ,  an amended c o m p l a i n t  

was  f i l e d  a s s e r t i n g  p e n d e n t  d a m a g e  c l a i m s  f o r  v i o l a t i o n s

o f  M i s s i s s i p p i  s t a t e  l a w .  Two p a n e l s  o f  t h i s  c o u r t  h a v e
2/h e a r d  p r i o r  i n t e r l o c u t o r y  a p p e a l s — a n d ,  a f t e r  t r i a l  and

2 /  On ly  one  o f  t h e s e  d e c i s i o n s  i s  r e p o r t e d :  J o n e s  v .
Diamond,  519 F .2d 1090 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) .

3 /c o n s i d e r a t i o n  o f  t h e  m e r i t s  by a n o t h e r  p a n e l , — we h a v e

_3/ J o n e s  v .  Diamond,  594 F . 2 d  997 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) .

h e a r d  t h e  c a s e  en  b a n c .  The s c o p e  and  v a r i e t y  o f  t h e  c l a i m s  

p r e s e n t e d  r e q u i r e  us  t o  r e v i e w  e a c h  o f  them s e p a r a t e l y .  We 

f i r s t  s e t  f o r t h  t h e  b a s i c  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  p r i n c i p l e s  g o v e r n i n g  

c o n d i t i o n s  o f  c o n f i n e m e n t  i n  s t a t e  p r i s o n s  and t h e  h i s t o r y  

and f a c t s  o f  t h i s  c a s e .  A f t e r  e x a m i n i n g  e a c h  o f  t h e  v a r i e d  

c l a i m s  and t h e  d e f e n s e s  o f f e r e d ,  we c o n c l u d e  t h a t  t h e  c o n d i ­

t i o n s  o f  c o n f i n e m e n t  i n  t h e  j a i l  v i o l a t e d  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  

g u a r a n t e e s  and t h a t  t h e  p r i s o n e r s  a s  a c l a s s  a r e  e n t i t l e d  t o  

i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f .  We c o n c l u d e  t h a t  t h e  c l a s s  r e p r e s e n t a t i v e  

i s  n o t  e n t i t l e d  t o  da m ag e s ,  and we a f f i r m  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  

ju d g m e n t  d e n y i n g  him damages  a s  w e l l  a s  t h e  ju d g m e n t  d e n y i n g

- 2 -



s i x  o f  t h e  i n d i v i d u a l  p l a i n t i f f s  da m ag e s  u n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  

s t a t e  l a w.  B e c a u se  t h e  r e c o r d  d o e s  n o t  d e m o n s t r a t e  t h a t  any 

o f  t h e  f o u r  o t h e r  i n d i v i d u a l s  who t e s t i f i e d  was a s s e r t i n g  

i n d i v i d u a l  d a m a g e  c l a i m s  u n d e r  S e c t i o n  1983  a n d  d o e s  n o t  

a d e q u a t e l y  s u p p o r t  t h o s e  c l a i m s  h ad  t h e y  b e e n  a s s e r t e d ,  

we m o d i f y  t h e  ju d g m e n t  a s  t o  t h e  c l a i m s  o f  t h o s e  f o u r  i n d i ­

v i d u a l s  and  d i s m i s s  t h e m  w i t h o u t  p r e j u d i c e .  We f u r t h e r  

a f f i r m  t h e  ju d g m e n t  o f  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  i n  some m a t t e r s  

d i s c u s s e d  i n  d e t a i l  b e l o w .

I .  CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

J u d g e s  a r e  n e i t h e r  c o r r e c t i o n a l  o f f i c e r s  n o r  

p e n o l o g i s t s .  Even i f  we had t h e  e x p e r t i s e  t o  a n a l y z e  t h e  

p r a c t i c a l  and t h e o r e t i c a l  i m p l i c a t i o n s  o f  t h e  c o n d i t i o n s  o f  

i n c a r c e r a t i o n ,  we would  h av e  no w a r r a n t  t o  im po se  o u r  v i e w s ,  

f o r  a l e g i s l a t u r e  —  s t a t e  o r  f e d e r a l  —  i s  n o t  r e q u i r e d  by 

t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n  t o  o p e r a t e  p e n a l  i n s t i t u t i o n s  i n  a c c o r d a n c e  

w i t h  c r i m i n o l o g i c a l  d o c t r i n e  o r  t o  employ  o n l y  e x p e r t s  i n  

t h e i r  m a n a g e m e n t .  We a r e  m i n d f u l  t h a t  " c o u r t s  a r e  i l l  

e q u i p p e d  t o  d e a l  w i t h  t h e  i n c r e a s i n g l y  u r g e n t  p r o b l e m s  o f  

p r i s o n  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .  . . , "  P r o c u n i e r  v .  M a r t i n e z ,  416 U.S .

396 ,  40 5 ,  94 S.  C t .  1800 ,  1 80 7 ,  40 L. Ed.  2d 224 ,  ___  ( 1 9 7 4 ) ,

and t h a t  i t  i s  n o t  " w i s e  . . .  t o  s e c o n d - g u e s s  t h e  e x p e r t  [ o r  

a n y  o t h e r ]  a d m i n i s t r a t o r s  on m a t t e r s  on w h ic h  t h e y  a r e  b e t t e r

i n f o r m e d , "  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,  ____ U . S .  ____, ____ , 99 S .  C t .

1 8 6 1 ,  1 8 7 0 ,  ____ L.  Ed.  2d ____, ____  ( 1 9 7 9 )  ( q u o t i n g  l o w e r

c o u r t  o p i n i o n ) .  M o r e o v e r ,  we a r e  aw a re  t h a t  we s h o u l d  n o t ,  

" i n  t h e  name o f  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n ,  become . . . enmeshed  in

t h e  m i n u t i a e  o f  p r i s o n  o p e r a t i o n s . "  1(3. a t  ___ , ____, 99 S.

C t .  a t  1 88 6 ,  ___  L. Ed. 2d a t  ___ .

s h o u l d

T h e s e  c o n s t r a i n t s  d o  n o t  m e a n ,  

r e t u r n  t o  "a t i m e  n o t  t o o  lo n g  ago

h o w e v e r , 

when t h e

t h a t  we 

f e d e r a l

- 3 -



t o  t h ej u d i c i a r y  t o o k  a c o m p l e t e l y  ' h a n d s - o f f '  a p p r o a c h  

p r o b l e m  o f  p r i s o n  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , "  _id. a t  , 99 S.  C t .  a t

188(5'  ____ l . Ed .  2d a t  ____. A p r i s o n e r ,  w h e t h e r  a l r e a d y

c o n v i c t e d  o f  a c r i m e  o r  m e r e l y  a w a i t i n g  t r i a l ,  d o e s  n o t  sh e d  

a l l  h i s  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r i g h t s  when he p u t s  on j a i l  c l o t h i n g .  

W h i le  o u r  " i n q u i r y  . . . i n t o  [ s t a t e ]  p r i s o n  management  mus t

be  l i m i t e d  t o  t h e  i s s u e  o f  w h e t h e r  a p a r t i c u l a r  s y s t e m

v i o l a t e s  any p r o h i b i t i o n  o f  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n , "  id, . a t  ___ , 99

S.  C t .  a t  18 86 ,  ___  L. Ed.  2d a t  ____, i t  i s  o u r  d u t y ,  when

j u r i s d i c t i o n  i s  p r o p e r l y  i n v o k e d ,  t o  p r o t e c t  p r i s o n e r s '  

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r i g h t s ,  f o r  " [ t ] h e r e  i s  no i r o n  c u r t a i n  d rawn 

b e t w e e n  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n  and t h e  p r i s o n e r s  o f  t h i s  c o u n t r y , "  

W o l f f  v .  Mc Do n n e l l ,  418 U.S .  53 9 ,  5 5 5 - 5 6 ,  94 S.  C t .  2963,

29 74 ,  41 L. Ed. 2d 93 5 ,  ___  ( 1 9 7 4 ) .

Among t h e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  s a f e g u a r d s  e x t e n d e d  t o  a l l  

p r i s o n e r s ,  i n c l u d i n g  t h o s e  c o n v i c t e d  o f  a c r i m e ,  a r e :  p r o t e c ­

t i o n  by t h e  e q u a l  p r o t e c t i o n  c l a u s e  o f  t h e  f o u r t e e n t h  amend­

ment  a g a i n s t  i n v i d i o u s  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  on t h e  b a s i s  o f  r a c e ,  

s e e  L e e  v .  W a s h i n g t o n ,  390  U . S .  3 3 3 ,  88 S .  C t .  9 9 4 ,

L. Ed.  2d ___  ( 1 9 6 8 ) ;  r e l i g i o u s  f r e e d o m  by t h e  f i r s t  amend­

m e n t ,  s e e  Cru z  v .  B e t o ,  405 U .S .  319 ,  92 S .  C t .  1079 ,  31 L. 

Ed.  2d 263 ( 1 9 7 2 ) ;  s e c u r i t y  a g a i n s t  d e p r i v a t i o n  o f  l i f e  o r  

p r o p e r t y  o r  a d d i t i o n a l  d e p r i v a t i o n  o f  l i b e r t y  w i t h o u t  due 

p r o c e s s  by t h e  f o u r t e e n t h  amendment ,  s e e  W o l f f  v .  McDonne l l ,  

418 U .S .  539 ,  94 S.  C t .  29 63 ,  41 L. Ed.  2d 935 ( 1 9 7 4 ) ;  f r e e ­

dom o f  s p e e c h  by t h e  f i r s t  amendment ,  s e e  P e l l  v .  P r o c u n i e r ,  

417 U . S .  8 1 7 ,  94 S .  C t .  2800 ,  41 L. Ed. 2d 495 ( 1974 ) ,  and 

p r o t e c t i o n  by t h e  e i g h t h  amendment  f rom c r u e l  and u n u s u a l  

p u n i s h m e n t ,  s e e  E s t e l l e  v .  Gamble ,  429 U .S .  9 7 ,  97 S.  C t .

28 5 ,  50 L. Ed. 2d 251 ( 1 9 7 6 ) .  I n  d e t e r m i n i n g  w h e t h e r  c o n d i ­

t i o n s  o f  c o n f i n e m e n t  a r e  u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  u n d e r  t h e  e i g h t h

- 4 -



a m e n d m e n t  o r  t h e  f o u r t e e n t h  a m e n d m e n t ,  we do  n o t  a s s a y  

s e p a r a t e l y  e a c h  o f  t h e  i n s t i t u t i o n a l  p r a c t i c e s  b u t  l o o k  t o  

t h e  t o t a l i t y  o f  c o n d i t i o n s .  Our  t a s k  i s  l i m i t e d  t o  e n f o r c i n g  

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  s t a n d a r d s  r a t h e r  t h a n  a s s u m in g  s u p e r i n t e n d e n c e  

o f  j a i l  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .  See M i l l e r  v .  C a r s o n ,  563 F .2 d  741 

( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ;  W i l l i a m s  v .  E d w ar d s ,  547 F .2d  1206 ( 5 t h  C i r .  

1 9 7 7 ) .

The due  p r o c e s s  c l a u s e  a c c o r d s  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  

r i g h t s  n o t  e n j o y e d  by c o n v i c t e d  i n m a t e s .  W h i l e  a s e n ­

t e n c e d  i n m a t e  may be  p u n i s h e d  i n  a n y  f a s h i o n  n o t  c r u e l  

a n d  u n u s u a l ,  t h e  d u e  p r o c e s s  c l a u s e  f o r b i d s  p u n i s h m e n t  

o f  a p e r s o n  h e l d  i n  c u s t o d y  a w a i t i n g  t r i a l  b u t  n o t  y e t

a d j u d g e d  g u i l t y  o f  a n y  c r i m e .  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,  _____

U . S .  ______ , _______  n . 1 6 ,  99 S .  C t .  1 8 6 1 ,  1 8 7 2  n . 1 6 ,  ______

L.  E d .  2d ______  n . 1 6  ( 1 9 7 9 ) .  H o w e v e r ,  i n c a r c e r a t i o n  o f

p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s ,  w h e t h e r  o r  n o t  s o  i n t e n d e d ,  n e c e s ­

s a r i l y  im p o s e s  r e s t r i c t i o n s  on th em .  A b s e n t  an e x p r e s s e d  

i n t e n t  t o  p u n i s h  on  t h e  p a r t  o f  p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s ,  s u c h  

a r e s t r i c t i o n  i s  v a l i d  i f  "an  a l t e r n a t i v e  p u r p o s e  t o  which  

[ t h e  r e s t r i c t i o n ]  may r a t i o n a l l y  be  c o n n e c t e d  i s  a s s i g n ­

a b l e  f o r  i t "  u n l e s s  " i t  a p p e a r s  e x c e s s i v e  i n  r e l a t i o n

t o  t h e  a l t e r n a t i v e  p u r p o s e  a s s i g n e d  [ t o  i t ] . "  _Id_. a t  ______ ,

99 S .  C t .  a t  1 8 7 3 ,  ______  L. Ed. 2d a t  ______  ( q u o t i n g  Kennedy

v .  M e n d o z a - M a r t i n e z , 372 U.S .  14 4 ,  1 6 8 - 6 9 ,  83 S .  C t .  554,

5 6 7 - 6 8  , ______  L.  Ed.  2d ______ , _______ ( 19 6 3  ) ) .  " T h u s ,  i f

a p a r t i c u l a r  c o n d i t i o n  o r  r e s t r i c t i o n  o f  p r e t r i a l  d e t e n ­

t i o n  i s  r e a s o n a b l y  r e l a t e d  t o  a l e g i t i m a t e  g o v e r n m e n t a l  

o b j e c t i v e ,  i t  d o e s  n o t ,  w i t h o u t  m o r e ,  a m o u n t  t o  ' p u n i s h ­

m e n t . '  C o n v e r s e l y ,  i f  a r e s t r i c t i o n  o r  c o n d i t i o n  i s  n o t  

r e a s o n a b l y  r e l a t e d  t o  a l e g i t i m a t e  g o a l  —  i f  i t  i s  a r b i t r a r y  

o r  p u r p o s e l e s s  - -  a c o u r t  p e r m i s s i b l y  may i n f e r  t h a t  t h e

- 5 -



p u r p o s e  o f  t h e  g o v e r n m e n t a l  a c t i o n  i s  p u n i s h m e n t  t h a t  may n o t  

c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y  be i n f l i c t e d  upon d e t a i n e e s  q u a  d e t a i n e e s . "

I d .  a t  ______ , 99 S .  C t .  a t  18 7 4 ,  ______  L. Ed.  2d a t  ______

( f o o t n o t e  o m i t t e d ) .

Wi th  f u r t h e r  e l a b o r a t i o n  when n e c e s s a r y ,  we a p p l y  

t h e s e  p r i n c i p l e s  t o  t h e  c o m p l a i n t s  c o n c e r n i n g  t h e  J a c k s o n  

C ou n t y  j a i l .

I I .  H i s t o r y  o f  t h e  L i t i g a t i o n  

T h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l  was  b u i l t  i n  1 9 4 9 .  I n  

1971  t h e  P a s c a g o u l a  n e w s p a p e r ,  The  M i s s i s s i p p i  P r e s s ,  

r a n  a s e r i e s  o f  a r t i c l e s  a b o u t  d e p l o r a b l e  c o n d i t i o n s  i n  

t h e  j a i l .  The  s e r i e s ,  a t  l e a s t  i n  p a r t ,  p r o m p t e d  t h e  

B o a r d  o f  S u p e r v i s o r s  t o  p r o p o s e ,  a n d  t h e  e l e c t o r a t e  t o  

a p p r o v e ,  a bo n d  i s s u e  t o  b u i l d  a new j a i l .  The B o a r d  

o f  S u p e r v i s o r s  d e d i c a t e d  h a l f  o f  t h e  b o n d  i s s u e  t o  c o n ­

s t r u c t i o n  o f  a j u v e n i l e  f a c i l i t y ,  w h i c h  was  c o m p l e t e d  

i n  1975 . However ,  an a r c h i t e c t  had  n o t  y e t  be e n  employed  

a n d  c o n s t r u c t i o n  o f  t h e  new j a i l  had  n o t  b e g u n  w h e n ,  i n  

A u g u s t  1973 , t h i s  s u i t  was b r o u g h t  a s  a c l a s s  a c t i o n  u n d e r  

S e c t i o n  1983 on b e h a l f  o f  p e r s o n s  c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  

C ou n t y  j a i l  a g a i n s t  t h e  s h e r i f f  o f  t h e  c o u n t y ,  F red  Diamond,  

t h e  j a i l e r ,  Roy T o o t l e ,  S r .  a n d  m e m b er s  o f  t h e  C o u n t y  

B o a r d  o f  S u p e r v i s o r s .  I n  J a n u a r y  19 7 6  S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  

r e p l a c e d  S h e r i f f  Diamond and J a c k  B r o a d u s ,  S r .  was a p p o i n t e d  

j a i l e r  by t h e  new s h e r i f f . — The new a d m i n i s t r a t i o n  made

4 /  C o u n s e l  h a v e  i n f o r m e d  u s  t h a t  b o t h  Diam on d  and  
B r o a d u s  a r e  d e c e a s e d .

v a r i o u s  c h a n c e s  t h a t  somewhat  a m e l i o r a t e d  j a i l  c o n d i t i o n s .  

P l a n s  f o r  t h e  new j a i l  w e r e  d r a w n  i n  1 9 7 5 ,  b u t  c o n s t r u c -

- 6 -



t i o n  b eg an  o n l y  a co n s  

c o u n t y  s o u g h t  a n d  e v e  

E n f o r c e m e n t  A s s i s t a n c e  

was n o t  o c c u p i e d  u n t i l

i d e r a b l e  t i m e  t h e r e a f t e r  

n t u a l l y  o b t a i n e d  a i d  f  

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n  [LEAA]. 

F e b r u a r y  1 9 7 9 , —̂  some

b e c a u s e  t h e  

rom t h e  Law 

The new j a i l  

m on ths  a f t e r

5 /  By s t i p u l a t i o n  o f  t h e  p a r t i e s ,  f a c t u a l  d a t a  c o n ­
c e r n i n g  e v e n t s  s u b s e q u e n t  t o  t h e  t r i a l  wer e  made 
p a r t  o f  t h e  r e c o r d  i n  D e c e m b e r  1 9 7 9 ,  s o  we know 
t h a t  t h e  new j a i l  was p u t  i n t o  u s e  on F e b r u a r y  15,  
1 9 7 9 .  An a f f i d a v i t  f i l e d  by S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  
s t a t e s  t h a t  t h e  o l d  j a i l  i s  b e i n g  used  " a s  t emp o­
r a r y  h o l d i n g  c e l l s  f o r  p e r s o n s  who w i l l  be h e l d  i n  
j a i l  f o r  j u s t  a m a t t e r  o f  h o u r s . "  C o u n s e l  f o r  t h e  
d e f e n d a n t s  a l s o  s t a t e d  t h a t  t h e  o l d  j a i l ' s  f a c i l ­
i t i e s  a r e  b e i n g  u s e d  f o r  m u n i c i p a l  p r i s o n e r s  o f  t h e  
town o f  P a s c a g o u l a ,  whose j a i l  was d e s t r o y e d  by a 
h u r r i c a n e  in  1979 .

t h e  a p p e a l  f r o m  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t ' s  19 7 7  d e c i s i o n  had  b e e n  

h e a r d  by a p a n e l  o f  t h i s  c o u r t .

I n  a s e p a r a t e  a c t i o n ,  a f e d e r a l  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ,  

a f f i r m e d  by  t h i s  c o u r t  i n  1 9 7 4 ,  f o u n d  c o n d i t i o n s  a t  t h e  

M i s s i s s i p p i  S t a t e  P e n i t e n t i a r y  a t  Pa rchm an  v i o l a t i v e  o f  t h e  

f e d e r a l  c o n s t i t u t i o n  and l i m i t e d  t h e  number o f  i n m a t e s  who

c o u l d  be c o n f i n e d  t h e r e . 6/ T h i s  r e s u l t e d  i n  t h e  d e t e n t i o n

6 /  G a t e s  v .  C o l l i e r ,  349 F .  S u p p .  881 ( N . D .  M i s s .
1 9 7 2  ) ,  a f  f ' d , 501 F . 2 d  1291  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) .

o f  some s t a t e  p r i s o n e r s  a t  c o u n t y  j a i l s ,  i n c l u d i n g  t h e  

J a c k s o n  C ou n t y  j a i l .  By t h e  t i m e  t h i s  c a s e  was t r i e d ,  t h e  

J a c k s o n  j a i l  was b e i n g  u se d  t o  c o n f i n e  a s u b s t a n t i a l  number  

o f  p e r s o n s  who had b e e n  c o n v i c t e d  o f  f e l o n i e s  and s e n t e n c e d  

t o  s e r v e  t e r m s  i n  t h e  s t a t e  p e n i t e n t i a r y ,  some who had bee n  

c o n v i c t e d  and s e n t e n c e d  t o  s e r v e  t e r m s  in  t h e  c o u n t y  j a i l ,  

some who h a d  b e e n  c o n v i c t e d  o f  m u n i c i p a l  o f f e n s e s  a n d  a 

s u b s t a n t i a l  number  o f  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  - -  p e r s o n s  c h a r g e d

- 7 -



w i t h  c r i m e s  and a w a i t i n g  t r i a l  who wer e  n o t  e l i g i b l e  f o r  o r  

n o t  a b l e  t o  p r o v i d e  b a i l .

So o n  a f t e r  t h e  s u i t  was f i l e d ,  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  

d e n i e d  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  o f  a p l a i n t i f f  c l a s s  and d i s m i s s e d  some 

o f  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s .  F o l l o w i n g  an i n t e r l o c u t o r y  a p p e a l ,  we 

o r d e r e d  a c l a s s  h e a r i n g  and r e v e r s e d  d i s m i s s a l  o f  t h e  Board 

o f  S u p e r v i s o r s  a s  a d e f e n d a n t .  J o n e s  v .  Diamond,  519 F .2d  

1090 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 5 ) .  A f t e r  more t h a n  t h r e e  y e a r s  had e l a p s e d  

f rom  t h e  t i m e  t h e  s u i t  was f i l e d ,  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  i n  F e b r u a r y  

1977 c e r t i f i e d  a c l a s s  o f  " a l l  p e r s o n s  who were  i n c a r c e r a t e d  

a t  t h e  t i m e  o f  t h e  f i l i n g  o f  t h e  c o m p l a i n t ,  o r  a r e  now, o r  in  

t h e  f u t u r e  w i l l  b e  c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l ,  

e i t h e r  t o  s e r v e  a s e n t e n c e  o r  a w a i t i n g  s e n t e n c e  . . . . "  At 

t h e  same t i m e ,  d e f e n d a n t  c l a s s e s  were  c e r t i f i e d ,  c o n s i s t i n g  

o f  t h e  s u c c e s s o r s  t o  t h e  p o s i t i o n s  o f  s h e r i f f  and j a i l e r  and 

members o f  t h e  Board  o f  S u p e r v i s o r s .

T r i a l  o n  t h e  m e r i t s  b e g a n  i n  F e b r u a r y  1 9 7 7  b u t ,  

a f t e r  f o u r  d a y s  o f  t e s t i m o n y ,  was r e c e s s e d  u n t i l  J u n e .  In  

A u g u s t  1 9 7 7 ,  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  i n  a f i v e - p a g e  o p i n i o n  d e n i e d  

b o t h  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f  and damages  t o  M a rv in  J o n e s ,  one o f  

t h e  p r i s o n e r s .  The j u d g e  h e l d  t h e  c l a s s  c l a i m s  i n  a b e y a n c e ,  

a p p a r e n t l y  p e n d i n g  c o m p l e t i o n  o f  t h e  new j a i l ,  w h i c h  h i s  

o p i n i o n  s t a t e d  w o u l d  be  " r e a d y  f o r  o c c u p a n c y  i n  a b o u t  a 

y e a r . "  By t h e n ,  t h i s  s u i t  f o r  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f  had a l r e a d y  

b e e n  on t h e  d o c k e t  f o r  f o u r  y e a r s .  The  p l a i n t i f f s  a g a i n  

s o u g h t  r e l i e f  f r o m  t h i s  c o u r t ,  a n d  i n  N o v e m b e r  19 77  we 

d i r e c t e d  t h e  j u d g e  t o  r u l e  on t h e  m e r i t s  o f  t h e  c l a s s  

c l a i m s .  I n  December  he  e n t e r e d  h i s  f i n d i n g s .

The t r i a l  j u d g e  f o u nd  a g a i n s t  t h e  p l a i n t i f f s  on a l l  

t h e  f a c t s  and c o n c l u d e d ,  " [ s ] i n c e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  v i o l a t i o n s  

a r e  n o t  i n v o l v e d ,  t h i s  c o u r t  w i l l  n o t  i n t e r v e n e  i n  t h e



I

o r d e r l y  f u n c t i o n  o f  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o un ty  j a i l .  The F e d e r a l  

j u d i c i a r y  m a i n t a i n s  a p o l i c y  o f  minimum i n t r u s i o n  i n t o  t h e  

a f f a i r s  o f  l o c a l  j a i l s  and p r i s o n s .  . . . "  T hen ,  w i t h o u t  

e x p l a i n i n g  t h e  a p p a r e n t  a n o m a l y ,  h e  s t a t e d ,  "T h e  J a c k s o n  

C ou n t y  j a i l  i s  i n a d e q u a t e  and s h o u l d  be  p r o m p t l y  r e p l a c e d  o r  

s u p p l e m e n t e d .  . . . T h e r e  s h o u l d ,  h o w e v e r ,  be a r e a s o n a b l e

t i m e  f ra m e  imposed f o r  i t s  c o m p l e t i o n . "  He o b s e r v e d  t h a t

t h e  a s s i g n m e n t  o f  p r i s o n e r s  t o  c e l l s  s h o u l d  n o t  be made on 

t h e  b a s i s  o f  r a c e .  A l t h o u g h  he f ou nd  no v i o l a t i o n  o f  p r i s o n e r  

r i g h t s  i n  t h e  me th o ds  u s e d  t o  impose  d i s c i p l i n e ,  he a d d e d  t h a t  

due  p r o c e s s  s h o u l d  be  a c c o r d e d  p r i s o n e r s  f o r  whom " m a j o r  o r  

s e v e r e "  p u n i s h m e n t  i s  c o n t e m p l a t e d .  He o r d e r e d  r u l e s  f o r  

d i s c i p l i n a r y  a c t i o n s  t o  be p o s t e d  and g r a n t e d  any  p r i s o n e r  

w i t h  a c l a i m  f o r  v i o l a t i o n  o f  t h o s e  r u l e s  t h e  r i g h t  t o  have  

h i s  c a s e  c o n s i d e r e d  by a U n i t e d  S t a t e s  M a g i s t r a t e .  F i n a l l y ,  

he  d e n i e d  any  damages  b u t  r e t a i n e d  j u r i s d i c t i o n  t o  " a l t e r  

a n d / o r  m o d i f y "  any  p a r t  o f  h i s  r u l i n g  " f r om t i m e  t o  t i m e . "

S i m u l t a n e o u s l y ,  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  i s s u e d  a p r e l i m ­

i n a r y  i n j u n c t i o n .  I t  o r d e r e d  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  " t o  c o m p l e t e  

t h e i r  new j a i l ,  w i t h  a l l  e q u i p m e n t  i n  p l a c e ,  r e a d y  f o r  use  

a n d  o p e r a t i o n  on o r  b e f o r e  S e p t e m b e r  1 5 ,  1 9 7 8 . "  I t  a l s o  

o r d e r e d  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  r e f u s e  t o  a c c e p t  p r i s o n e r s  c h a r g e d  

w i t h  m i s d e m e a n o r s  by m u n i c i p a l i t i e s ,  r e q u i r e d  them t o  p o s t  a 

l i s t  o f  p r i s o n e r  r i g h t s  p r e p a r e d  by t h e  c o u r t  and e n j o i n e d  

them f rom  r e q u i r i n g  o r  a l l o w i n g  any  p r i s o n e r  " t o  s l e e p  on 

any m a t t r e s s  on t h e  f l o o r  . . . and t h e  j a i l  s h a l l  n o t  be 

o v e r c r o w d e d  t o  s u c h  e x t e n t  a s  t o  r e q u i r e  s u c h  i n c i d e n t . "

The t r i a l  j u d g e ' s  c o n c l u s i o n s ,  h i s  i n j u n c t i o n  and 

h i s  r e t e n t i o n  o f  j u r i s d i c t i o n  a r e  n o t  mere  n o n s e q u i t u r s ; t h e y  

r e v e a l  t h a t  t h e  j u d g e ,  who had become t h o r o u g h l y  f a m i l i a r  

w i t h  t h i s  c a s e  o v e r  a p e r i o d  o f  f o u r  y e a r s ,  r e a l l y  was aware

- 9 -



o f  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  v i o l a t i o n s .  A b s e n t  p r o o f  o f  su ch  v i o l a ­

t i o n s  he had no j u r i s d i c t i o n ,  i n  h i s  own w o r d s ,  t o  " i n t e r ­

v e n e . "  W h i l e  t h i s  d o e s  n o t  o f  i t s e l f  d e t e r m i n e  t h e  i n c o r ­

r e c t n e s s  o f  t h e  i n c o n s i s t e n t  f i n d i n g s  o f  f a c t ,  i t  i s  n o t  

i n c o n s e q u e n t  t o  t h e i r  e v a l u a t i o n .  Having  r e v i e w e d  t h e  e n t i r e  

1 5 2 0 - p a g e  t r a n s c r i p t  and t h e  r e m a i n d e r  o f  t h e  r e c o r d ,  we f i n d  

t h a t  t h e  p a r t  o f  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t ' s  o p i n i o n  s t y l e d  " F i n d i n g s  

o f  F a c t s "  c o n t a i n s  many f i n d i n g s  t h a t  a r e  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  

c o n c e r n i n g  c o n d i t i o n s  i n  1 97 3 ,  when t h e  s u i t  was b r o u g h t ,  

a n d ,  i n  many r e s p e c t s ,  e q u a l l y  so  a s  t o  t h o s e  p r e v a i l i n g  in  

1 9 7 7 ,  when t h e  t r i a l  f i n a l l y  o c c u r r e d .  See Fe d .  R. C i v .  P.  

5 2 . - /

7 /  B e c a u s e  we c o n c l u d e  t h a t  t h e  f i n d i n g s  a r e  c l e a r l y  
e r r o n e o u s ,  we d o  n o t  c o n s i d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  f o r  
r e v i e w  o f  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  f a c t s .  A n u m b e r  o f  
f e d e r a l  c i r c u i t  c o u r t s  have  q u a l i f i e d  t h e  c l e a r l y  
e r r o n e o u s  r u l e  when r e v i e w i n g  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  f a c t s  
f o un d  by f e d e r a l  t r i a l  c o u r t s .  See C o u s i n s  v .  C i t y  
C o u n c i l ,  466  F . 2 d  830 , 8 37 ( 7 t h  C i r . ) ,  c e r t
d e n i e d ,  409 U.S .  89 3 ,  93 S .  C t .  8 5 ,  34 L. Ed 7~ ld  
151 ( 1 9 7 2 ) ;  G u z i c k  v .  D r e b u s ,  431 F . 2 d  5 9 4 ,  599
( 6 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 0 ) ,  c e r t . d e n i e d , 401 U .S .  94 8 ,  91 S.
C t .  941 ,  ___  L. Ed.  2d ___  ( 1 9 7 1 ) ;  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .
B a k e r ,  364 F . 2 d  1 0 7 ,  110 n . 4  (3d  C i r . ) ,  c e r t ,  
d e n i e d ,  385 U.S .  98 6 ,  87 S .  C t .  59 6 ,  L. EdT~2d

( 1 9 6 6 ) .  -----

I I I .  F a c t s

The J a c k s o n  C ou n t y  j a i l  o c c u p i e s  p a r t  o f  t h e  f o u r -  

s t o r y  J a c k s o n  Coun t y  c o u r t h o u s e  i n  t h e  c e n t e r  o f  t h e  c i t y  o f  

P a s c a g o u l a .  The s h e r i f f ' s  o f f i c e  and o t h e r  l aw e n f o r c e m e n t  

f a c i l i t i e s  a r e  l o c a t e d  on t h e  f i r s t  f l o o r  o f  t h e  b u i l d i n g ,  

t o g e t h e r  w i t h  one c e l l  c a l l e d  t h e  " h o l d i n g  c e l l . "  The j a i l  

k i t c h e n  and an a p a r t m e n t  f o r  t h e  s h e r i f f  a r e  l o c a t e d  on  t h e  

t h i r d  f l o o r .  The t o p  f l o o r  c o n t a i n s  two l a r g e  c e l l s  c a l l e d  

" b u l l  p e n s "  (one w i t h  t h i r t y  b u n k s ,  t h e  o t h e r  w i t h  e i g h t e e n ) ,  

s e v e r a l  f o u r - b u n k  c e l l s  c a l l e d  " l i n e  c e l l s , "  a maximum

- 1 0 -



s e c u r i t y  c e l l ,  a t r u s t y  r o o m ,  s e r v i c e  f a c i l i t i e s  and  two 

c e l l s  u s e d  f o r  t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  m e n t a l l y  d i s t u r b e d  a nd  

v i o l e n t  p e r s o n s  g e n e r a l l y  c a l l e d  "pa dd ed  c e l l s "  ( a l t h o u g h  

t h e y  had no p a d d i n g )  o r  t e rm e d  " t h e  h o l e "  by p r i s o n e r s

8 /  Each "p a d d e d  c e l l "  was 6 ' 6 "  by 6 ' .  A l t h o u g h  t h e  
c e l l s  w e r e  n o t  p a d d e d ,  t h e r e  w e r e  p l a c e s  w h e r e  
m a t t r e s s e s  c o u l d  be  i n s t a l l e d  t o  s e r v e  a s  p a d d i n g  
i f  n e e d e d .  S h e r i f f  Diamond t e s t i f i e d  he knew o f  no 
i n s t a n c e  when t h e y  had b e e n  u s e d .  T h e s e  c e l l s  had 
no bu n k s  o r  a n y  o t h e r  f u r n i s h i n g s .  Each had a h o l e  
i n  t h e  f l o o r  t h a t  s e r v e d  a s  a u r i n a l .  I f  t h e  
c o n f i n e d  p e r s o n  had o t h e r  n e e d s ,  he  had t o  c a l l  a 
t r u s t y .

The t r i a l  j u d g e  made few f i n d i n g s  c o n c e r n i n g  j a i l  

c o n d i t i o n s  a s  t h e y  e x i s t e d  i n  1 9 7 3 ,  a s  c o m p a r e d  t o  t h o s e  

e x i s t i n g  a t  t h e  t i m e  o f  t r i a l  i n  1 9 7 7 .  However ,  t h e  t e s t i ­

mony,  p a r t i c u l a r l y  i n  many i n s t a n c e s  t h a t  o f  S h e r i f f  Diamond 

and J a i l e r  T o o t l e ,  and t h e  d e f e n d a n t s '  a n s w e r s  t o  i n t e r r o g a ­

t o r i e s  w a r r a n t  t h e  f o l l o w i n g  c o n c l u s i o n s  c o n c e r n i n g  c o n d i ­

t i o n s  when t h i s  s u i t  was commenced.

J a i l e r  T o o t l e  was t h e  o n l y  p e r s o n  d i r e c t l y  c h a r g e d  

w i t h  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  f o r  j a i l  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .  He u s u a l l y  was 

on d u t y  f rom 8 : 0 0  A.M. u n t i l  5 : 0 0  P.M. and was o f f  d u t y  one 

day  a week.  When he was p r e s e n t  i n  t h e  j a i l ,  m o s t  o f  t h e  

d e t a i l s  o f  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n  were  h a n d l e d  by p r i s o n e r s  who had 

b e e n  s e l e c t e d  t o  a c t  a s  t r u s t i e s ;  when he was n o t  p r e s e n t ,  

p r i s o n e r - t r u s t i e s  w e r e ,  a s  a p r a c t i c a l  m a t t e r ,  i n  s o l e  

c h a r g e .  Th e  t r u s t i e s  c a r r i e d  k e y s  t o  t h e  c e l l s ,  r e l a y e d  

m e d i c a l  c o m p l a i n t s  t o  t h e  j a i l e r ,  d e l i v e r e d  p a c k a g e s  and 

a d m i n i s t e r e d  t h e  j a i l  c a n t e e n .

The j a i l  had 76 b u n k s .  Even w i t h  t h a t  number  o f  

i n m a t e s  c o n f i n e d ,  i t  was b a d l y  c r o w d e d .  G e n e r a l l y ,  ho w ev e r ,  

i t  h o u se d  many mor e .  T h e r e  was e v i d e n c e  t h a t  an a v e r a g e  o f  197

- 1 1 -



197 p e r s o n s  p a s s e d  t h r o u g h  t h e  j a i l  e a c h  d a y .  Not a l l  o f  

t h e s e  r e m a in e d  o v e r n i g h t  b e c a u s e  many would  p o s t  bond and be 

r e l e a s e d  t h e  same d a y .  How many p r i s o n e r s  were  c o n f i n e d  a t  

any  one t i m e  d u r i n g  t h e  day  o r  on any  g i v e n  n i g h t  c a n n o t  be 

d e t e r m i n e d  f rom t h e  j a i l  r e c o r d s  b e c a u s e  o n l y  a d m i s s i o n s  and 

d i s c h a r g e s  were  r e c o r d e d .  The d e f e n d a n t s  o f f e r e d  e v i d e n c e  

t h a t  t h e  a v e r a g e  number  o f  m e a l s  s e r v e d  e a c h  d ay  r a n g e d  f rom 

82 t o  97 .  On one day  102 p e r s o n s  wer e  c o n f i n e d .  T h e r e  was ,  

m o r e o v e r ,  v o l u m i n o u s  t e s t i m o n y  by p r i s o n e r s ,  c o n f i r m e d  by 

o t h e r  t e s t i m o n y  and a p p a r e n t l y  c r e d i t e d  by t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e ,  

t h a t  p r i s o n e r s  were  o f t e n  r e q u i r e d  t o  s l e e p  on m a t t r e s s e s  

on t h e  c o n c r e t e  f l o o r  and on t h e  d a y - r o o m  t a b l e s .  At t i m e s  

t h e r e  was a s  l i t t l e  a s  s i x  t o  e i g h t  s q u a r e  f e e t  o f  s p a c e  p e r  

p r i s o n e r .

T h e r e  was  a b s o l u t e  c o n f l i c t  i n  t h e  t e s t i m o n y  

a b o u t  s a n i t a r y  c o n d i t i o n s .  Many p r i s o n e r s  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  

t h e  j a i l  was  o v e r c r o w d e d ,  p e o p l e  s l e p t  on  t h e  f l o o r s  and  

o n  t a b l e s ,  m a t t r e s s e s  w e r e  s o i l e d  a n d  d i r t y ,  m a t t r e s s  

c o v e r s ,  when  s u p p l i e d ,  w e r e  f i l t h y  a n d  j a i l  c o n d i t i o n s  

w e r e  u n s a n i t a r y .  On t h e  o t h e r  h a n d ,  S h e r i f f  Diam ond  a nd  

J a i l e r  T o o t l e  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  r a r e l y ,  i f  e v e r ,  d i d  t h e  

number  o f  p r i s o n e r s  e x c e e d  t h e  number o f  b u n k s ,  m a t t r e s s e s  

w er e  r e p l a c e d  r e g u l a r l y ,  m a t t r e s s  c o v e r s  were  washed r e g u ­

l a r l y ,  t h e r e  was  a d a i l y  c l e a n i n g  o f  t h e  c e l l s  u n d e r  t h e  

t r u s t i e s '  s u p e r v i s i o n  a n d  t h e  j a i l  w as  m a i n t a i n e d  i n  a 

s a n i t a r y  c o n d i t i o n .  P h o t o g r a p h s  and o t h e r  e v i d e n c e  s a t i s f y  

u s  t h a t  t h e  p r i s o n e r s '  a c c o u n t  o f  t h e  j a i l  more a c c u r a t e l y  

d e s c r i b e d  c o n d i t i o n s ,  a t  l e a s t  a t  t h e  o u t s e t  o f  t h e  s u i t ,  

t h a n  t h e  a c c o u n t  by t h e  s h e r i f f  and  j a i l e r  and  t h a t  t h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  was c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  i n  r e a c h i n g  t h e  c o n ­

c l u s i o n s  i t  d i d .

- 1 2 -

I



The f o r m e r  C h i e f  o f  C l a s s i f i c a t i o n s  and P a r o l e  o f  

t h e  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  P e n i t e n t i a r y  a t  T e r r e  H a u t e ,  who had a l s o  

s e r v e d  a s  S u p e r i n t e n d e n t  o f  L o r t o n  C o r r e c t i o n a l  I n s t i t u t i o n  

i n  t h e  D i s t r i c t  o f  Co l u m b ia ,  v i s i t e d  t h e  j a i l  j u s t  b e f o r e  t h e  

t r i a l ,  l o n g  a f t e r  S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  had s u c c e e d e d  S h e r i f f  

Diamond and f u r t h e r  c h a n g e s  had b e e n  made.  H is  t e s t i m o n y - ^

9/  Jo h n  0 .  Boone t e s t i f i e d ,  " ( T ] h a t  j a i l  i s  a g a i n s t  
a l l  my n o t i o n s  o f  j u s t i c e .  . . . I ' m  a p p a l l e d
and I  t h i n k  i t ' s  d e v a s t a t i n g  f o r  e v e r y b o d y ,  f o r  t h e  
o f f i c i a l s ;  e s p e c i a l l y  f o r  t h e  o f f i c i a l s  e s p e c i a l l y ,  
and f o r  t h e  p r i s o n e r s ,  and I c a n ' t  s e e  how anybody  
ca n  g e t  a n o t i o n  t h a t  anybod y  h a s  a good f e e l i n g  
a b o u t  j u s t i c e  h a v i n g  had any k i n d  o f  r e l a t i o n s h i p  
t o  t h a t  j a i l . "  He t e s t i f i e d  a b o u t  s a n i t a r y  c o n d i ­
t i o n s ,  " I  saw s t a c k e d  up  p i l e s  o f  f i l t h .  . . .
P a p e r  p l a t e s ,  p a p e r  c u p s ,  d i r t y  t o w e l s ,  d i r t y  
c l o t h e s .  . . . T h e  men w e r e  d i r t y . "  A f t e r  an
o b j e c t i o n  t o  h e a r s a y  c o n c e r n i n g  b a t h i n g  f a c i l i t i e s ,  
he s t a t e d ,  " W e l l ,  I  s m e l l e d  t h e m .  . . .  I s m e l l e d  
them and I  saw t h e  d i r t .  One young man was r u b b i n g  
t h e  d i r t  o f f  h i s  s k i n . "  He t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  o n e  
s h o w e r  a r e a  was u n i d e n t i f i a b l e  " u n t i l  t h e y  t o l d  me 
t h a t ' s  w h a t  i t  w a s .  I t  was  e x t r e m e l y  d i r t y ,  
c o r r o d e d  . . . .  I t ' s  a b s o l u t e l y  a n  i m p o s s i b l e  
s a n i t a r y  s i t u a t i o n . "

and t h e  t e s t i m o n y  o f  a n o t h e r  e x p e r t  who v i s i t e d  t h e  j a i l  a t  

t h e  same t i m e  — '  s a t i s f y  us  t h a t ,  w h i l e  some o f  t h e  w o r s t

20/  T h e o d o r e  James  Gordon had e x t e n s i v e  e x p e r i e n c e  as  a 
h e a l t h  c a r e  f a c i l i t y  s u r v e y o r  and in  i n s t i t u t i o n a l  
h y g i e n e .  He t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  some s h o w e r s  were  f u l l  
o f  t r a s h  and g a r b a g e  b e c a u s e  t h e r e  was no p l a c e  t o  
swee p  o u t  t h e  t r a s h .  F o u r  p r i s o n e r s  were c o n f i n e d  
i n  t h e  t w o - p e r s o n  c e l l s .  The v e n t i l a t i o n  s y s t e m  
was n o t  w o r k i n g .  The i n s t i t u t i o n  p r o v i d e d  no l i n e n  
a n d  no  c l o t h i n g  f o r  p r i s o n e r s .  T h e r e  was  no  way 
p r i s o n e r s  c o u l d  w a s h  t h e i r  c l o t h i n g  e x c e p t  i n  
s h o w e r s  which  were  n o t  t h e n  w o r k i n g .  T h e r e  were 
l a u n d r y  f a c i l i t i e s  on  t h e  f i r s t  f l o o r ,  b u t  t h e y  
w e r e  n o t  b e i n g  u s e d .  He saw i n m a t e s  s l e e p i n g  on 
t h e  f l o o r  on d i r t y  m a t t r e s s e s  w i t h  " e v i d e n c e  o f  
u r i n e  s t a i n ;  w h e r e  s o m e o n e  h a d  t h r o w n  u p  on  t h e  
m a t t r e s s  a t  one t i m e  o r  a n o t h e r .  They wer e  s o i l e d  
and w e r e  n o t  c l e a n e d  a t  a l l . "

c o n d i t i o n s  w e r e  a m e l i o r a t e d  a f t e r  S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  t o o k  

o f f i c e ,  e v e n  in  1977 t h e  j a i l  was f i l t h y ,  in h um a nl y  o v e r -

- 1 3 -



c r o w d e d and u n s u i t a b l e  f o r  t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  p r i s o n e r s . — ^

1 1 /  I n  1976 a j a i l  r i o t  o c c u r r e d  i n  which  $ 3 0 , 0 0 0  o f  
p r o p e r t y  was dam aged ,  a l t h o u g h  no one  was i n j u r e d .  
N e e d l e s s  t o  s a y ,  j a i l  c o n d i t i o n s  d o  n o t  e x c u s e  
d i s o r d e r  and we do  n o t  condone  t h e  r e b e l l i o n  in  any  
w a y .  A f t e r  t h e  r i o t ,  when i n t e r v i e w e d  by t h e  
M i s s i s s i p p i  P r e s s ,  S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  was q u o t e d  a s  
s a y i n g  t h a t  t h e  p e r s o n s  i n  t h e  j a i l  w ere  j a i l b i r d s  
a n d  " t h e y  d o n ' t  h a v e  a n y  r i g h t s  a s  f a r  a s  I ' m  
c o n c e r n e d . "  I n t e r r o g a t e d  a b o u t  t h i s  d u r i n g  t r i a l ,  
he  d i d  n o t  deny t h e  s t a t e m e n t .  T h i s  c a s u a l  o b s e r ­
v a t i o n  i s  o f  some  i m p o r t a n c e  i n  e v a l u a t i n g  t h e  
s h e r i f f ' s  t e s t i m o n y  and  h i s  v i e w  o f  h i s  r e s p o n ­
s i b i l i t y  a s  o f f i c i a l  c u s t o d i a n  o f  t h e  p r i s o n e r s .

J a i l e r  T o o t l e  a d m i n i s t e r e d  p u n i s h m e n t  by c o n f i n i n g  

p e r s o n s ,  i f  t h e i r  o f f e n s e  was " s e r i o u s  e n o u g h , "  i n  t h e  "pad ded  

c e l l "  and by r e s t r i c t i n g  t h e i r  v i s i t a t i o n  p r i v i l e g e s .  Th er e  

w er e  r u d i m e n t a r y  j a i l  r u l e s  p o s t e d  b u t  p u n i s h m e n t  f o r  v i o l a ­

t i o n s  was i n f l i c t e d  a t  T o o t l e ' s  d i s c r e t i o n  w i t h o u t  a h e a r i n g  

o f  any  k i n d .

A l t h o u g h  t h e  d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  f o u n d  t h a t  t h e r e  

was  no p a t t e r n  o r  p r a c t i c e  o f  s e x u a l  a b u s e  i n  t h e  j a i l ,  

J a i l e r  T o o t l e  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  d u r i n g  t h e  Diamond a d m i n i s t r a t i o n  

t h e  p r i s o n e r s  h e l d  a k a n g a r o o  c o u r t  in  t h e  b u l l p e n  a n d ,  in  

a n s w e r  t o  i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s ,  s a i d  o f  a p r i s o n e r ,  " Ju dg ed  a t  

k a n g a r o o  c o u r t  i n  b u l l p e n .  S e n t e n c e  on e v e r y  new in m a te  p u t  

i n  b u l l p e n  a f t e r  t r i a l ,  su c h  a s  u n n a t u r a l  i n t e r c o u r s e  and 

make them [ p e r f o r m  a h o m o s e x u a l  a c t ] .  A l s o  b e a t  up s e v e r a l  

i n m a t e s  p r e t t y  b a d . "  ( E m p h as i s  s u p p l i e d . )  He t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  

he  had r e c e i v e d  r e p o r t s  o f  many s e x u a l  a s s a u l t s  b u t  t h a t  he c o u l d  

p r o v e  t h e  o c c u r r e n c e  o f  o n l y  one  b e c a u s e  t h e  v i c t i m s  o f  t h e  

o t h e r  a t t a c k s  r e f u s e d  t o  t e s t i f y  a g a i n s t  t h e i r  a s s a i l a n t s .  

J a i l e r  T o o t l e  a l s o  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  t h e r e  were a l w a y s  f i g h t s  in  t h e  

j a i l .  The e v i d e n c e ,  t a k e n  a s  a w h o l e ,  l e a d s  us  t o  c o n c l u d e  

t h a t ,  d u r i n g  t h e  Diamond a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,  t h e  j a i l e r s  f a i l e d  t o

- 1 4 -



e n t r u s t e d  i t  t o  t h e  t r u s t i e st a k e  c h a r g e  o f  t h e  j a i l ,  e n t r u s t e d  i t  t o  t h e  t r u s t i e s '  s u p e r ­

v i s i o n ,  knew t h e r e  was a c l i m a t e  o f  p r i s o n e r  v i o l e n c e  and 

f a i l e d  t o  t a k e  any  s t e p s  t o  e l i m i n a t e  i t .

When S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  t o o k  c h a r g e  i n  1 9 7 6 ,  he 

employ ed  an  a s s i s t a n t  j a i l e r  t o  s e r v e  when t h e  j a i l e r  was 

o f f  d u t y ,  t h u s  p r o v i d i n g  t w e n t y - f o u r  h o u r  a day  s u p e r v i s i o n .  

However ,  t h e  t r u s t y  s y s t e m  was m a i n t a i n e d  and p r i s o n e r  a b u s e  

o f  o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s  was n o t  e l i m i n a t e d .  T h e r e  c o n t i n u e d  t o  

be  r e p e a t e d  f i g h t s  i n  t h e  j a i l  a n d  a g e n e r a l  c l i m a t e  o f  

v i o l e n c e .

W h i le  t h e  d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  f ou nd  t h a t  t h e r e  was "no 

p a t t e r n  o r  p r a c t i c e  o f  r a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  in  t h e  j a i l , "  he 

a l s o  f o u n d  t h a t  "on  o c c a s i o n "  p r i s o n e r s  who w e r e  t o  be 

c o n f i n e d  t o  one o f  t h e  two b u l l p e n s ,  wh i ch  h o us e d  more t h a n  

h a l f  t h e  p r i s o n e r s ,  w e r e  g i v e n  a c h o i c e  b e t w e e n  t h e  t w o .  

S h e r i f f  Diamond t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  "a  l a r g e  p a r t  o f  t h e  t i m e  t h e y  

[ t h e  b u l l p e n s ]  were  s e g r e g a t e d  and o n e  was known a s  t h e  w h i t e  

b u l l p e n ,  t h e  o t h e r  a s  t h e  b l a c k  b u l l p e n . "  A l t h o u g h  c o u n s e l  

f o r  d e f e n d a n t s  a r g u e d  t h a t  r a c i a l  s e g r e g a t i o n  was e l i m i n a t e d  

by S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r ,  L e d b e t t e r  h i m s e l f  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  he 

c o n t i n u e d  " f r e e d o m  o f  c h o i c e "  a n d  t h a t  t h i s  r e s u l t e d  i n  

s e g r e g a t i o n  in  t h e  b u l l  p e n s .

On a d m i s s i o n  e v e r y  p r i s o n e r  was  p r e s e n t e d  w i t h ,  

and u s u a l l y  s i g n e d ,  a c a r d  t h a t  g av e  t h e  j a i l e r  t h e  r i g h t  t o

c e n s o r  m a i l .  L a t e r , J a i l e r  T o o t l e  s a i d , he " s c r a t c h e d o u t

' c e n s o r ' and p u t  ' s e a r c h '  on t h e  c a r d . " Mr . T o o t l e  opene d

i  ncom i  ng m a i l  i f  he was  s u s p i c i o u s  o f i t s c o n t e n t s  . He

t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  he  d i d  s o  o n l y  o n c e .  On t h e  o t h e r  h a n d ,  

S h e r i f f  Diamond t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  in co mi ng  " b u l k y "  l e t t e r s  and 

a l l  p a c k a q e s  were  exa mi ne d  by Mr. T o o t l e .  I t  a p p e a r s  t h a t  

m a i l  c e n s o r s h i p  was  c o n s i d e r a b l y  r e d u c e d  a f t e r  S h e r i f f

- 1 5 -



- 9 1 -

sq j ,  ' s a q x q w  Aq p a x d n o o o . a u o  oq a o u a a a g a a d  ux s a s u o s u d  i p p g q  

qo Xiug  XT^o B a a q u a  oq AxxapqungOA Aga>{xxun AgXBnba aq  pgnOM 

a a u o s x a d  aqxqM v  'AaosnxXT qnq  q q 6 np a q  oq . . aoxoqo , ,  aqq  puxg

Axpj iaq pgno o  ' s a x u o g ^ g  aoCpui go paqoxA uoo  auios ' s a a u o s x a d  

a q x q «  qqx«  papw oao  x i o o  p u i  quau i auxg uoo  uaa. ' -iqaq a s o o q o  oq 

p a a a p a o  pup XT^[- papMoao aqq  oq paqqxuipp Agwau u o s a a d  ifopgq 

V * ^qT XT QT s u o d s a a  go u o x q p o x p q p  up s i  spapM a x a q q  a s x A a a d n s  

oq A g a a d o a d  s x e p T j j o  go  a a n g x p g  a q q  ' g x p C  b go  6 u x q q a s  

a A x o a a o o  A g q u a a a q u x  a q q  u i  • uox  q p u  x ujt a o  s  x p a o g  a z n p 6  p 

qnq  sx a o i o q o  go  u iopaaag  ' q updu ipa  sx  pux>{ AaaAa go  A q x g x q s o q  

a a a q «  ' s u o s x a d  u i  •S D To qo  a x a q q  g o  q g n s a a  a q q  s e n  s x q q  

qpqq u o x q p u p g d x a  aqq  q q x «  a o p a  Aq p a q e 6 a a b a s  a a a « __s u e d
I

TTn q OMq a q q  ux  a s o q q  —  s a a u o s x a d  s t 1 q s e a g  qv

s a x q x x x o p j  p a q p 6 a a b a s  *\?

SNOIiIVTOIA 'IVNOIXm.IJ.SNOD 'A I

' T XT o a q u o o  q u a m q p a a q  a a u o s x a d  g o  q o a d s p  a p g n o x q a s d  Aup 

go A opn bappux  a o  Ao pn bap p  aq q  a e p x s u o o  qou o p  pup  urns ux gxpC 

qe  s u o x q x p u o o  aqpngBAa  sm a s n p o a q  q q b u a g  qp a o u a p x A a  s x q q  

a q p q s a  qou op  a «  ' a q p n b a p p  a a a «  ggp qpqq  Auouixqsaq p a a a g g o  

s q u p p u a g a p  aqj ,  ' q u a x o x g a p  aaaw  ggp qeqq  a o u a p x A a  a g q p a a p x s  

- u o o  p a a a g g o  s g g x q u g p g d  aqj ,  - a a p o  gpoxpaui  pup  q a x p  ' u o x q

- p g x q u a A  aqq  q n o q p  Auouixqsaq aA X su aq x a  s p m  a a a q j ,

• suiooa App pup  s g g a o  pauiuisC aqq  

ux a s x o a a x a  go  uiaog Aguo a x a q q  s p  s d n - q s n d  op  p x p  pup  p g n o o  

s a a u o s x a d  qa q q  p a x g x q s a q  s a a g x p C  aqj ,  ' a s x o a a x a  a o o p u x  aog  

uiooa ou ‘ papMoaoaaAO spm  qx a s n p o a q  ' p u p  a s x o a a x a  a o o p q n o  aog  

s e t q q I T ^ e q  ou  p p q  g x p f  s q q  ‘ a a u a o o  q a a a q s  u « o q u « o p  p u o  

k u x p g x n q  B go  a o o g g  doq  aqq  uo  s pm  qx s p  p a q s n q g s

•qxg  mps  Aaqq s p  XTBUI q d a o a a q u x  oq q u a q x a  auios 

oq p a n u x q u o o  s a a g x p C  s x q  pup aq  qnq  ' e o x g g o  >;ooq a a q q a q p a q

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d e f e n d a n t s  do n o t  s u g g e s t any j u s t i f  i c a t i o n f o r t h e p o l

W h i l e  i t  was d i s g u i s e d  i n t e r m s  o f c h o i c e , t h e p r a c t i c e

r a c i a l l y  d i s c r i m i n a t o r y  a n d ,  h e n c e ,  u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l .  See 

Lee v .  W a s h i n g t o n ,  390 U .S .  3 3 3 ,  88 S .  C t .  99 4 ,  19 L. Ed.  2d

1212 ( 1 9 6 8 ) .

B. C r u e l  and U nu sua l  P u n i s h m e n t

C o n f i n e m e n t  i n  a p r i s o n  w h e r e  t e r r o r  r e i g n s  i s  

c r u e l  and u n u s u a l  p u n i s h m e n t .  A p r i s o n e r  h a s  a r i g h t  t o  be 

p r o t e c t e d  f r o m  t h e  c o n s t a n t  t h r e a t  o f  v i o l e n c e  and  f r o m  

s e x u a l  a s s a u l t .  W i t h e r s  v .  L e v i n e ,  615 F .2 d  158 ( 4 t h  C i r .  

1 9 8 0 ) ;  G a t e s  v .  C o l l i e r ,  501 F . 2 d  1291  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) ;  

Woodhous v .  V i r g i n i a ,  487 F .2 d  889 ( 4 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 3 ) .  Whi le  

i n  o u r  u l t i m a t e  c o n c l u s i o n  we c o n s i d e r  t h e  j a i l  c o n d i t i o n s  

a s  a w h o l e ,  some s p e c i f i c  f a c t s  a s s i s t  i n  o u r  e v a l u a t i o n .  

P r i s o n e r  a b u s e  by o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s  was common. D u r i n g  t h e  

Diamond  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,  p r i s o n  m a n a g e m e n t  was  i n  e f f e c t  

t u r n e d  o v e r  t o  t r u s t i e s  f i f t e e n  t o  s i x t e e n  h o u r s  a d a y .  

D e p u t i e s  wer e  on d u t y  d o w n s t a i r s  b u t ,  a p a r t  f rom o c c a s i o n a l  

p a t r o l s ,  t h e y  h ad  no  k n o w l e d g e  o f  e v e n t s  i n  t h e  j a i l  and  

c o u l d  n o t  be summoned by p r i s o n e r s .  The e v i d e n c e  s a t i s f i e s  

u s  t h a t  t h e r e  was c o n s t a n t  v i o l e n c e ,  a n d ,  a t  l e a s t  d u r i n g  

p a r t  o f  t h e  p e r i o d ,  a p r i s o n e r - r u n  k a n g a r o o  c o u r t  t h a t  

i n f l i c t e d  p h y s i c a l  and s e x u a l  a b u s e  on  o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s .  T h i s  

s t a t e  o f  a f f a i r s  was known t o  J a i l e r  T o o t l e  and t o  S h e r i f f  

Diam on d .

The o l d  j a i l  was g r o s s l y  o v e r c r o w d e d .  The t r i a l  

j u d g e  i n  f a c t  fo u n d  t h i s  t o  be  t h e  c a s e ,  a n d ,  i n d e e d ,  t h i s  

was  t h e  p r i n c i p a l  r e a s o n  t h e  new j a i l  was  b u i l t .  I n  t h e  

d a y t i m e ,  p r i s o n e r s  w e r e  c o n f i n e d  t o  t h e  d a y  room i n  s u c h  

numbers  t h a t  a t  t i m e s  t h e r e  was l i t t l e  more t h a n  s i x  s q u a r e  

f e e t  p e r  i n m a t e .  The w e s t  b u l l  pen  h e l d  e i g h t e e n  i n m a t e s  ( i n

- 1 7 -



t h r e e  s i x - b u n k  c e l l s ) ,  and had o n l y  e l e v e n  s q u a r e  f e e t  p e r  

p e r s o n ,  i n c l u d i n g  s p a c e  o c c u p i e d  by t a b l e s .  C o n d i t i o n s  in  

t h e  e a s t  b u l l  p e n ,  wh ich  h e l d  t h i r t y  i n m a t e s  ( f i v e  s i x - b u n k  

c e l l s ) ,  were  w o r s e  and  s o m e t i m e s  d u r i n g  t h e  d ay  t h e r e  was 

o n l y  6 . 8  s q u a r e  f e e t  o f  s p a c e  p e r  p e r s o n ,  i n c l u d i n g  t a b l e  

s p a c e .

M a t t r e s s e s ,  a t  l e a s t  a t  t h e  s t a r t  o f  t h e  s u i t ,  

w e r e  a l l o w e d  t o  b e c o m e  f i l t h y .  P r i s o n e r s  o f t e n  s l e p t  on 

m a t t r e s s e s  l a i d  on t h e  f l o o r  o r  on t a b l e s  i n  t h e  day  room.  

Und er  t h e  c rowded c o n d i t i o n s  t h e  j a i l  was s t i f l i n g  i n  t h e  

summer .  D i e t ,  w h i l e  m i n i m a l l y  a d e q u a t e ,  c o n s i s t e d  m a i n l y  o f  

s t a r c h e s  and was n o t  b a l a n c e d .  T h e r e  was no o u t d o o r  e x e r ­

c i s e .  P r i s o n e r s  who d i d  n o t  w is h  t h e i r  b o d i e s  t o  w a s t e  away 

c o u l d  o n l y  do p u s h - u p s  in  t h e  crowded c o r r i d o r s  o r  p a c ke d  

c e l l s  .

The combined i m p a c t  o f  t h e s e  c o n d i t i o n s  made c o n ­

f i n e m e n t  i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  Co un ty  j a i l  o f  any p r i s o n e r  c r u e l  and 

u n u s u a l  p u n i s h m e n t  and t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  

p u n i s h m e n t  p e r  s e .

C.  P r i s o n e r  P r o t e c t i o n

When p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s  h a v e  f a i l e d  t o  c o n t r o l  o r  

s e p a r a t e  p r i s o n e r s  who e n d a n g e r  t h e  p h y s i c a l  s a f e t y  o f  o t h e r  

p r i s o n e r s  and t h e  l e v e l  o f  v i o l e n c e  h a s  become s o  h i g h  t h a t  

e x p o s u r e  t o  i t  c o n s t i t u t e s  c r u e l  and u n u s u a l  p u n i s h m e n t ,  we 

h a v e  a p p r o v e d  o r d e r s  t o  d e v e l o p  a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n  s y s t e m  a s  

p a r t  o f  an e f f o r t  t o  e r a d i c a t e  t h o s e  c o n d i t i o n s .  McCray v .  

S u l l i v a n ,  509 F . 2d 1 3 3 2 ,  1334  ( 5t ' n C i r . ) ,  c e r  t . d e n  i e d ,

423 U.S .  859 ,  96 S.  C t .  114 ,  46 L. Ed. 2d 86 ( 1 9 7 5 ) ;  G a t e s  v.  

C o l l i e r ,  501 F .2d 1291,  1 30 8- 10  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) .  The c o n s t a n t  

and h a b i t u a l  e x p o s u r e  o f  c o n v i c t e d  p r i s o n e r s  t o  p e r s o n s  who 

a r e  c o n t a g i o u s l y  i l l  i s  a l s o  r e p r o b a t e d  a s  c r u e l  and u n u s u a l

- 1 8 -



p u n i s h m e n t .  The e v i d e n c e  c o n v i n c e s  us  t h a t  p r i s o n e r s  i n  t h e  

J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l  were  c o n s t a n t l y  e x p o s e d  t o  b o t h  v i o l e n c e  

and d i s e a s e .

D. C o n f i n e m e n t  o f  P r e t r i a l  D e t a i n e e s

Und er  b o t h  t h e  L e d b e t t e r  and Diamond r e g i m e s ,  p r e ­

t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  and c o n v i c t e d  p e r s o n s  were  c o n f i n e d  t o g e t h e r  

and t r e a t e d  a l i k e .  The c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  

i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y  w i t h  c o n v i c t e d  p e r s o n s  i s  u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  

u n l e s s  s u c h  a p r a c t i c e  i s  " r e a s o n a b l y  r e l a t e d  t o  t h e  i n s t i ­

t u t i o n ' s  i n t e r e s t  i n  m a i n t a i n i n g  j a i l  s e c u r i t y , "  B e l l  v .

W o l f i s h ,  ___  U.S .  ___ , ____, 99 S .  C t .  1861 ,  18 74 ,  ____ L. Ed.

2d ____, ____  ( 1 9 7 9 ) ,  o r  p h y s i c a l  f a c i l i t i e s  do  n o t  p e r m i t

t h e i r  s e p a r a t i o n .  See B a r n e s  v .  V i r g i n  I s l a n d s ,  415 F .  Supp.  

12 18 ,  1235 ( D . V . I .  1 9 7 6 ) ;  H a m i l t o n  v .  L a n d r i e u ,  351 F.  Supp.  

549 , 552 (E.D.  La.  1 9 7 2 ) .  Of c o u r s e ,  i f  a p a r t i c u l a r  p r e ­

t r i a l  d e t a i n e e  h a s  a lo n g  r e c o r d  o f  p r i o r  c o n v i c t i o n s  o r  i s  

l i k e l y  t o  be  v i o l e n t ,  i m p o s i t i o n  o f  g r e a t e r  s e c u r i t y  m e a s u r e s  

i s  w a r r a n t e d  by t h e  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h  c r i t e r i a .  N o n e t h e l e s s ,  

p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  have  a due  p r o c e s s  r i g h t  t o  be c o n s i d e r e d  

i n d i v i d u a l l y  t o  t h e  e x t e n t  s e c u r i t y  and s p a c e  r e q u i r e m e n t s  

p e r m i t .  The d e f e n d a n t s  have  f a i l e d  t o  s a t i s f y  t h e i r  c o n s t i ­

t u t i o n a l  d u t i e s  in  t h i s  r e g a r d .

E. A d m i n i s t r a t i o n  o f  D i s c i p l i n e

P r i s o n e r s  were  c o n f i n e d  t o  t h e  " p a d de d  c e l l "  a s  a 

d i s c i p l i n a r y  m e a s u r e  w i t h o u t  any  k i n d  o f  h e a r i n g  by J a i l e r  

T o o t l e  d u r i n g  t h e  Diam on d  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .  A f t e r  S h e r i f f  

L e d b e t t e r  t o o k  c h a r g e ,  t h e  p r i n c i p a l  d i s c i p l i n a r y  p u n i s h m e n t  

was d e n i a l  o f  v i s i t a t i o n .  However ,  e v e n  i n  t h e  L e d b e t t e r  

r e g i m e  no d i s c i p l i n a r y  p r o c e e d i n g s  wer e  c o n d u c t e d  p r i o r  t o  

t h e  i m p o s i t i o n  o f  p u n i s h m e n t ,  and t h e  r u l e s  were  so  i n a d e ­

q u a t e  f o r  p r i s o n e r  g u i d a n c e  t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  fo u n d  i t

- 1 9 -



n e c e s s a r y  t o  o r d e r  t h e  p o s t i n g  o f  w r i t t e n  r u l e s  p r e s c r i b e d  by 

h im.  The p r a c t i c e s  o f  t h e  two s h e r i f f s  v i o l a t e d  t h e  p r o h i b i ­

t i o n  o f  d i s c i p l i n a r y  p u n i s h m e n t  w i t h o u t  d u e  p r o c e s s .  See  

W o l f f  v .  M c D o n n e l l ,  418 U . S .  5 3 9 ,  94 S .  C t .  2 9 6 3 ,  41 L.

Ed.  2d 935 ( 1 9 7 4 ) .

F.  Ma i l  -  F i r s t  Amendment R i g h t s

T h e  e v i d e n c e  s a t i s f i e s  u s  t h a t ,  p r i o r  t o  1 9 7 6 ,  

p r i s o n e r  m a i l  was  o p e n e d  a n d  c e n s o r e d  w h e n e v e r  S h e r i f f  

D ia m on d  a n d  J a i l e r  T o o t l e  c h o s e .  D u r i n g  t h e  L e d b e t t e r  

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,  m a i l  i n s p e c t i o n  and  c e n s o r s h i p  a p p e a r s  to  

h av e  b e e n  l e s s  p e r v a s i v e .  However ,  u n d e r  b o t h  a d m i n i s t r a ­

t i o n s  t h e  h a n d l i n g  o f  p r i s o n e r  m a i l  v i o l a t e d  t h e  f i r s t  

amendment  r i g h t s  o f  p r i s o n e r s .  See G u a j a r d o  v.  E s t e l l e ,  580 

F . 2d 748 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1978)  .

V. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

When t h i s  s u i t  was  f i l e d  i n  1 9 7 3 ,  c o n d i t i o n s  

i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n ty  j a i l  v i o l a t e d  t h e  f e d e r a l  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  

r i g h t s  o f  b o t h  c o n v i c t e d  p r i s o n e r s  and p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s .  

D u r i n g  t h e  f o u r  y e a r s  p r i o r  t o  t h e  t i m e  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  

h e a r d  t h i s  s u i t  f o r  a n  i n j u n c t i o n  and w h i l e  e v e r y  c l a i m  was 

b e i n g  " h o t l y  c o n t e s t e d "  by t h e  d e f e n d a n t s ,  a s  t h e i r  c o u n s e l  

f r a n k l y  s t a t e d  t o  t h e  c o u r t ,  some o f  t h e  w o r s t  a b u s e s  were 

a m e l i o r a t e d .  However ,  e v e n  when t h e  t r i a l  was f i n a l l y  h e l d ,  

j a i l  o p e r a t i o n  s t i l l  v i o l a t e d  some c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r e q u i r e m e n t s

T h i s  i s  t h e  f o u r t h  t i m e  t h e  c a s e  h a s  be e n  h e a r d  in  

t h i s  c o u r t .  I t  i s  now c o n t e n d e d  t h a t  t h e  ne e d  f o r  an i n j u n c ­

t i o n  h a s  been  o b v i a t e d  b e c a u s e  a s a n i t a r y  new j a i l ,  com p ly in g  

w i t h  LEAA s t a n d a r d s ,  h a s  b e e n  o c c u p i e d .  T h i s  h a p p e n e d  

a f t e r  more t h a n  f i v e  y e a r s  o f  l i t i g a t i o n ,  more t h a n  two y e a r s  

a f t e r  t h e  a p p e a l  was f i l e d  and month s  a f t e r  t h e  p a n e l  h e a r d  

o r a l  a r g u m e n t .

- 2 0 -



Ch a n g es  made by d e f e n d a n t s  a f t e r  a s u i t  i s  f i l e d  do 

n o t  r emove t h e  n e c e s s i t y  f o r  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f ,  f o r  p r a c t i c e s  

may be r e i n s t a t e d  a s  s w i f t l y  a s  t h e y  were  s u s p e n d e d .  See 

A l l e e  v .  Medrano,  416 D.S .  80 2 ,  8 1 0 - 1 1 ,  94 S .  C t .  2191,  2198,

40 L. Ed . 2d 566 , ___  ( 1 9 7 4 ) ; U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v . W.T. G r a n t

Co. , 345 U.S . 629 , 632 ,  73 S. C t .  8 9 4 ,  89 7 , L. Ed. 2d

___ / ____ ( 1 9 5 3 ) ;  G a t e s  v .  C o l l i e r ,  501 F .2 d  12 91 ,  1321 ( 5 t h

C i r .  1 9 7 4 ) .  The b u r d e n  i s  on t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  p r o v e  t h a t  t h e  

wro n g s  o f  t h e  p a s t  c o u l d  n o t  r e a s o n a b l y  be e x p e c t e d  t o  r e c u r .  

U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .  C o n c e n t r a t e d  P h o s p h a t e  E x p o r t  A s s o c i a t i o n ,

393 U .S .  199 ,  20 3 ,  89 S .  C t . 361 , 36 4 ,  ___  L. Ed.  2d ___ ,

___ , ( 1 9 6 8 ) .

The r e c o r d  o f  d e f e n d a n t s '  p e r f o r m a n c e  p e r m i t s  u s  t o  

d ra w  no s u c h  c o n c l u s i o n ,  and t h e  im p ro v e m en t  in  c o n d i t i o n s  in  

F e b r u a r y  1 9 7 9 ,  a f t e r  f i v e  and a h a l f  y e a r s  o f  l i t i g a t i o n ,  

d o e s  n o t  e l i m i n a t e  t h e  need f o r  an  i n j u n c t i o n .  The p r o v i s i o n  

o f  a new and s a n i t a r y  b u i l d i n g  d o e s  n o t  a s s u r e  t h a t  i t  w i l l  

be  o p e r a t e d  i n  a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  way.  F i l t h  can  a c c u m u l a t e  in  

new b u i l d i n g s  ( t h e  o l d  j a i l  was l e s s  t h a n  t h i r t y  y e a r s  o l d  

when t h i s  s u i t  b e g a n ) ;  new b u i l d i n g s  ca n  be made i n t o l e r a b l y  

o v e r c r o w d e d ;  r a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  can  be worked i n  immacu­

l a t e  c o r r i d o r s ;  due  p r o c e s s  ca n  be d e n i e d  a n t i s e p t i c a l l y ;  and 

t h e  f i r s t  amendment  can be a b r i d g e d  i n  t h e  c l e a n e s t  q u a r t e r s .

B e c a u se  n o t h i n g  i n  t h e  r e c o r d  p r o v i d e s  any c o m f o r t  

t o  t h e  p l a i n t i f f  c l a s s  o r  any a s s u r a n c e  t o  t h i s  c o u r t  t h a t  

t h e  r e s u l t s  o f  t h e  a l m o s t  s e v e n - y e a r  l i t i g a t i o n  w i l l  n o t  be 

l o s t  and  t h e  wronqs  o f  t h e  p a s t  w i l l  n o t  be r e c o m m i t t e d ,  we 

deem t h e  i s s u a n c e  o f  an i n j u n c t i o n  n e c e s s a r y .

A. R a c i a l  S e g r e g a t i o n

A l t h o u g h  t h e  c o u r t  m u s t  n o t  a s sume  s u p e r i n t e n d a n c e  

o f  t h e  d e t a i l s  o f  j a i l  m a n a g e m e n t ,  t h e  i n j u n c t i o n  m u s t

- 2 1 -



p r e v e n t  r e c u r r e n c e  o£ t h o s e  a b u s e s  t h a t  c a u s e d  c o n f i n e ­

m e n t  t o  v i o l a t e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r i g h t s .  The  new j a i l  h a s  

one c e l l  f o r  e a c h  i n m a t e  a t  p r e s e n t .  The p a r t i e s  s t i p u l a t e d  

t h a t  p r i s o n e r s  t h e r e  a r e  n o t  s e g r e g a t e d  by r a c e .  However ,  

f o r  t h e  r e a s o n s  s t a t e d  and b e c a u s e  we do n o t  o r d e r  a o n e -  

p r i s o n e r - o n e - c e l l  r u l e ,  an i n j u n c t i o n  a g a i n s t  any k i n d  o f  

r a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n ,  o v e r t  o r  by any p r e t e n s e ,  s h a l l  be 

i s s u e d .

B. O v e r c r o w d i n g

I t  i s  e v i d e n t  t h a t  t h e  p h y s i c a l  f a c i l i t i e s  i n  

t h e  new j a i l  w i l l  p r o v i d e  s u f f i c i e n t  s p a c e  f o r  p r i s o n e r s  

e v e n  i f  t h e r e  i s  n o t  o n e  c e l l  p e r  p r i s o n e r ,  s o  l o n g  a s  

t h e  j a i l  d o e s  n o t  b e c o m e  g r o s s l y  o v e r c r o w d e d .  H o w e v e r ,  

we c a n n o t  s h u t  o u r  e y e s  t o  t h e  p o s s i b i l i t y  t h a t  c o n d i ­

t i o n s  a t  P a r c h m a n  may n o t  be  s p e e d i l y  r e m e d i e d  and  t h e  

new j a i l  may b ec o me  i n u n d a t e d  by an  i n c r e a s e  i n  t h e  num­

b e r  o f  s t a t e  p r i s o n e r s .  M o r e o v e r ,  b e c a u s e  t h e  o l d  j a i l  

i s  s t i l l  b e i n g  u s e d  f o r  p r i s o n e r  c o n f i n e m e n t ,  a l t h o u g h  

a l l e g e d l y  f o r  s h o r t  t e r m s ,  t h e r e  i s  no a s s u r a n c e  t h a t  

c o n d i t i o n s  t h e r e  hav e  b e e n  improv ed  o r  t h a t  an i n c r e a s e  in  

p r i s o n e r  p o p u l a t i o n  may n o t  i n d u c e  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  r e sume  

u s i n g  i t .

T h e  d e f e n d a n t s  h a v e  m a n i f e s t e d  i n d i f f e r e n c e  

t o  t h e  p r o b l e m  o f  o v e r c r o w d i n g  a s  w e l l  a s  o t h e r  c o n d i ­

t i o n s  s e r i o u s l y  a f f e c t i n g  t h e  h e a l t h  a n d  s a f e t y  o f  i n ­

m a t e s .  M i n d f u l  o f  t h e  m a n d a t e  o f  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,

U . S .  ____, 99 S .  C t .  1 8 6 1 ,  ____ L.  Ed.  2d ____( 1 9 7 9 ) ,  we

s e t  no s p a c e  s t a n d a r d s .  H o w e v e r ,  we d i r e c t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  

j u d g e  on  r e m a n d ,  a f t e r  c o n s i d e r i n g  a n y  e v i d e n c e  t h a t  may 

be  o f f e r e d  by  e i t h e r  p a r t y ,  t o  s e t  a maximum n u m b e r  o f

- 2 2 -



p r i s o n e r s  who may be c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  new j a i l  a t  any one 

t i m e  and t o  e n j o i n  t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  any g r e a t e r  number .

The i n j u n c t i o n  s h a l l  a l s o  s e t  a l i m i t  on t h e  number  o f  

p e r s o n s  who may be c o n f i n e d  a t  any  one t i m e  i n  t h e  o l d  j a i l .  

I t  s h a l l  r e q u i r e  a d e q u a t e  j a i l  s u p e r v i s i o n  i n  b o t h  j a i l s  by 

p e r s o n s  who a r e  n o t  j a i l  i n m a t e s .  The o r d e r  may c o n t a i n  an 

e x p r e s s  p r o v i s i o n  t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  may,  upon a p r o p e r  

s h o w i n g ,  p e r m i t  e x c e p t i o n s  t o  t h e  maximum a l l o w a b l e  number  

f o r  s t a t e d  b r i e f  i n t e r v a l s  on a p r o p e r  show ing  o f  g r a v e  

p u b l i c  e m e r g e n c y .

C.  C l a s s i f i c a t i o n

I n  o r d e r  f u l l y  t o  e l i m i n a t e  p u n i s h m e n t  o f  p r e ­

t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  and c r u e l  and u n u s u a l  p u n i s h m e n t  o f  a l l  

p r i s o n e r s ,  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h a l l  o r d e r  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  

t o  i n s t i t u t e  and o p e r a t e  a r e a s o n a b l e  c l a s s i f i c a t i o n  s y s t e m  

f o r  t h o s e  c o n f i n e d  i n  b o t h  t h e  o l d  and new j a i l s .  O f f e n ­

d e r s  who a r e  l i k e l y  t o  be  v i o l e n t  and d a n g e r o u s  o r  who 

a r e  s u f f e r i n g  f rom  c o n t a g i o u s  d i s e a s e s  s h a l l  be s e p a r a t e d  

f rom o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s .  P r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  s h a l l  be c l a s s i ­

f i e d  and s e p a r a t e d  f rom c o n v i c t e d  p e r s o n s  t o  t h e  e x t e n t  

r e a s o n a b l y  p o s s i b l e ,  e x c e p t  where  d e t e n t i o n  i n  t h e  same 

c e l l  i s  r e q u i r e d  f o r  i n s t i t u t i o n a l  s e c u r i t y .  So long  

a s  c e l l s  a r e  u se d  f o r  o n l y  one o c c u p a n t ,  t h i s  r e q u i r e ­

ment  w i l l  be  s a t i s f i e d .  However ,  b e c a u s e  we h a v e  n o t  

r e s t r i c t e d  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  a o n e —c e l l —p e r —p r i s o n e r  r u l e ,  

and b e c a u s e  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  c o n t i n u e  t o  u s e  t h e  o l d  j a i l ,  

an i n j u n c t i o n  i s  n e c e s s a r y  t o  a s s u r e  f u t u r e  c o m p l i a n c e  

w i t h  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r e q u i r e m e n t s .  A c l a s s i f i c a t i o n  s y s t e m  

m e e t i n g  t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t s  o f  M i s s i s s i p p i  law a p p l i c a b l e  

t o  c o n v i c t e d  p e r s o n s  i s  a d e q u a t e ,  M i s s .  Code Ann.  § 4 7 - 5 - 1 0 3

- 2 3 -



( S a p p .  1 9 7 8 ) ,  s o  l o n g  a s  p r o v i s i o n  i s  made f o r  p r e t r i a l  

d e t a i n e e s  in  a c c o r d a n c e  w i t h  t h e  abov e  s t a n d a r d s .  See B e l l

v .  W o l f i s h ,  ___  U .S .  , 99 S .  C t .  1861 ,  ___  L. Ed. 2d

( 1 9 7 9 ) .

D. D i s c i p l i n a r y  R u l e s

A l t h o u g h  t h e  s t i p u l a t i o n  s h o w s  t h a t  d i s c i p l i ­

n a r y  r u l e s ,  a p p a r e n t l y  a d e q u a t e ,  h av e  b e e n  p r o m u l g a t e d  f o r  

t h e  new j a i l ,  t h e  i n j u n c t i o n  s h a l l  f o r b i d  d i s c i p l i n a r y  

p u n i s h m e n t  e x c e p t  i n  c o n f o r m i t y  w i t h  t h e  d u e  p r o c e s s  and  

o t h e r  r e q u i r e m e n t s  o f  W o l f f  v .  Mc Do n n e l l ,  418 U .S .  539 ,  94 S.  

C t .  2 963 ,  41 L. Ed. 2d 935 ( 1 9 7 4 ) .  The s t i p u l a t i o n  c o n t a i n s  

a copy o f  t h e  r u l e s  g o v e r n i n g  f o r  t h e  i n s p e c t i o n  o f  inc om ing  

and o u t q o i n g  m a i l  t h a t  wer e  a d o p t e d  upon o c c u p a n c y  o f  t h e  new 

j a i l .  T h e se  r u l e s  may me e t  t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t s  o f  G u a j a r d o  v .  

E s t e l l e ,  580 F .2 d  748 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 8 ) ,  i n  which  we s e t  f o r t h  

t h e  s c o p e  o f  r e s t r i c t i o n s  on f r e e  s p e e c h  t h a t  m i g h t  c o n s t i t u ­

t i o n a l l y  be imposed on  p r i s o n e r  m a i l .  However ,  b e c a u s e  t h e  

p l a i n t i f f s  have  n o t  y e t  had a f u l l  o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  c h a l l e n g e  

t h e  r u l e s  c o n c e r n i n g  d i s c i p l i n e  and m a i l ,  e i t h e r  f a c i a l l y  o r  

a s  a p p l i e d ,  t h e  i n j u n c t i o n  s h a l l  p r o h i b i t  a l l  i n t e r f e r e n c e  

w i t h  m a i l  s a v e  a s  w a r r a n t e d  by r u l e s  a d o p t e d  i n  a c c o r d a n c e  

w i t h  G u a j  a r d o , a n d  t h e  p l a i n t i f f s  s h a l l  b e  a c c o r d e d  an  

e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g  i f  c o n f o r m i t y  w i t h  W o l f f  o r  G u a j a r d o  i s  

q u e s t i o n e d .

E. R e c r e a t i o n

The p l a i n t i f f  c l a s s  h as  u r g e d  t h e  c o u r t  t o  r e q u i r e  

p r o v i s i o n  f o r  e x e r c i s e  by p r i s o n e r s  c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  Coun ty  

j a i l .  The c o u r t  i s  e q u a l l y  d i v i d e d  on t h i s  i s s u e .  T h e r e ­

f o r e ,  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e ' s  d e n i a l  o f  t h i s  r e l i e f  i s  a f f i r m e d .  

S e e ,  e . g . , U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .  Ho lmes,  537 F .2 d  227 , 228 ( 5 th

C i r .  1976) ( en  b an c )  and c a s e s  c i t e d  t h e r e i n .

- 2 4 -



V I .  CONDITIONS NOT COVERED BY INJUNCTION

A. V i s i t a t i o n  R i g h t s

A l t h o u g h  v i s i t a t i o n  r i g h t s  i n  t h e  o l d  j a i l  w e r e  

m i n i m a l ,  t h i s  was a p p a r e n t l y  n e c e s s a r y  b e c a u s e  o f  t h e  o v e r ­

c rowded c o n d i t i o n s  and t h e  l a c k  o f  n e c e s s a r y  f a c i l i t i e s .  We 

h av e  h e l d  t h a t  f o r  c o n v i c t e d  p r i s o n e r s  " [ v ] i s i t a t i o n  p r i v i ­

l e g e s  a r e  a m a t t e r  s u b j e c t  t o  t h e  d i s c r e t i o n  o f  p r i s o n

o f f i c i a l s . "  McCray v . S u l l i v a n , 509 F .2d 13 32 , 1334 ( 5 t h

C i r . ) ,  c e r t ,  d e n i e d ,  423 U.S .  85 9 , 96 S .  C t .  114 , 46 L. Ed.

2d 86 ( 1 9 7 5 ) .  We hav e r e s e r v e d t h e q u e s t i o n  w h e t h e r  c o n -

v i c t e d  p r i s o n e r s  h a v e  a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r i g h t  t o  some fo rm  o f  

v i s i t a t i o n .  M a r t i n  v .  W a i n w r i g h t ,  525 F .2 d  98 3 ,  984 n . 3  ( 5 t h  

C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) . — '/

12/  I f  v i s i t a t i o n  r i g h t s  a r e  u s u a l l y  g r a n t e d ,  t h e y  
c a n n o t  b e  w i t h h e l d  a s  p u n i s h m e n t  w i t h o u t  d u e  
p r o c e s s .  S ee  W o l f f  v .  M c D o n n e l l ,  418  U . S .  5 3 9 ,  
94 S .  C t .  2 9 6 3 ,  41 L.  Ed .  2d 935 ( 1 9 7 4 ) .  P r e ­
t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  m u s t  be a l l o w e d  r e a s o n a b l e  v i s i ­
t a t i o n  p r i v i l e g e s  and  t h i s  r i g h t  may n o t  a r b i ­
t r a r i l y  be  r e s t r i c t e d .  See  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,
U .S .  ___ , 99 S.  C t .  1861 ,  ____ L. Ed.  2d ___  ( 1 9 7 9 ) ;
M i l l e r  v .  C a r s o n ,  563 F . 2 d  741 ,  7 48 -4 9  ( 5 t h  C i r .
1 9 7 7 ) .

B e c a u s e  c o n v i c t e d  p r i s o n e r s  a r e  b e i n g  a c c o r d e d  

v i s i t a t i o n  r i g h t s ,  s u b j e c t  t o  r e a s o n a b l e  s e c u r i t y  r e q u i r e ­

m e n t s ,  t h e r e  i s  no need t o  c o n s i d e r  w h e t h e r  d e p r i v a t i o n  o f  

v i s i t a t i o n  would v i o l a t e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  r e q u i s i t e s .

The p l a i n t i f  f  s c l a  im t h a t p r e t r i a l  d e t a i  ne e s

a r e  e n t  i  t l e d t o  more a n d t h a t  t h e y  h a v e  a c o n s t i t u t  i o n a l

r i g h t t o p e r s o n a l  c o n t a c t  w i t h t h e i r f a m i l i e s  and l o v ed

o n e s  , t o t o u c h  and h o l d t h e i r  clh i l d r e n  and t h e i r  s p o u s e s .

T h e r e can be no d o u b t theat  t h i s i s  a n a t u r a l  human d e s i re

and  t h a t d e p r  i v a t  i o n o f i t  i s s e r  i o u s .  T h r e e  c i  r c u i t

- 2 5 -

I



c o u r t s  h a v e  c o n s i d e r e d  w h e t h e r  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n  r e q u i r e s  

s u c h  p r i v i l e g e s  t o  be  a c c o r d e d  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s .  See  

J o r d a n  v .  W o l k e ,  615 F . 2 d  749 ( 7 t h  C i r .  1 980 ) ;  I n m a t e s  

o f  A l l e g h e n y  C o u n t y  J a i l ,  612  F . 2d 754 (3d  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) ;  

F e e l e y  v .  S a m p s o n ,  570  F . 2d 364 , 373  ( 1 s t  C i r .  1978  ) . — /

12/  T h e  S e c o n d  C i r c u i t ,  i n  M a r c e r a  v .  C h i n l u n d ,  
595  F . 2 d  1231 (2d  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) ,  a l s o  c o n s i d e r e d
t h e  q u e s t i o n  w h e t h e r  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  h a v e  
a r i g h t  t o  c o n t a c t  v i s i t s  and  h e l d  t h a t  t h e y  
e n j o y e d  s u c h  a r i g h t .  T h a t  d e c i s i o n ,  h o w e v e r ,  
was  r e m a n d e d  by  t h e  S u p r e m e  C o u r t  f o r  c o n s i d ­
e r a t i o n  i n  l i g h t  o f  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,  u.S.
______ » 99 S . C t .  1861 ,  ____  L . E d .2d  ( 1 9 7 9 ) .
M a r c e r a  v .  C h i n l u n d ,  ______  U . S .  , 99 S . C t .
2 ^ 3 3 ,  _ _ _ _ _  L . E d . 2 d  ______  ( 1 9 7 9 ) .  Th e  S e c o n d
C i r c u i t ,  i n  t u r n ,  r emanded t h e  c a s e  t o  t h e  D i s t r i c t  
C o u r t  f o r  t h e  W e s t e r n  D i s t r i c t  o f  New Y o r k ,  
where  i t  i s  c u r r e n t l y  p e n d i n g .

T h e  S u p r e m e  C o u r t  i n  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h ,

° - s - ______ > ______ -■ 99 S . C t .  1 86 1 , 1 8 7 2 ,  ________ L . E d . 2 d

______  ( 1 9 7 9 ) ,  r e c o g n i z e d  t h a t  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s '  r i g h t s

a r e  d e t e r m i n e d  b y  t h e  d u e  p r o c e s s  c l a u s e .  P h y s i c a l  c o n ­

t a c t  may be  d e n i e d  t h e m  i f  i t  i s  a r e s t r a i n t  " r e a s o n a b l y  

r e l a t e d  t o  t h e  i n s t i t u t i o n ' s  i n t e r e s t  in  m a i n t a i n i n g  j a i l

s e c u r i t y . "  ___  u . S .  a t  ___ , 99 S .  C t .  a t  18 7 4 ,  ___  L .Ed .

2d a t  ____• U n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  s e t  i n  t h a t  c a s e ,  c o n t a c t

v i s i t a t i o n  may be  d e n i e d  f o r  l e g i t i m a t e  s e c u r i t y  r e a s o n s  

a p p l i c a b l e  e i t h e r  t o  a l l  d e t a i n e e s  o r  o n l y  t o  p a r t i c u l a r  

i n d i v i d u a l s .  W h e th e r  o r  n o t  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  r i g h t s  s h o u l d  

be  a c c o r d e d  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  in  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o un ty  j a i l  can 

b e  d e c i d e d  o n l y  a f t e r  a f u l l  h e a r i n g  on  t h e  f a c i l i t i e s  

a v a i l a b l e  i n  b o t h  j a i l s  and  t h e  s e c u r i t y  r e q u i r e m e n t s  i n  

e a c h .

I n  I n m a t e s  o f  t h e  A l l e g h e n y  C o un ty  J a i l  v .  P i e r c e ,  

612  F . 2 d  754 (3d  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) ,  t h e  T h i r d  C i r c u i t  C o u r t  o f

- 2 6 -



A p p e a l s  a f f i r m e d  t h e  d e n i a l  o f  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  by  t h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  b a s e d  on t e s t i m o n y  t h a t  t h e  p r i m a r y  r e a s o n  

f o r  t h e  b a n  on  c o n t a c t  v i s i t s  was  t o  p r e v e n t  t h e  i n t r o ­

d u c t i o n  o f  c o n t r a b a n d  i n t o  t h e  j a i l ,  t h e  a b s e n c e  o f  e v i ­

d e n c e  t h a t  t h e  p r o h i b i t i o n  was  a d o p t e d  f o r  p u r p o s e s  o f  

p u n i s h m e n t ,  a n d  i t s  own c o n c l u s i o n  t h a t  t h e  p r o h i b i t i o n  

u n d e r  t h e  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  p r e v a i l i n g  i n  t h e  A l l e g h e n y  Coun t y  

j a i l  " r e p r e s e n t e d  a r e a s o n a b l e  c h o i c e  by p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s  

b e t w e e n  a l t e r n a t i v e  m e t h o d s  o f  p r o t e c t i n g  t h e  l e g i t i m a t e  

s e c u r i t y  i n t e r e s t s  o f  t h e  j a i l . "  612  F . 2 d  a t  7 6 0 .  The 

S e v e n t h  C i r c u i t ,  i n  J o r d a n  v .  W o l k e ,  615 F . 2 d  749 ( 7 t h  

C i r .  1 9 8 0 ) ,  r e v e r s e d  a d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  o r d e r  r e q u i r i n g  

t h e  c o n s t r u c t i o n  o f  new v i s i t i n g  f a c i l i t i e s  t h a t  w o u l d  

p e r m i t  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n .  " C o m p l i a n c e  w o u l d  r e q u i r e  

n o t  o n l y  c o n s t r u c t i o n  o f  new v i s i t a t i o n  f a c i l i t i e s  b u t  

t h e  h i r i n g  o f  a d d i t i o n a l  g u a r d s . "  615 F . 2 d  a t  7 4 9 .  The 

C o u r t  a p p l i e d  B e l l  v .  Wol f i s h  s t a n d a r d s  and r e v e r s e d  t h e s e  

r e q u i r e m e n t s .  I t  c o n c l u d e d ,  a p p a r e n t l y  a s  a l e g a l  m a t t e r ,  

t h a t  t h e  d e n i a l  o f  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  i n  t h e  M i l w a u k e e  

C o u n t y  J a i l  was  " r a t i o n a l l y  r e l a t e d  t o  t h e  l e g i t i m a t e  

p u r p o s e  o f  p r e s e r v i n g  p r i s o n  s e c u r i t y  a n d  o r d e r . "  615

F .2d a t  749.

What  we r e q u i r e  i s  an  e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g  t o  

w h i c h  t h e  B«; l l  v .  W ol f i j j J i  d u e  p r o c e s s  s t a n d a r d  may be 

a p p l i e d .  We r e j e c t  o n l y  t h e  S e v e n t h  C i r c u i t ' s  c o n c l u ­

s i o n  t h a t  we can  o u r s e l v e s  d e t e r m i n e  t h e  l e g i t i m a t e  n ee d s  

o f  a j a i l  a n d  t h e  p o s s i b l e  m e t h o d s  o f  p e r m i t t i n g  c o n t a c t  

v i s i t a t i o n .

B. M e d ic a l  A t t e n t i o n

" ( D ] e l i b e r a t e  i n d i f f e r e n c e  t o  s e r i o u s  m e d i c a l  

n e e d s  o f  p r i s o n e r s  c o n s t i t u t e s  t h e  ' u n n e c e s s a r y  and wan ton

- 2 7 -



i n f l i c t i o n  o f  p a i n 1 . . . p r o s c r i b e d  by t h e  E i g h t h  Amend­

m e n t , "  t h e  S u p r e m e  C o u r t ,  c o n s i d e r i n g  t h e  r i g h t s  o f  c o n ­

v i c t e d  p e r s o n s ,  r u l e d  i n  E s t e l l e  v .  G a m b l e ,  429 U . S .  9 7 ,

10 4 ,  97 S.  C t .  285 ,  291 ,  50 L. Ed. 2d 251 ,  ___  ( 1 9 7 6 ) .  The

s t a n d a r d  by which  t o  m e a s u r e  t h e  m e d i c a l  a t t e n t i o n  t h a t  mus t  

be  a f f o r d e d  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  h as  n e v e r  be e n  s p e l l e d  o u t .  

The B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h  c r i t e r i o n ,  a p p l i e d  t o  m e d i c a l  a t t e n t i o n ,  

e n t i t l e s  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  t o  r e a s o n a b l e  m e d i c a l  c a r e  u n l e s s  

t h e  f a i l u r e  t o  s u p p l y  i t  i s  r e a s o n a b l y  r e l a t e d  t o  a l e g i t i ­

m a te  g o v e r n m e n t a l  o b j e c t i v e .  The e v i d e n c e  d o e s  n o t  p e r s u a d e  

u s  t h a t  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  was  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  i n  f i n d i n g  

t h a t  t h e  m e d i c a l  a t t e n t i o n  s u p p l i e d  was s u f f i c i e n t  t o  mee t  

t h e  s t a n d a r d s  f o r  b o t h  c o n v i c t e d  c r i m i n a l s  a n d  p r e t r i a l  

d e t a i n e e s .  T h e r e f o r e ,  we s e e  no  r e a s o n  t o  make e x p r e s s  

p r o v i s i o n  in  t h e  i n j u n c t i o n  r e g a r d i n g  m e d i c a l  c a r e .

C.  D i e t

The C o n s t i t u t i o n  r e q u i r e s  t h a t  p r i s o n e r s  be f u r ­

n i s h e d  r e a s o n a b l y  a d e q u a t e  f o o d .  Newman v .  Alabama,  559 F .2d  

283 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  r e v ' d  i n  p a r t  on o t h e r  g r o u n d s  sub  nom. 

Alabama  v .  Pu gh ,  438 U .S .  781 ,  98 S.  C t .  30 5 7 ,  57 L. Ed.  2d 

1114 ( 1 9 7 8 ) .  M i s s i s s i p p i  l aw r e q u i r e s  t h a t  p r i s o n e r s  s h a l l

be  f u r n i s h e d  " d a i l y  wholesome and s u f f i c i e n t  food  and d r i n k , "  

M i s s .  Code Ann. § 1 9 - 2 5 - 7 1  ( 1 9 7 2 ) .  The j a i l  d i e t  c o n s i s t s

m a i n l y  o f  s t a r c h  and c a r b o h y d r a t e s  w i t h  few v e g e t a b l e s  o r  

f r u i t s .  I t  was  l i k e l y  d u l l ,  b u t  t h e  e v i d e n c e  d o e s  n o t

p e r s u a d e  u s  t h a t  t h e  d e p r i v a t i o n  h a s  been  s o  s e r i o u s  a s  t o  

r e q u i r e  an e x p r e s s  i n j u n c t i v e  p r o v i s i o n .

V I I .  CLASS ACTION

The  c o m p l a i n t  made two s e p a r a t e  a l l e g a t i o n s :  

(1 )  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  had a c t e d  o r  r e f u s e d  t o  a c t  on g r o u n d s

- 2 8 -



I

g e n e r a l l y  a p p l i c a b l e  t o  t h e  p l a i n t i f f  c l a s s ,  m a k i n g  i n ­

j u n c t i v e  o r  d e c l a r a t o r y  r e l i e f  a p p r o p r i a t e  ( t h e  s i t u a t i o n  

r e f e r r e d  t o  i n  F e d e r a l  Ru le  o f  C i v i l  P r o c e d u r e  2 3 ( b ) ( 2 ) ) ;  

a n d  ( 2 )  q u e s t i o n s  o f  l a w  o r  f a c t  common t o  c l a s s  me m be r s  

p r e d o m i n a t e d  o v e r  q u e s t i o n s  a f f e c t i n g  i n d i v i d u a l  me m be r s  

and a c l a s s  a c t i o n  was s u p e r i o r  t o  o t h e r  a v a i l a b l e  me tho ds  

f o r  f a i r  and  e f f i c i e n t  a d j u d i c a t i o n  ( t h e  s i t u a t i o n  r e f e r r e d  

t o  i n  F e d e r a l  R u l e  o f  C i v i l  P r o c e d u r e  2 3 ( b ) ( 3 ) ) .  I n  o u r  

e a r l i e r  o p i n i o n  re m a n d in g  t h e  c a s e  f o r  a h e a r i n g  on c l a s s  

c e r t i f i c a t i o n ,  we c o n s i d e r e d  t h e  c a s e  a s  i f  Ru le  2 3 ( b ) ( 2 )  

c e r t i f i c a t i o n  w e r e  b e i n g  s o u g h t ,  a p p a r e n t l y  b e c a u s e  o f  

t h e  m a n n e r  i n  w h i c h  t h e  c a s e  was  a r g u e d .  S e e  J o n e s  v .  

D i a m o n d ,  519  F . 2d 1090  , 109 3  n .  2 , 1 0 9 9 - 1 1 0 0  ( 5 t h  C i r .

1 9 7 5 ) .  On r e m a n d ,  J o n e s  s o u g h t  c l a s s  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  u n d e r  

R u l e  2 3 ( b ) ( 2 )  o f  t h e  F e d e r a l  R u l e s  o f  C i v i l  P r o c e d u r e  and 

u r g e d  t h a t  " t h e  c o u r t  e x e r c i s e  i t s  j u r i s d i c t i o n  and w a i ve  

t h e  g i v i n g  o f  n o t i c e  t o  t h e  o t h e r  c l a s s  m e m b e r s  a t  t h i s  

t i m e . "

A f t e r  c e r t i f i c a t i o n  o f  t h e  c l a s s  i n  F e b r u a r y
1 4 /1 9 7 7 , —  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  c o n s i d e r e d  t e s t i m o n y  by Ma rv in

14/  C e r t i f i c a t i o n  o f  a 2 3 ( b ) ( 3 )  c l a s s  w o u l d  h a v e  
v  p r e s e n t e d  q u e s t i o n s  o f  m a n a g e a b i l i t y ,  i n c l u d ­

i n g  t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t  t h a t  n o t i c e  b e  g i v e n  t o  
t h e  more t h a n  8500 p e r s o n s  in  t h e  p u t a t i v e  c l a s s .  
We e x p r e s s  n o  o p i n i o n  c o n c e r n i n g  t h e  p r o p e r  
r e s o l u t i o n  o f  s u c h  q u e s t i o n s .  T h e  i s s u e  o f  
t h e  p r o p r i e t y  o f  s u c h  a c l a s s  a c t i o n  was  n o t  
p r e s e n t e d  t o  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  a n d  w a s  n o t  
r a i s e d  i n  t h e  p l a i n t i f f ' s  i n i t i a l  a p p e a l .  T h e r e ­
f o r e ,  we c o n s i d e r  i t  n o t  now b e f o r e  u s .

J o n e s ,  t h e  c l a s s  r e p r e s e n t a t i v e ,  a n d  t e n  o t h e r  p e r s o n s  

who had  b e e n  c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  J a i l .  The 

r e c o r d  d i d  n o t  make i t  c l e a r  w h e t h e r  t h i s  t e s t i m o n y  was

- 2 9 -



I

b e i n g  o f f e r e d  i n  s u p p o r t  o f  t h e  g e n e r a l  r e l i e f  s o u g h t  

f o r  t h e  e n t i r e  c l a s s  o r  a s  a b a s i s  f o r  i n d i v i d u a l  damages  

c l a i m s ,  o r  b o t h .  A f t e r  t h e  t r i a l  was c o m p l e t e d ,  t h e  p l a i n ­

t i f f s  f i l e d  a m o t i o n  t o  amend t h e  p l e a d i n g s  t o  c o n f o r m  

t o  t h e  t e s t i m o n y  by a d d i n g  t h e  f o l l o w i n g :  " D e f e n d a n t s

h a v e  p e r p e t r a t e d  o r  p e r m i t t e d  t o  be p e r p e t r a t e d  a p a t t e r n  

o r  p r a c t i c e  o f  a s s a u l t s  and  b a t t e r i e s  u p o n  i n m a t e s  a t  

t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l  i n  c o n t r a v e n t i o n  t o  M i s s i s s i p p i  

S t a t e  l a w .  D e f e n d a n t s  a r e  l i a b l e  f o r  s a m e , d u e  t o  t h e i r  

n e g l i g e n c e .  S e e  F a r m e r  v .  S t a t e  o f  M i s s i s s i p p i . "  T h i s  

was  g r a n t e d  by t h e  d i s t r i c t  . c o u r t .  H o w e v e r ,  t h e  r e c o r d  

c o n t a i n s  no m o t i o n  t o  c o n s i d e r  t h e s e  i n d i v i d u a l  c l a i m s  u n d e r  

S e c t i o n  1983 o r  a s  i n c i d e n t  t o  t h e  c l a s s  a c t i o n .  Jud gm en t  

was l a t e r  r e n d e r e d  r e j e c t i n g  t h e  damage c l a i m s  o f  a l l  o f  t h e  

p l a i n t i f f s  w i t h o u t  any  q u a l i f i c a t i o n  and w i t h o u t  naming t h e  

p e r s o n s  a f f e c t e d .  The j u d gm e n t  d o e s  n o t  s t a t e  w h e t h e r  i t  

d e n i e s  r e c o v e r y  o n l y  on  p e n d e n t  c l a i m s  o r  a l s o  a d j u d i c a t e s  

S e c t i o n  1983 c l a i m s .

I t  i s  u r g ed  t h a t  we c o n s i d e r  t h e  i n d i v i d u a l  S e c t i o n  

1983 and s t a t e  l aw damage c l a i m s  o f  t h e s e  p e r s o n s  a s  b e i n g  

b e f o r e  u s  i n c i d e n t  t o  t h e  2 3 ( b ) ( 2 )  c l a s s  a c t i o n .  See  

S e n t e r  v .  G e n e r a l  M o to r s  C o r p . , 532 F .2 d  511 ,  525 ( 6 t h  C i r . ) ,  

c e r t . d e n i e d ,  429 U .S .  87 0 ,  97 S.  C t .  182 , 50 L. Ed. 2d 150 

( 1 9 7 6 ) ;  7A C.  W r i g h t  & A. M i l l e r ,  F e d e r a l  P r a c t i c e  and 

P r o c e d u r e  § 1 7 7 5 ,  a t  23 ( 1 9 7 2  & S u p p .  1 9 7 8 ) ;  3B M o o r e ’ s

F e d e r a l  P r a c t i c e  11 2 3 . 4  0 [ 4 ] , a t  3 0 4- 09  (2d ed . 1 9 7 9 ) .  They 

wer e  n o t  p r e s e n t e d  i n  t h i s  l i g h t  t o  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t .  We, 

t h e r e f o r e  c o n s i d e r  them on t h e  b a s i s  s e t  f o r t h  i n  t h e  p o s t ­

t r i a l  amended c o m p l a i n t ,  a s  p e n d e n t  c l a i m  u n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  

s t a t e  l a w .



V I I I .  DAMAGE CLAIMS

A. L i a b i l i t y  o f  Board  o f  S u p e r v i s o r s

U n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  l a w ,  t h e  B o a r d  o f  S u p e r v i ­

s o r s  i s  c h a r g e d  w i t h  p r o v i d i n g  a j a i l  a n d  i s  r e q u i r e d  

t o  k e e p  i t  i n  " g o o d  r e p a i r , "  M i s s .  Code  A n n .  § 1 9 - 3 - 4 1  

( 1 9 7 2 ) .  I t  m u s t  t a k e  m e a s u r e s  n e c e s s a r y  t o  " s e c u r e  i n ­

m a t e s "  a g a i n s t  " s i c k n e s s  and i n f e c t i o n , "  and p e r i o d i c a l l y  

e x a m i n e  t h e  s a f e t y  and  s u f f i c i e n c y  o f  t h e  j a i l  and  h a v e  

i t  c l e a n e d .  I_d. § 1 9 - 5 - 1  ( 1 9 7 2 ) .  We d o  n o t  h e r e  d e t e r ­

m i n e  t h e  p o s s i b l e  l i a b i l i t y  o f  t h e  B o a r d  o f  S u p e r v i s o r s  

f o r  d a m a g e s  u n d e r  S e c t i o n  1 9 8 3 .  U n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  l aw  

" a n y  n e g l e c t  o r  f a i l u r e  i n  t h e  e x e r c i s e  o f  i t s  p o w e r s  

o r  i n  t h e  d i s c h a r g e  o f  i t s  d u t i e s  i s  t h e  d e f a u l t  o f  t h e  

b o a r d  a n d  n o t  o f  t h e  i n d i v i d u a l s  c o m p o s i n g  i t ,  and  t h e y  

a r e  n o t  l i a b l e  f o r  s u c h  n e g l e c t  o r  d e f a u l t  u n l e s s  e x p r e s s l y  

made s o  by s t a t u t e . "  R o b e r t s  v .  W i l l i a m s ,  456 F .2 d  81 9 ,  830 

( 5 t h  C i r . ) ,  c e r t . d e n i e d , 404 U .S .  8 6 6 ,  92 S .  C t .  8 3 ,  30 L. 

Ed.  2d 110 (1 971)  ( q u o t i n g  Wray v .  McMahon, 182 M i s s .  592,

182 So.  99 ( 1 9 3 8 ) ) .  B e c a u s e  no s t a t u t e  h as  be e n  c i t e d  t o  us 

im p o s in g  l i a b i l i t y  on t h e  Board  members ,  t h e r e  i s  no a c t i o n  

a g a i n s t  t h e  S u p e r v i s o r s  f o r  damag es  u n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  l a w .  

See R o b e r t s  v .  W i l l i a m s ,  456 F .2 d  81 9 ,  8 2 9 - 3 0  ( 5 t h  C i r . ) ,

c e r t , d e n i e d , 404 U .S .  86 6 ,  92 S .  C t .  83 ,  30 L. Ed. 2d 110

(1 971)  .

B.  L i a b i l i t y  o f  S h e r i f f

T h e  s h e r i f f ,  a s  c u s t o d i a n  o f  t h e  p r i s o n e r s  and 

o p e r a t o r  o f  t h e  j a i l ,  m u s t  " p r e s e r v e  t h e  . . . p r i s o n e r s

. . . f rom any i n j u r i e s  o r  a t t a c k s "  and k e e p  t h e  j a i l  i n  a

" c l e a n  and c o m f o r t a b l e  c o n d i t i o n , "  M i s s .  Code Ann.  § 1 9 - 2 5 - 6 9



( 1 9 7 2 ) ,  a n d ,  a s  j a i l e r ,  p r o v i d e  " d a i l y  wholesome and s u f f i ­

c i e n t  f o o d  and  d r i n k , "  p r o p e r  l i g h t i n g  and  " s u f f i c i e n t  

a n d  c l e a n  b e d d i n g "  f o r  a l l  i n m a t e s .  i d .  § 1 9 - 2 5 - 7 1 .  i n  

a d d i t i o n ,  t h e  s h e r i f f  h a s  t h e  d u t y  t o  o b t a i n  s u f f i c i e n t  

g u a r d s  t o  p r o t e c t  and s e c u r e  any  p r i s o n e r  l a w f u l l y  i n  h i s  

c u s t o d y .  I d .  § 1 9 - 2 5 - 7 5 .

M i s s i s s i p p i  l a w  i m p o s e s  a d u t y  on  s h e r i f f s  and  

j a i l e r s  h a v i n g  c u s t o d y  " t o  e x e r c i s e  o r d i n a r y  and r e a s o n a b l e  

c a r e ,  u n d e r  t h e  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  o f  e a c h  p a r t i c u l a r  c a s e ,  f o r  

t h e  p r e s e r v a t i o n  o f  [a p r i s o n e r ' s ]  l i f e  and h e a l t h .  T h i s  

d u t y  o f  c a r e  i s  one owing  by him t o  t h e  p e r s o n  i n  h i s  c u s t o d y  

by v i r t u e  o f  h i s  o f f i c e  . . . . "  F a r m e r  v .  S t a t e ,  Mi ss .

----- '  ------ '  79 S o . 2d 52 8 ,  531 (1955)  ( q u o t i n g  I n d i a n a  ex r e l .

T y l e r  v .  G o b i n ,  C . C . ,  94 F .  48 ,  50 (______  C i r .  19__ ) .  In

a d o p t i n g  t h e  p r e v a i l i n g  s t a n d a r d ,  t h e  M i s s i s s i p p i  Supreme 

C o u r t  e x p r e s s l y  r e j e c t e d  a m i n o r i t y  v ie w  p r o v i d i n g  a lo w e r  

s t a n d a r d  o f  c a r e :

The a u t h o r i t i e s  a r e  n o t  u n an im o u s  i n  u p ­
h o l d i n g  l i a b i l i t y  in  a c a s e  l i k e  t h i s  b u t  
t h e y  a r e  n u m e ro u s .  See C l a r k  v .  K e l l y ,
101 W. Va. 65 0 ,  133 S . E .  365 ,  46 A .L . R .
799;  A n n o t a t i o n s  14 A . L . R . 2d 353 ,  e t .  s e q .  
M i s s i s s i p p i  s e e m s  t o  h a v e  h e r e t o f o r e  
a l i g n e d  i t s e l f  w i t h  t h o s e  j u r i s d i c t i o n s  
whi ch  h o l d  l i a b i l i t y  o f  t h e  s h e r i f f  and 
h i s  s u r e t y  i n  a c a s e  o f  t h i s  n a t u r e .

I j l .  a t  5 3 1 .  U n d e r  t h i s  " o r d i n a r y  a n d  r e a s o n a b l e  c a r e "

s t a n d a r d ,  a p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l  i s  e x p e c t e d  t o  t a k e  a d e q u a t e

m e a s u r e s  t o  e n s u r e  t h e  s a f e t y  o f  p r i s o n e r s :  " [ H ] e  c a n n o t  be

c h a r g e d  w i t h  n e g l i g e n c e  in  f a i l i n g  t o  p r e v e n t  what  he c o u l d

n o t  r e a s o n a b l y  a n t i c i p a t e ,  b u t  he  i s  r e s p o n s i b l e  f o r  t h e

c o n s e q u e n c e s  o f  h i s  own n e g l e c t . "  R o b e r t s  v .  W i l l i a m s ,  302

F.  Supp .  9 7 2 ,  986 (N.D.  M is s .  1 9 6 9 ) ,  a f f ' d , 456 F .2d 819 ( 5 t h

C i r . ) ,  c e r t . d e n i e d , 404  U . S .  8 6 6 ,  92 S .  C t .  8 3 ,  30 L.

Ed. 2d 110 ( 1 9 7 1 ) .

- 3 2 -



T h i s  c o u r t  h a s  r e c o g n i z e d  and a p p l i e d  t h e  M i s s i s ­

s i p p i  " o r d i n a r y  and r e a s o n a b l e  c a r e "  s t a n d a r d  i n  two s i g n i ­

f i c a n t  d e c i s i o n s .  In  M i s s i s s i p p i  v .  Durham,  444 F .2d  152,  

157 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 1 ) ,  we h e l d  t h a t  a s h e r i f f  u n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  

law " c a n n o t  e s c a p e  h i s  r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  t o  t a k e  r e a s o n a b l e  c a r e  

o f  p r i s o n e r s  in  h i s  c u s t o d y  by s i m p l y  making  a c a s u a l  e x a m i n ­

a t i o n  o f  one  who o b v i o u s l y  n e e d s  m e d i c a l  a t t e n t i o n  . . . . "  

I n  R o b e r t s  v .  W i l l i a m s ,  456 F .2 d  81 9 ,  823 ( 5 t h  C i r . ) ,  c e r t . 

d e n i e d , 404 U.S .  86 6 ,  92 S.  C t .  83 ,  30 L. Ed. 2d 110 ( 1 9 7 1 ) ,  

we r e a f f i r m e d  t h a t  F a rmer  v .  S t a t e  i s  t h e  l aw o f  M i s s i s s i p p i  

and im po s es  a d u t y  o f  r e a s o n a b l e  c a r e  on p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s .  

Of  c o u r s e .  S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  a n d  J a i l e r  B r o a d u s  a r e  n o t  

l i a b l e  f o r  a c t s  c o m m i t t ed  d u r i n g  S h e r i f f  D ia m o n d ' s  a d m i n i s ­

t r a t i o n .  The l i a b i l i t y  o f  e a c h  d e f e n d a n t  m u s t  be s e p a r a t e l y  

e s t a b l i s h e d .

IX.  THE INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS

M a r v i n  J o n e s  and  t h e  t e n  o t h e r  i n d i v i d u a l s  s e e k  

damages  f o r  p e r s o n a l  i n j u r i e s .  J o n e s ' s  c l a i m s  a r i s e  o u t  o f  

h i s  d i s c i p l i n a r y  c o n f i n e m e n t ,  on e  p r i s o n e r  a l l e g e s  an a t t a c k  

by  a d e p u t y  and  t h e  o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s  h a v e  c l a i m s  s t e m m i n g  

f rom t h e  d e f e n d a n t s '  a l l e g e d  f a i l u r e  t o  p r o v i d e  r e a s o n a b l e  

s e c u r i t y  a g a i n s t  a s s a u l t s  by o t h e r  i n m a t e s .

M a r v i n  J o n e s  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  i n  19 7 3  a t r u s t y  

d r o p p e d  h i s  b r e a k f a s t  t r a y  on t h e  f l o o r  and s p i l l e d  h i s  f o o d .  

J o n e s  became a n g r y ,  t h r e w  t h e  t r a y  on t h e  f l o o r  and r e f u s e d  

t o  c l e a n  up t h e  m e ss .  He t e s t i f i e d  t h a t ,  w i t h o u t  n o t i c e  o f  

d i s c i p l i n a r y  a c t i o n  o r  a h e a r i n g ,  J a i l e r  T o o t l e  c o n f i n e d  him 

t o  t h e  " p a d d ed  c e l l , "  wh i ch  had no m a t t r e s s  o r  p a d d i n g ,  f o r  a 

p e r i o d  t h a t  J o n e s  s a i d  was two d a y s  and T o o t l e  s a i d  was o n e .  

When he was r e l e a s e d  f rom t h e  c e l l ,  J o n e s  c o m p l a i n e d  o f  p a i n

-  33-



i n  h i s  r i g h t  f o o t  and h i p ,  s o r e n e s s  o f  t h e  l e f t  s h o u l d e r  and 

arm and i n a b i l i t y  t o  move h i s  r i g h t  l e g  o r  l e f t  arm.  T h e r e  

w as ,  h o w e v e r ,  m e d i c a l  t e s t i m o n y  t h a t  J o n e s  was n o t  s u f f e r i n g  

f rom any i n j u r y  a t  t h e  t i m e  o f  l a t e r  m e d i c a l  e x a m i n a t i o n s .  

T h e r e  was a l s o  t e s t i m o n y  c o n t r a d i c t i n g  J o n e s '  v e r s i o n  o f  t h e  

e p i s o d e  and d e p i c t i n g  him a s  a d i s o r d e r l y  and v i o l e n t  p r i s ­

o n e r  .

W h e t h e r  d i s c i p l i n i n g  J o n e s  w i t h o u t  a h e a r i n g  

was a d e n i a l  o f  d u e  p r o c e s s ,  s e e  C a r e y  v .  P i p h u s ,  U .S .

_____ '  _____  S . C t .  _____, _____  L .E d .  _____, and w h e t h e r  r e q u i r i n g

h im  t o  s l e e p  on a c o n c r e t e  f l o o r  w i t h o u t  b e d d i n g  i n  t h e  

"p a d d e d  c e l l "  may have  c o n s t i t u t e d  c r u e l  and u n u s u a l  p u n i s h ­

m e n t ,  we need n o t  now d e c i d e .  The n a t u r e  and e x t e n t  o f  t h e  

i n j u r i e s ,  i f  a n y ,  t h a t  h e  s u f f e r e d  w e r e  d i s p u t e d ,  a n d  we 

c a n n o t  f i n d  t h a t  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  was c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  i n  h i s  

d e t e r m i n a t i o n  t h a t  J o n e s  f a i l e d  t o  p r o v e  a n y  i n j u r y  f o r  which  

he i s  e n t i t l e d  t o  c o m p e n s a t o r y  d a m a g e s .  See C a r e y  v .  P i p h u s ,  

s u p r a .

The c l a i m s  o f  t h e  o t h e r  p r i s o n e r s  s t e m  f rom a t t a c k s  

by i n m a t e s ,  o r ,  i n  on e  c a s e ,  f rom an a s s a u l t  by a j a i l e r .  

The t r i a l  j u d g e  c o n s i d e r e d  e a c h  o f  t h e s e  c l a i m s  b u t  c o n c l u d e d  

e i t h e r  t h a t  t h e r e  was i n s u f f i c i e n t ,  u n c o r r o b o r a t e d  e v i d e n c e  

t h a t  t h e  i n c i d e n t s  o c c u r r e d  o r  t h a t  t h e  f a c t s  d i d  n o t  s u p p o r t  

a f i n d i n g  o f  n e g l i g e n c e  on t h e  p a r t  o f  p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s .  The 

c l a i m s  i n v o l v e d  a r e  t h o s e  o f  two p e r s o n s  who wer e  j u v e n i l e s  a t  

t h e  t i m e  o f  t h e  e v e n t s  c o m p l a i n e d  o f ,  Dona ld  O v e r s t r e e t ,  a 

p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e ,  and D a r r e l l  L a d n i e r ,  a c o n v i c t e d  p e r s o n ,  

b o t h  o f  whom w e r e  a t t a c k e d  by  a n o t h e r  i n m a t e  w h i l e  t h e y  

s l e p t ;  D a r r e l l  G len  McGee, a c o n v i c t e d  i n d i v i d u a l  who was 

s t a b b e d  by a f e l l o w  i n m a t e ;  Bobby H ughes ,  i n c a r c e r a t e d  a f t e r  

b e i n g  u n a b l e  t o  pay  a f i n e  imposed f o r  s h o p l i f t i n g ,  who was

- 3 4 -



b u r n e d  by  s e v e r a l  p r i s o n e r s ;  a n d  v a r i o u s  o t h e r  c l a i m s  by 

L ow el l  Dean M i t c h e l l ,  An thony  M i l l e r ,  R o b e r t  L e C l a i r ,  L a r r y  

C a r v e r ,  A l b e r t  J o h n s o n  and W a l t e r  H o ie .

We h a v e  c a r e f u l l y  r e v i e w e d  t h e  e v i d e n c e  p r e s e n t e d  

on b e h a l f  o f  L o w e l l  Dean M i t c h e l l ,  An thony  M i l l e r ,  R o b e r t  

L e C l a i r ,  L a r r y  C a r v e r ,  A l b e r t  J o h n s o n  and W a l t e r  H o i e .  The 

d e c i s i o n  t h a t  t h e s e  p e r s o n s  d i d  n o t  p r o v e  a c l a i m  u n d e r  

M i s s i s s i p p i  s t a t e  l aw by a p r e p o n d e r a n c e  o f  t h e  e v i d e n c e  i s  

n o t  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s .

T h e r e  was  g r e a t e r  e v i d e n t i a r y  s u p p o r t  f o r  t h e  

c l a i m s  o f  D o n a l d  O v e r s t r e e t  a n d  D a r r e l l  L a d n i e r ,  b o t h  

o f  whom w e r e  c o n f i n e d  d u r i n g  t h e  D iam ond  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .  

T h e r e  was  a l s o  e v i d e n c e  c o r r o b o r a t i v e  o f  t h e  c l a i m s  o f  

D a r r e l l  G le n  McGee and Bobby H u g h es ,  who wer e  c o n f i n e d  a f t e r  

S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  was e l e c t e d .  C o n s i d e r i n g  t h e  s t a t e  o f  t h e  

r e c o r d  on  t h e s e  c l a i m s  and a p p l y i n g  o n l y  M i s s i s s i p p i  s t a t e  

l a w ,  we a r e  u n a b l e  a d e q u a t e l y  t o  d e t e r m i n e  w h e t h e r  t h e  f a c t  

f i n d i n g s  o f  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  w e r e  o r  w e r e  n o t  c l e a r l y  

e r r o n e o u s .

Had t h e s e  c l a i m s  b e e n  p r e s e n t e d  u n d e r  S e c t i o n  1983,  

i t  would h av e  b e e n  n e c e s s a r y  t o  ex a m in e  t h e  n a t u r e  o f  t h e  

r i g h t  a s s e r t e d , — ^ t o  a p p l y  s t a n d a r d s  f o r  l i a b i l i t y  u n d e r

1 1 / S e e , e . q  . , B a k er  v .  M c C o l la n , U .S .  , 99
S . C t .  26 89 , L . Ed.2d ( 1 9 7 9 ) .

t h a t s t a t u t e , — ^ t o  a f f o r d  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  an  o p p o r t u n i t y  t o

j_6/ See , e . g . , C a re y  v .  P i p h u s , U .S .  , 98
S . C t .  1042, L . Ed.2d ( 1 970) ; Monroe v.
P a n e ,  365  1 
( 1 9 6 1 ) .

J . S . 1 6 7 ,  81 S . C t . . 4 7 3 ,  5 L . E d . 2 d  492

- 3 5 -



1 7 /p l e a d  o f f i c i a l  i m m u n i t y —  a n d  t o  a s s a y  t h e  h a r m  t h a t

17/  See S c h e u r  v .  Rho de s ,  416 U .S .  23 2 ,  94 S . C t .  1683,
40 L .E d . 2 d  90 ( 1 9 7 4 ) ;  Wood v .  S t r i c k l a n d ,  420 U.S.
308 ,  95 S . C t .  9 9 2 ,  43 L . E d . 2 d  214 ( 1 9 7 5 ) .

r e s u l t e d .

As we h a v e  p o i n t e d  o u t ,  S h e r i f f  Diamond i s  now 

d e c e a s e d .  To remand t h e  f o u r  c l a i m s  w i t h  p o t e n t i a l  v a l i d i t y  

f o r  t r i a l  u n d e r  s t a t e  l a w  p r i n c i p l e s  a l o n e  w o u ld  p e r m i t  

o n l y  a n a r r o w  a d j u d i c a t i o n  t h a t  wou ld  u n d u l y  c o n f i n e  t h e s e  

p l a i n t i f f s  and s u b j e c t  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  a p o s s i b l e  s e co nd  

s u i t  b a s e d  on S e c t i o n  1983.  Und er  a l l  t h e  c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,  

t h e  i n t e r e s t s  o f  j u s t i c e  w i l l  b e s t  be s e r v e d  i f  t h e  c l a i m s  

o f  t h e s e  f o u r  p e r s o n s  a r e  d i s m i s s e d  w i t h o u t  p r e j u d i c e  

t o  t h e i r  r e a s s e r t i o n  e i t h e r  a s  s t a t e  l a w  o r  S e c t i o n  1983 

c l a i m s ,  a n d  e a c h  i n d i v i d u a l  i s  g i v e n  l e a v e  t o  f i l e  new 

c o m p l a i n t s  b a s e d  on h i s  p e r s o n a l  c l a i m s  s e t t i n g  f o r t h  

a l l  b a s e s  f o r  d a m a g e s .  B e c a u s e  t h e s e  f o u r  p a r t i e s  w e r e  

h e a r d  a s  w i t n e s s e s  i n  t h e  p r e s e n t  c a s e ,  i t  s h a l l  be t r e a t e d  

a s  s u s p e n d i n g  t h e  o p e r a t i o n  o f  t h e  s t a t u t e  o f  l i m i t a t i o n s ,  

w h i c h  s h a l l  commence t o  r u n  anew on  t h e  i s s u a n c e  o f  o u r  

m a n d a t e .

X. ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS 

C o u n s e l  f o r  p l a i n t i f f s  a r e  e n t i t l e d  t o  a t t o r n e y s '  

f e e s  u n d e r  t h e  C i v i l  R i g h t s  A t t o r n e y ' s  F e e s  Awards Ac t  o f  

1 9 7 6 ,  42 U . S . C .  § 1 9 8 8  , — ^ f o r  t h e  p r o s e c u t i o n  o f  t h i s

18/  42 U .S .C .  § 1988 s t a t e s  i n  p a r t :

I n  any  a c t i o n  o r  p r o c e e d i n g  t o  e n f o r c e  a 
p r o v i s i o n  o f  [§ 1983 and o t h e r  s t a t u t e s ]
. . . t h e  c o u r t ,  i n  i t s  d i s c r e t i o n ,  may

I - 3 6 -



a l l o w  t h e  p r e v a i l i n g  p a r t y ,  o t h e r  t h a n  
t h e  U n i t e d  S t a t e s ,  a r e a s o n a b l e  a t t o r ­
n e y ' s  f e e  a s  p a r t  o f  t h e  c o s t s .

a c t i o n ,  s e e  Mor row v .  D i l l a r d ,  580  F . 2 d  1 2 8 4 ,  130 0  ( 5 t h

C i r .  1 9 7 8 ) ,  i n c l u d i n g  s e r v i c e s  on  a p p e a l ,  s e e  M i l l e r  v .

C a r s o n ,  563  F . 2d 7 4 1 ,  756 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) .  A l t h o u g h  t h e  

A c t  was  p a s s e d  a f t e r  t h i s  l i t i g a t i o n  h a d  c o m m e n c e d ,  i t s  

p r o v i s i o n s  e m b r a c e  p e n d i n g  l i t i g a t i o n  a n d  i n c l u d e  com­

p e n s a t i o n  f o r  s e r v i c e s  r e n d e r e d  i n  s u c h  s u i t s  p r i o r  t o  

i t s  a d o p t i o n .  H u t t o  v .  F i n n e y ,  437  U . S .  6 7 8 ,  6 9 4 - 9 5  &

n . 2 3 ,  98 S . C t .  25 65 ,  2 5 7 5 - 7 6  & n . 2 3 ,  57 L . E d . 2 d  52 2 ,  ______

& n . 2 3  ( 1 9 7 8 ) ;  R o b i n s o n  v .  K i m b r o u g h ,  620 F . 2 d  4 6 8 ,  474

( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 0 ) ;  McNamara v .  Mo ody ,  6 06 F . 2 d  621 , 6 26

( 5 t h  C i r .  1 979 ) c e r t . d e n i e d , ______  U .S .  ______ , 100 S . C t .

30 28 ,  ______  L .E d . 2 d  ______  ( 1 9 8 0 ) ;  R a i n e y  v .  J a c k s o n  S t a t e

C o l l e g e ,  551 F . 2d 672 , 676  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  a f f ' d  and

m o d i f i e d  on r e h e a r i n g . 591 F .2 d  1002 ( 1 9 7 9 ) .  The f e e s  a r e  t o  

be  f i x e d  i n  a c c o r d a n c e  w i t h  t h e  c r i t e r i a  s e t  f o r t h  in  J o h n s o n  

v .  G e o r g i a  H i g h w a y  E x p r e s s ,  I n c . ,  488 F . 2 d  714 ( 5 t h  C i r .  

1974)  /

19/  S e e  P i a m b i n o  v .  B a i l e y , ____F . 2 d _____ ( 5 t h  C i r .
1 9 8 0 )  ( J o h n s o n  c r i t e r i a  a p p l y  t o  f e e s  i n  c l a s s
a c t i o n s ) ;  s e e  a l s o  Brown v .  C u l p e p p e r ,  559 F . 2 d  
274 ,  2 7 7- 78  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) .

" I n  c o m p u t i n g  t h e  f e e ,  c o u n s e l  f o r  p r e v a i l i n g  

p a r t i e s  s h o u l d  b e  p a i d ,  a s  i s  t r a d i t i o n a l  w i t h  a t t o r n e y s  

c o m p e n s a t e d  by a f e e - p a y i n g  c l i e n t ,  ' f o r  a l l  t i m e  r e a s o n ­

a b l y  e x p e n d e d  on  a m a t t e r . ' "  S .  R e p .  No.  9 4 - 1 0 1 1 ,  9 4 t h  

C o n g .  2d S e s s .  6 ,  r e p r i n t e d  i n  [1 976]  U . S .  Code  C o n g .  

& Ad. News 5 90 8 ,  59 13 .  C o n g r e s s  i n t e n d e d  " t h a t  t h e  amount

- 3 7 -



o f  f e e s  a w a r d e d  u n d e r  [ t h e  A c t ]  be  g o v e r n e d  by t h e  sam e  

s t a n d a r d s  which  p r e v a i l  i n  o t h e r  t y p e s  o f  e q u a l l y  complex 

F e d e r a l  l i t i g a t i o n ,  s u c h  a s  a n t i t r u s t  c a s e s  and  n o t  be 

r e d u c e d  b e c a u s e  t h e  r i g h t s  i n v o l v e d  may be  n o n p e c u n i a r y  in  

n a t u r e . "  I d .

I n  f i x i n g  t h e  f e e ,  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h o u l d  be 

m i n d f u l  t h a t  in  complex  c i v i l  r i g h t s  l i t i g a t i o n ,  and p a r t i c u ­

l a r l y  in  p r i s o n e r s '  r i g h t s  c a s e s ,  i s s u e s  a r e  o v e r l a p p i n g  and 

i n t e r t w i n e d .  In  o r d e r  t o  r e p r e s e n t  t h e i r  c l i e n t s  a d e q u a t e l y ,  

a t t o r n e y s  m u s t  e x p l o r e  f u l l y  e v e r y  a s p e c t  o f  t h e  c a s e ,  

d e v e l o p  a l l  o f  t h e  e v i d e n c e  a n d  p r e s e n t  i t  t o  t h e  c o u r t .  

Time s p e n t  p u r s u i n g  u n s u c c e s s f u l  c l a i m s  t h a t  were  c l e a r l y  

w i t h o u t  m e r i t  s h o u l d  be  e x c l u d e d .  However ,  t h e  mere f a c t  

t h a t  t h e  l i t i g a n t s  d i d  n o t  s u c c e e d  i n  o b t a i n i n g  a j u d gm e nt  on 

a l l  o f  t h e  c l a i m s  a s s e r t e d  d o e s  n o t  mean t h a t  t i m e  s p e n t  

p u r s u i n g  t h e s e  c l a i m s  s h o u l d  a u t o m a t i c a l l y  be d i s a l l o w e d .  

See S t a n f o r d  D a i l y  v .  Z u r c h e r ,  64 F .R . D .  680 ,  684 (N.D.  C a l .  

1 9 7 4 ) ,  a f  f ' d , 550 F .2 d  464 ( 9 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  r e v ' d  on o t h e r

g r o u n d s , ____ U . S .  ____, 98 S .  C t . 1 9 7 0 ,  ____ L. Ed.  2d

( 19 78)  [ c i t e d  w i t h  a p p r o v a l  i n  S .  Rep.  No. 9 4 - 1 0 1 1 ,  9 4 th  Cong.  

2d S e s s .  6 ,  r e p r i n t e d  i n  [1976]  U .S .  Code Cong.  & Ad. News 

5 9 08 ,  5 9 1 3 ] .  I n s t e a d  t h e  c o u r t  mus t  c o n s i d e r  t h e  r e l a t i o n ­

s h i p  o f  t h e  c l a i m s  t h a t  r e s u l t e d  i n  j u d g m e n t  w i t h  t h e  

c l a i m s  t h a t  were  r e j e c t e d  and t h e  c o n t r i b u t i o n ,  i f  a n y ,  made 

t o  s u c c e s s  by t h e  i n v e s t i g a t i o n  and p r o s e c u t i o n  o f  t h e  e n t i r e  

c a s e .

No o n e  J o h n s o n  c r i t e r i o n  s h o u l d  be  s t r e s s e d  t o  

t h e  n e g l e c t  o f  o t h e r s .  However ,  b e c a u s e  t h e  f e e  in  t h i s  c a s e  

was c o n t i n g e n t  on s u c c e s s ,  i t  i s  a p p r o p r i a t e  f o r  t h e  c o u r t  t o  

c o n s i d e r  J o h n s o n  c r i t e r i o n  number  s i x ,  " w h e t h e r  t h e  f e e  i s  

f i x e d  o r  c o n t i n g e n t . "  T h i s  r e f l e c t s  t h e  p r o v i s i o n s  o f  t h e  ABA

-3 3  -



Code o f  P r o f e s s i o n a l  R e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,  DR 2—10 6 ( B ) ( 3 ) ,  and t h e  

p r a c t i c e  o f  t h e  b a r .  Lawyers  who a r e  t o  be  c o m p e n s a te d  o n l y  

i n  t h e  e v e n t  o f  v i c t o r y  e x p e c t  and a r e  e n t i t l e d  t o  be p a i d  

more when s u c c e s s f u l  t h a n  t h o s e  who a r e  a s s u r e d  o f  compen­

s a t i o n  r e g a r d l e s s  o f  r e s u l t .  T h i s  i s  n e i t h e r  l e s s  n o r  

more a p p r o p r i a t e  i n  c i v i l  r i g h t s  l i t i g a t i o n  t h a n  i n  p e r s o n a l  

i n j u r y  c a s e s .  The  s t a n d a r d  o f  c o m p e n s a t i o n  m u s t  e n a b l e  

c o u n s e l  t o  a c c e p t  a p p a r e n t l y  j u s t  c a u s e s  w i t h o u t  a w a i t i n g  

s u r e  w i n n e r s .

XI .  EXPERT WITNESS FEES

The p l a i n t i f f s  a l s o  s e e k  r e i m b u r s m e n t  o f  f e e s  p a i d  

f o r  e x p e r t  w i t n e s s e s .  The u s u a l  r u l e  i n  c i v i l  l i t i g a t i o n  in  

f e d e r a l  c o u r t s  i s  t h a t  s u c h  f e e s  a r e  n o t  r e c o v e r a b l e  a s  

c o s t s ,  G e r b e r  v .  S t o l t e n b e r g ,  394 F .2 d  179 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 6 8 ) ;  

10 C.  W r i g h t  & A. M i l l e r ,  F e d e r a l  P r a c t i c e  & P r o c e d u r e  § 2678 

a t  2 3 6 - 3 7  ( 1 9 7 3 ) ,  and e x p e r t s  a r e  c o m p e n s a b l e  o n l y  a t  t h e

same r a t e  a s  o t h e r  w i t n e s s e s .  See 28 O . S . C .  § 1821 ( p r o v i s i o n  

f o r  c o m p e n s a t i o n  o f  w i t n e s s e s ) .

C o n g r e s s  h a s  m a n i f e s t e d  an i n t e n t i o n  t h a t  a d i f f e r ­

e n t  r u l e  be  a p p l i e d  i n  c i v i l  r i g h t s  l i t i g a t i o n :

" I f  p r i v a t e  c i t i z e n s  a r e  t o  be a b l e  t o  
a s s e r t  t h e i r  c i v i l  r i g h t s ,  and i f  t h o s e  
who v i o l a t e  t h e  N a t i o n ' s  f u n d a m e n t a l  l aws 
a r e  n o t  t o  p r o c e e d  w i t h  i m p u n i t y ,  t h e n  
c i t i z e n s  m u s t  h a v e  t h e  o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  
r e c o v e r  what  i t  c o s t s  them t o  v i n d i c a t e  
t h o s e  r i g h t s  i n  c o u r t . "

S.  Rep.  9 4 -1 01 1  , 9 4 t h  Cong.  2d S e s s .  2 ,  r e p r i n t e d  in  U .S .  

Code Cong.  & Ad. News 5 90 8 ,  59 1 0 .  D i s t r i c t  c o u r t s  in  many 

i n s t a n c e s  h av e  awarde d  t h e  f u l l  f e e s  o f  e x p e r t s  on t h e  g r o u n d  

t h a t  t h e i r  t e s t i m o n y  and a s s i s t a n c e  wer e  n e c e s s a r y  o r  h e l p f u l  

i n  r e p r e s e n t i n g  c l i e n t s  i n  c i v i l  r i g h t s  l i t i g a t i o n .  See  

e_Lcj_. , Keyes  v .  S c h o o l  D i s t r i c t  No. 1 ,  D en v e r ,  C o l o r a d o ,  439 

F.  Supp.  393 ,  418 (D. C o l .  1 9 7 7 ) ;  P e n n s y l v a n i a  v .  O ' N e i l l ,



I

I

i

431 F .  Supp.  70 0 ,  713 (E .D.  P a .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  a f f ' d  mem. ,  573 F .2d  

1301 (3d C i r .  1 9 7 8 ) ;  W a l l a c e  v .  House ,  377 F.  Supp.  1192,  

1 2 0 6 - 0 7  (W.D. La.  1 9 7 4 ) ,  m o d i f i e d , 515 F .2 d  619 ( 5 t h  C i r .  

19 7 5)  , v a c a t e d  on  o t h e r  g r o u n d s , 425 U . S .  9 4 7 ,  96 S .  C t .  

17 21 ,  48 L. Ed.  2d 191 ( 1 9 7 6 ) .

C o u n s e l  m u s t  h a v e  t h e  a s s i s t a n c e  o f  e x p e r t s  t o  

f u r n i s h  e f f e c t i v e  a n d  c o m p e t e n t  r e p r e s e n t a t i o n .  I n  m o s t  

c i v i l  r i g h t s  l i t i g a t i o n ,  and i n  p r i s o n  c a s e s  i n  p a r t i c u l a r ,  

e x p e r t  t e s t i m o n y  i s  a v i t a l  i n g r e d i e n t  i n  t h e  p r o p e r  p r e s e n ­

t a t i o n  a n d  d e c i s i o n  o f  a c a s e .  W i t h o u t  t h e  a b i l i t y  t o  

r e c o v e r  e x p e r t s '  f e e s ,  p l a i n t i f f s ,  p a r t i c u l a r l y  p r i s o n  

i n m a t e s  who a r e  a l m o s t  a l w a y s  i n d i g e n t ,  w i l l  be u n a b l e  t o  

b r i n g  t h e s e  c a s e s .

We t h e r e f o r e  r e m a n d  f o r  d e t e r m i n a t i o n  o f  a p p r o ­

p r i a t e  a t t o r n e y s '  f e e s  and c o s t s ,  i n c l u d i n g  e x p e r t  w i t n e s s  

f e e s ,  u n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  s e t  f o r t h  i n  t h i s  o p i n i o n .

X I I .  CONCLUSION

W i t h i n  t h i r t y  d a y s  a f t e r  i s s u a n c e  o f  t h e  m a n d a te ,  

t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h a l l  commence su c h  an  e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g  

a s  i t  deems n e c e s s a r y  t o  d e t e r m i n e  t h e  maximum c a p a c i t y  o f  

t h e  new j a i l ,  and w i t h i n  f i f t e e n  d a y s  a f t e r  t h a t  h e a r i n g  i t  

s h a l l  i s s u e  an a d d i t i o n a l  o r d e r  f o r b i d d i n g  t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  

m o r e  t h a n  t h a t  n u m b e r  o f  p r i s o n e r s  a t  a n y  o n e  t i m e .  The 

i n j u n c t i o n  s h a l l  a l s o  f i x  t h e  maximum number  o f  p r i s o n e r s  who 

may be c o n f i n e d  i n  t h e  o l d  J a c k s o n  C o un ty  j a i l .  I t  may p r o ­

v i d e  t h a t ,  upon a show ing  o f  u r g e n t  n e c e s s i t y  and s e r i o u s  

p u b l i c  n e e d ,  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  may,  a f t e r  n o t i c e  t o  t h e  p l a i n ­

t i f f s ,  s e e k  p e r m i s s i o n  t o  c o n f i n e  a g r e a t e r  number  o f  p e r ­

s o n s ,  f o r  a p e r i o d  t o  b e  s e t  by  t h e  c o u r t  d e p e n d e n t  on 

c i r c u m s t a n c e s  b u t  n o t  t o  e x c e e d  s e v e n t y - t w o  h o u r s .

- 4 0 -

1



At  t h e  same  e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g ,  t h e  p a r t i e s  

s h a l l  b e  a c c o r d e d  an  o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  s u b m i t  e v i d e n c e  c o n ­

c e r n i n g  w h e t h e r  t h e r e  i s  r e a s o n  t o  d e n y  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a ­

t i o n  t o  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  u n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  o f  B e l l  v .  

W o l f i s h . W i t h i n  t e n  d a y s  a f t e r  i s s u a n c e  o f  t h e  m a n d a t e ,  t h e  

p l a i n t i f f s  s h a l l  n o t i f y  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  w h e t h e r  t h e y  

c o n t e n d  t h e  new m a i l  and  d i s c i p l i n a r y  r u l e s  v i o l a t e  t h e  

G u a r j a r d o  arid W o l f f  s t a n d a r d s  r e s p e c t i v e l y .  I f  t h e y  d e s i r e  

t o  r a i s e  t h a t  i s s u e ,  t h e  h e a r i n g  s h a l l  a l s o  e m b r a c e  t h e  

q u e s t i o n s  t h u s  r a i s e d .

B e c a u se  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l  h as  be e n  o p e r a t e d  

i n  v i o l a t i o n  o f  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  s t a n d a r d s ,  t h e  t r i a l  c o u r t  

s h a l l  w i t h i n  t h i r t y  d a y s  a f t e r  i s s u a n c e  o f  o u r  m a n d a te  i s s u e  

an i n j u n c t i o n ,  c o n s i s t e n t  w i t h  t h e  v ie w s  e x p r e s s e d  i n  o u r  

d i s c u s s i o n  i n  P a r t  V a b o v e ,  co m m a n d i n g  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s :  

n o t  t o  e n g a g e  i n  r a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  i n  any fo rm ;  

t o  p r o v i d e  f o r  a d e q u a t e  j a i l  s u p e r v i s i o n  i n  t h e  o l d  

and new j a i l s  by p e r s o n s  who a r e  n o t  j a i l  i n m a t e s ;

t o  i n s t i t u t e  and  o p e r a t e  a r e a s o n a b l e  c l a s s i f i c a ­

t i o n  s y s t e m  f o r  t h o s e  c o n f i n e d  i n  b o t h  t h e  o l d  a n d  new 

j a i l s ,  w i t h  a p r o v i s i o n  f o r  s e p a r a t i o n  o f  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  

f rom c o n v i c t e d  c r i m i n a l s  and t h o s e  o t h e r  m a t t e r s  d i s c u s s e d  in  

o u r  o p i n i o n  s u p r a  a t  p a g e s  18—19;

t o  a d m i n i s t e r  d i s c i p l i n e  o n l y  in  c o n f o r m i t y  w i t h  

t h e  r e q u i r e m e n t s  o f  W o l f f  v .  M c D o n n e l l ,  418 U . S .  5 3 9 ,  94 

S . C t .  29 6 3 ,  41 L. Ed. 2d 935 ( 1 9 7 4 ) ;  and

t o  r e g u l a t e  m a i l  o n l y  i n  a c c o r d a n c e  w i t h  r u l e s  

c o m p ly in g  w i t h  G u a j a r d o  v .  E s t e l l e ,  580 F .2 d  748 ( 5 t h  C i r .  

1 9 7 8 ) .

T h e  j u d g m e n t  d i s m i s s i n g  t h e  i n d i v i d u a l  d a m a g e  

c l a i m s  o f  a l l  o f  t h e  p l a i n t i f f s ,  e x c e p t  M a r v i n  J o n e s  i s

- 4 1 -



m o d i f i e d  so  a s  t o  make i t  a p p l i c a b l e  o n l y  t o  p e n d e n t  c l a i m s  

u n d e r  M i s s i s s i p p i  s t a t e  l a w .  The ju d g m e n t  i s  f u r t h e r  modi ­

f i e d  s o  a s  t o  d i s m i s s  t h e  p e n d e n t  c l a i m s  o f  D o n a l d  O v e r -  

s t r e e t ,  D a r r e l l  L a d n i e r ,  D a r r e l l  McGee a n d  Bobby  H u g h e s  

w i t h o u t  p r e j u d i c e  s o  a s  t o  p e r m i t  t h e m  t o  be  f i l e d  and  

a d j u d i c a t e d  t o g e t h e r  w i t h  t h e i r  S e c t i o n  1983 c l a i m s ,  t h e  

s t a t u t e  o f  l i m i t a t i o n s  t o  commence t o  r u n  o n l y  upon i s s u a n c e  

o f  o u r  m a n d a t e .

T h i s  sum m ary  c o n c l u s i o n  i s  p r o v i d e d  a s  a m a t t e r  

o f  c o n v e n i e n c e  f o r  i s s u a n c e  o f  t h e  m a n d a t e .  However ,  i t  d o e s  

n o t  l i m i t  o r  q u a l i f y  t h e  more e x t e n s i v e  r e m a r k s  i n  t h e  t e x t  o f  

t h e  o p i n i o n .

The ju d g m e n t  o f  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  i s  a f f i r m e d  i n  

p a r t  a n d  r e v e r s e d  i n  p a r t ,  a n d  t h e  c a s e  i s  r e m a n d e d  f o r  

f u r t h e r  p r o c e e d i n g s  c o n s i s t e n t  w i t h  t h i s  o p i n i o n .

- 4 2 -



No. 7 8 - 1 2 8 9 ,  MARVIN JONES, ETC, v .  FRED R DI AMOND, ETC.
ET AL . , GODBOLD, C i r cu  i t  J u d g e , s p e c i a l  l y  c o n c u r r i n g .

W h i le  I a g r e e  w i t h  much o f  J u d g e  R u b i n ' s  o p i n i o n  

my a p p r o a c h  t o  t h e  c a s e  d i f f e r s  f rom h i s .  I ,  t h e r e f o r e ,  

s e t  o u t  my v i e w s  i n  t h i s  s e p a r a t e  o p i n i o n .

F i r s t ,  a s  t o  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f .  The e f f e c t  o f  

t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t ' s  o r d e r  was t o  g r a n t  r e l i e f  i n j u n c t i v e  

in  n a t u r e ,  b o t h  p r o h i b i t o r y  and a f f i r m a t i v e ,  t h o u g h  n o t  

a l l  i n j u n c t i v e  in  fo rm ,  and t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  r e t a i n e d  

j u r i s d i c t i o n .  So f a r  a s  I can  d i s c e r n  no member o f  t h e  en 

b a n c  c o u r t  s u g g e s t s  t h a t  t h e  t r i a l  j u d g e  e r r e d  i n  g r a n t i n g  

t h i s  r e l i e f .

The p a n e l  u p h e l d  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f  and awarded  

a d d i t i o n a l  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f .  Whi le  t h e  p a n e l  o p i n i o n  h as  

b e e n  v a c a t e d  i t  r e m a i n s  s i g n i f i c a n t  b e c a u s e  C h i e f  J u d g e  

C o l e m a n ' s  c o n c u r r i n g / d i s s e n t i n g  en b a n c  o p i n i o n  a d h e r e s  t o  

wha t  t h e  p a n e l  h e l d  b u t  t h e n  d e p a r t s  f rom i t  b e c a u s e  he 

c o n s i d e r s  t h e r e  h a s  be e n  a t o t a l  c h a n g e  i n  c i r c u m s t a n c e s .

A l l  o f  us  r e c o g n i z e  t h a t  t h e r e  h a s  b e e n  s u b s t a n t i a l  c h a n g e ,  

and f o r  t h e  b e t t e r ,  b u t  I  b e l i e v e  t h a t  t h e  r e c o r d  d o e s  n o t  

show su c h  t o t a l  c h a n g e  i n  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  t h a t  we c o u l d  

p r o p e r l y  d i s m i s s  t h i s  c a s e  o r  r e v e r s e  o r  v a c a t e  t h e  i n j u n c t i v e  

r e l i e f  t h a t  was g r a n t e d  by t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  and so  f a r  a s  

t h i s  r e c o r d  shows i s  a t  t h i s  moment s t i l l  i n  e f f e c t .

Wi th  t h e  c a s e  i n  t h i s  p o s t u r e  g r a n t  o f  i n j u n c t i v e  

r e l i e f  by o u r  c o u r t  i s  a p p r o p r i a t e .  We m e r e l y  b u i l d  upon 

t h e  i n j u n c t i v e  o r d e r  a l r e a d y  in  e f f e c t .  Under  t h i s  a p p r o a c h  

many o f  t h e  d e t a i l s  o f  c o n d i t i o n s  in  t h e  o l d  j a i l  i n  t h e  

e a r l y  and m i d - 1 9 7 0 ' s  a r e  l a r g e l y  b e s i d e  t h e  p o i n t .  T h e r e f o r e ,  

t h e  d i f f e r e n c e s  o f  v ie w  o v e r  t h e  e v i d e n c e  o f  t h e s e  c o n d i t i o n s  

and o u r  r e v i e w  o f  t h i s  e v i d e n c e  need n o t  be d ec id e d . - ! - /



1 /  F o r  e x a m p l e ,  we do n o t  n e e d  t o  d e c i d e  w h e t h e r  t h e  o l d  
j a i l  was f i l t h y  o r  c l e a n  i n  1973 .  T h a t  d e c i s i o n  i s  
u n n e c e s s a r y  t o  e s t a b l i s h  a p r e d i c a t e  f o r  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f  
i n  g e n e r a l .  I t  i s  u n n e c e s s a r y  a s  t h e  b a s i s  f o r  a s p e c i f i c  
o r d e r  t h a t  t h e  new j a i l  m u s t  be  k e p t  c l e a n  b e c a u s e  no one 
s u g g e s t s  s u c h  an o r d e r  i s  n e c e s s a r y .

I t  s eems  t o  me t h a t  w i t h  r e s p e c t  t o  i n j u n c t i v e  

r e l i e f  o u r  t a s k  i s  t o  d e t e r m i n e  t h e  e x t e n t  t o  w h i c h  t h e  

r e l i e f  a l r e a d y  o r d e r e d  by t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h o u l d  be 

b r o a d e n e d  o r  s u p p l e m e n t e d  b e c a u s e  i t  was i n s u f f i c i e n t  and 

t h e  e x t e n t  t o  w h ic h  r e l i e f  a l r e a d y  o r d e r e d  s h o u l d  be 

n a r r o w e d  o r  e l i m i n a t e d  b e c a u s e  o f  c h a n g e d  c i r c u m s t a n c e s .  

N e c e s s a r i l y  t h e s e  i n q u i r i e s  a r e  n e t ,  n o t  g r o s s ;  we may s e e  

some r e l i e f  t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  s h o u l d  h av e  g r a n t e d  b u t  

t h a t  n e v e r t h e l e s s  n e e d  n o t  be  o r d e r e d  now b e c a u s e  c h a n g e d  

c i r c u m s t a n c e s  h a v e  o b v i a t e d  t h e  n e e d  f o r  i t . —̂

2 /  I n  a p u r i s t  s e n s e  t h e  e r e c t i o n  o f  t h e  new j a i l  d o e s  n o t  
e l i m i n a t e  t h e  n e e d  f o r  an i n j u n c t i o n ,  b u t  i n  a p r a c t i c a l  
way i t  g r e a t l y  a f f e c t s  o u r  en  b a n c  d e c i s i o n .  F o r  i n s t a n c e ,  
w h i l e  e s c h e w i n g  t h e  e f f e c t  o f  t h e  new j a i l  on w h e t h e r  t o  
g r a n t  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f ,  J u d g e  R ub in  d o e s  n o t  s u g g e s t  
i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f  a g a i n s t  s e v e r a l  c o n d i t i o n s  t h a t  he  f i n d s  
e x i s t e d  i n  t h e  o l d  j a i l .  A c t u a l l y ,  i n  t h i s  f o u r t h  a p p e a r a n c e  
o f  an  o l d  c a s e ,  on a s t a l e  r e c o r d  o f  f a c t s  many o f  w h ic h  a r e  
y e a r s  o l d ,  and  w i t h  k n o w le d g e  by t h e  c o u r t  t h a t  c o n d i t i o n s  
h a v e  c h a n g e d ,  b u t  c h a n g e d  how much we do n o t  a c c u r a t e l y  
know,  t h e  c o u r t  s i m p l y  d o e s  t h e  b e s t  i t  c a n .  I n  many c a s e s  

s u c h  a s  s c h o o l  d e s e g r e g a t i o n  c a s e s ,  r a c i a l  c o m p o s i t i o n  o f  
j u r y  b o x e s ,  one -man  o n e —v o t e ,  and  e l e c t i o n  d i s t r i c t i n g  — 
w h e r e  we a r e  r e v i e w i n g  s w e e p i n g  s u p e r v i s o r y  r e m e d i e s  r e l a t i n g  
t o  c o n d i t i o n s  t h a t  t h e  c o u r t  knows a r e  s u b j e c t  t o  c h a n g e  
and  may h a v e  c h a n g e d ,  we h a v e  r e q u i r e d  t h e  p a r t i e s  t o  s u p p l y  
us  w i t h  a " f r e s h  r e c o r d "  c o n t a i n i n g  t h e  l a t e s t  f a c t u a l  d a t a  
t h a t  w i l l  a s s i s t  u s  i n  d e t e r m i n i n g  w h e t h e r  r e l i e f  d e n i e d  
b e l o w  i s  p r e s e n t l y  n e c e s s a r y  and  i f  n e c e s s a r y  w h a t  t h e  r emedy 
s h o u l d  b e .  F r e q u e n t l y  t h i s  i n f o r m a t i o n  h a s  s o l e l y  r e l a t e d  
t o  e v e n t s  and  c o n d i t i o n s  a f t e r  t h e  e n t r y  o f  t h e  j u d g m e n t  
a p p e a l e d  f ro m.  Bu t  we h a v e  n o t  h e s i t a t e d  t o  make t h e  l a t e s t  
a v a i l a b l e  f a c t s  t h e  b a s i s  f o r  a d e c i s i o n  a b o u t  i n j u n c t i v e  
r e l i e f  and  f o r  d e s i g n  o f  a r emedy  i f  a p p r o p r i a t e .  We h av e  
t a k e n  t h i s  a p p r o a c h  t o  a v o i d  t h e  p o s s i b i l i t y  t h a t  e i t h e r  
o u r  d e c i s i o n  o r  o u r  r emed y  w o ul d  n o t  be  a d j u s t e d  t o  t h e  
r e a l i t i e s  o f  a s i t u a t i o n  t o  be  g o v e r n e d  by a  s w e e p in g  r e m e d i a l  
o r d e r .

The i d e a  o f  a " f r e s h  r e c o r d "  i n  t h i s  c a s e  i s  a p p e a l i n g .  
B u t  t h e  number  and  b r e a d t h  o f  i s s u e s  r e l a t i n g  t o  t h e  new 
3a i l  a p h y s i c a l  s e n s e  and  t o  t h e  p o l i c i e s  and  m e th o d s  o f  
o p e r a t i n g  i t  wo u ld  r e q u i r e  e x t e n d e d  h e a r i n g s  i n  t h e  d i s t r i c t  
c o u r t  t o  b u i l d  an u p - t o - d a t e  p i c t u r e ,  f u r t h e r  p o s t p o n i n g  
e f f e c t i v e  d e c i s i o n  o f  t h i s  c a s e .

2



A p p l y i n g  t h e  f o r e g o i n g  a p p r o a c h  t o  t h e  s p e c i f i c  

m a t t e r s  t h a t  J u d g e  Rub i n  would i n c l u d e  i n  an i n j u n c t i o n ,  

o r  wou ld  d i r e c t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  t o  h a n d l e  on rem and ,  

h e r e  i s  where  I come o u t .

R a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n :  The t r i a l  j u d g e  g r a n t e d

l i m i t e d  r e l i e f .  Ju d g e  Rub i n  would  b r o a d e n  i t .  I a g r e e .

The r e c o r d  d o e s  n o t  show t h a t  r a c i a l  d i s c r i m i n a t i o n  h as  

c e a s e d  in  t h e  new j a i l .

A d e q u a t e  s u p e r v i s i o n  by p e r s o n s  n o t  i n m a t e s :  The

d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  d i d  n o t  o r d e r  r e l i e f ,  t h e r e  i s  no s u b s t a n t i a l  

d i s p u t e  t h a t  s u p e r v i s i o n  in  t h e  o l d  j a i l  was i n a d e q u a t e ,  

t h e  r e c o r d  d o e s  n o t  show t h a t  s u p e r v i s i o n  in  t h e  new j a i l  

i s  a d e q u a t e .  I a g r e e  t h a t  an o r d e r  s h o u l d  i s s u e .

C l a s s i f i c a t i o n  s y s t e m  and s e p a r a t i o n  o f  p r e - t r i a l  

d e t a i n e e s  and c o n v i c t e d  c r i m i n a l s :  T h e r e  was no s u b s t a n t i a l

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n  s y s t e m  in  t h e  o l d  j a i l  and p r e - t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  

wer e  n o t  s e p a r a t e d .  The r e c o r d  d o e s  n o t  d i s c l o s e  t h a t  t h e s e  

m a t t e r s  have  b e e n  c o r r e c t e d .  The d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  g r a n t e d  no 

r e l i e f .  We s h o u l d .

D i s c i p l i n e :  The d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  g r a n t e d  r e l i e f

b a s e d  upon what  a p p e a r  t o  me t o  be u n d i s p u t e d  f a c t s .  Jud ge  

R ub i n  would s u p p l e m e n t  t h e  r e l i e f .  X a g r e e .  I t  i s  n o t  

shown t h a t  a new j a i l  h a s  e l i m i n a t e d  t h i s  m a t t e r .

M a i l :  C o n s t i t u t i o n a l  v i o l a t i o n s  a r e  n o t  d i s p u t e d

and i t  i s  n o t  shown t h a t  t h e y  hav e  b e e n  d i s c o n t i n u e d .

Ju d g e  Rub i n  would  g r a n t  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f .  I a g r e e  t h a t  

t h i s  i s  a p p r o p r i a t e .

O v e r c r o w d i n g :  The d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  g r a n t e d  p a r t i a l

r e l i e f  o f  s o r t s .  We do n o t  know how c rowded t h e  new j a i l  

i s  o r  what  t h e  r e a l  p o s s i b i l i t i e s  a r e  o f  i t s  becoming  o v e r ­

c r o w d e d .  I a g r e e  t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  s h o u l d ,  a f t e r

3



t a k i n g  e v i d e n c e ,  s e t  l i m i t s  a g a i n s t  o v e r c r o w d i n g  i f  i t  

a p p e a r s  t h e r e  i s  any s u b s t a n t i a l  p o s s i b i l i t y  o f  i t s  o c c u r r i n g .

C o n t a c t  V i s i t a t i o n :  V i s i t a t i o n  r i g h t s  in  t h e  o l d

j a i l  w ere  n o m i n a l .  The d i s t r i c t  j u d g e  g r a n t e d  no r e l i e f .

The n e c e s s a r y  f a c t s  a b o u t  t h e  new j a i l  a r e  unknown t o  u s .

I a g r e e  w i t h  J u d g e  Ru b in  t h a t  t h i s  mus t  be h a n d l e d  by t h e  

d i s t r i c t  c o u r t  a f t e r  h e a r i n g ,  k e e p i n g  in  mind s e c u r i t y  n ee d s  

and a v a i l a b i l i t y  o f  f a c i l i t i e s .

T u r n i n g  t o  i s s u e s  o t h e r  t h a n  i n j u n c t i v e  r e l i e f ,  I 

a g r e e  w i t h  P a r t s  V I I ,  V I I I ,  IX,  X, and XI o f  J u d g e  R u b i n ' s  

o p i n i o n .

4



NO. 7 8 - 1 2 8 9 MARVIN JONES, ETC. v s .  
E T C . , ET AL.

FRED R. DIAMOND,

COLEMAN, C h i e f  J u d g e ,  w i t h  whom A i n s w o r t h  
C. C l a r k ,  Roney ,  Gee ,  H i l l ,  Fa y ,  G a r z a ,  
H e n d e r s o n ,  and  R e a v l e y ,  C i r c u i t  J u d q e s  
c o n c u r r i n g  i n  p a r t  and d i s s e n t i n g  in  p a r t . j o i n ,

Th e  o r i g i n a l  ( p a n e l )  o p i n i o n  i n  t h i s  c a s e  i s  

r e p o r t e d ,  594 F . 2 d  997 .

Th e  p a n e l  h e l d  t h a t  (1) t h e  b u l l  p e n s  i n  t h e  

j a i l  had b e e n  u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y  s e g r e g a t e d  and  t h i s  

was t o  b e  e n j o i n e d ;  (2) v i s i t a t i o n  p r i v i l e g e s  f o r  

o r d i n a r y  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  s h o u l d  be  s e t  f o r t h  i n  

w r i t t e n  r u l e s  s o  t h a t  d e t a i n e e s  may u n d e r s t a n d  them 

and  s o  t h a t  c o u r t s  may h a v e  a d e f i n i t e  b a s i s  f o r  r e ­

v ie w  i n  t h e  f a c e  o f  c l a i m e d  a r b i t r a r i n e s s  and c a p r i ­

c i o u s n e s s ;  (3) p r i s o n  m a i l  r i g h t s  had  b e e n  s e t t l e d  

b y  o u r  d e c i s i o n  i n  G u a j a r d o  v .  E s t e l l e ,  5 C i r .  1 9 7 8 ,  

580 F . 2d 748 ;  (4) p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  a r e  e n t i t l e d  t o

p r o t e c t i o n  a g a i n s t  u n n e c e s s a r y  o r  u n p r o t e c t e d  c o n t a c t  

w i t h  p r i s o n e r s  known t o  be  v i o l e n t  o r  d i s t u r b e d  o r  

i n f e c t e d  w i t h  a  c o n t a g i o u s  d i s e a s e ;  (5) f e d e r a l  c o u r t s  

may i n t e r v e n e  when j a i l  o f f i c i a l s  f a i l  t o  p r o t e c t  

p r i s o n e r s  f rom  h o m o s e x u a l  a t t a c k s ,  p e r s o n a l  v i o l e n c e .

1



o r  u n n e c e s s a r y  c o n t a c t  w i t h  t h e  c o n t a g i o u s l y  i l l ;

(6) when a p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e  i s  c h a r g e d  w i t h  an i n f r a c ­

t i o n  o f  p r i s o n  r u l e s  he s h o u l d  b e  i n f o r m e d  o f  t h e  i n ­

f r a c t i o n  and  an o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  d e m o n s t r a t e  t h a t  he i s  

n o t  g u i l t y ;  (7) a t t o r n e y  f e e s  s h o u l d  b e  a w a r d e d  t h e  

p l a i n t i f f s ;  and  (8) o v e r c r o w d i n g  was e n j o i n e d .

I  a d h e r e  t o  w h a t  t h e  p a n e l  s a i d  o n  t h e s e  

t o p i c s ,  a t  t h e  t i m e  i t  was s a i d .  B e c a u s e  a  t o t a l  

c h a n g e  o f  c i r c u m s t a n c e s  h a s  s i n c e  i n t e r v e n e d  I  

r e s p e c t f u l l y  d i s s e n t  f ro m  t h e  en  b a n c  o p i n i o n  i n  

t h o s e  r e s p e c t s  h e r e i n a f t e r  s e t  o u t .

I

*-r>— ~

2



I

CHANGED CONDITIONS -  NO SURVIVING CONTROVERSY

F o r  t h e  C o u r t  t o  s p e n d  i t s  en  b a n c  e n e r g i e s  

o n  a c o n t r o v e r s y  w h i c h ,  i n  e s s e n c e ,  no  l o n g e r  e x i s t s  

i s  a n  u n u s u a l  j u d i c i a l  e v e n t ,  o u t  o f  h a r mo ny  w i t h  t h e  

i n d i s p u t a b l e  C o n s t i t u t i o n a l  p r i n c i p l e  t h a t  i f  t h e r e  

i s  no  c o n t r o v e r s y  t h e r e  i s  no  c a s e .  T h i s  l i t i g a t i o n  

was  p u r s u e d  c o n t e m p o r a n e o u s l y  w i t h  t h e  c o m b in e d  e f ­

f o r t s  o f  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  a u t h o r i t i e s  and  t h e  t a x p a y i n g  

p u b l i c  t o  b u i l d  and  e q u i p  an  e n t i r e l y  new j a i l  a t  an 

e n t i r e l y  new l o c a t i o n .  The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  ( f o o t n o t e  

5) c o n c e d e s  t h a t  a  new j a i l  h a s  b e e n  i n  u s e  f o r  n e a r l y  

two y e a r s ,  s i n c e  F e b r u a r y  1 5 ,  1 9 7 9 .  T h i s  j a i l  p r o ­

v i d e s  s i n g l e  c e l l  o c c u p a n c y ,  w i t h  e i g h t y  s q u a r e  f e e t  

p e r  p r i s o n e r .  The o p i n i o n  c h o o s e s  n o t  t o  m e n t i o n  

t h e  f o r m a l  a c t i o n  o f  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  B o a r d  o f  

S u p e r v i s o r s  d e c l a r i n g  t h a t  t h e  C o u n t y  s h a l l  n e v e r  

a g a i n  u s e  t h e  o l d  j a i l  u n l e s s  n e c e s s i t a t e d  b y  some 

u n f o r e s e e n  e m e r g e n c y .  F o u r  i n d i v i d u a l s  a r e  a l l o w e d  

t h e  o p t i o n  o f  i n d i v i d u a l l y  r e f i l i n g  t h e i r  c l a i m s  f o r  

d a m a g e s .  I f  t h e  e n  b a n c  C o u r t  w i s h e s  t o  g r a n t  t h i s  

o p t i o n ,  and  I  do  n o t  d i s a g r e e ,  t h e  ^ n  b a n c  o p i n i o n  

c o u l d  w e l l  h a v e  b e e n  l i m i t e d  t o  t h a t  q u e s t i o n  w h i l e  

a f f i r m i n g  t h e  p a n e l  o p i n i o n  i n  a l l  o t h e r  r e s p e c t s .

3



The en  b a n c  m a j o r i t y  s a y s ,  h o w e v e r ,  t h a t

"The b u r d e n  i s  on t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  t o  p r o v e  t h a t  t h e

w r o n g s  o f  t h e  p a s t  c o u l d  n o t  r e a s o n a b l y  b e  e x p e c t e d

t o  r e c u r "  and  " [ T ] h e  r e c o r d  o f  d e f e n d a n t s '  p e r f o r m a n c e

p e r m i t s  us  t o  d ra w  no s u c h  c o n c l u s i o n " ,  c o n c l u d i n g

t h a t  " n o t h i n g  i n  t h e  r e c o r d  p r o v i d e s  . . .  a n y  a s s u r a n c e

t o  t h i s  C o u r t  t h a t  . . .  t h e  w r o n g s  o f  t h e  p a s t  w i l l  n o t
1/

b e  r e c o m m i t t e d . "

The c a s e  w o u ld  n o t  b e  m o o t  i f  t h e  r e c o r d  

s u p p o r t e d  t h o s e  c o n c l u s i o n s ,  b u t  w h a t  d o e s  t h e  r e c o r d  

s a y ?

The r e c o r d  e s t a b l i s h e s  t h e  s i n c e r e  c o n c e r n  

o f  t h e  p e o p l e  and  t h e  d u l y  c o n s t i t u t e d  a u t h o r i t i e s  o f  

J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  f o r  t h e  w e l f a r e  o f  p r i s o n e r s .  The 

o l d  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l ,  on t h e  t o p  f l o o r  o f  t h e  

c o u r t h o u s e ,  was b u i l t  i n  1 9 4 9 .  I n  1971  i t  was  o n l y  

t w e n t y  two  y e a r s  o l d ,  w h i c h  i s  no a d v a n c e d  a g e  f o r  

s t r u c t u r e s  o f  t h i s  k i n d .  Y e t ,  t h e  movement  f o r  t h e  

c o n s t r u c t i o n  o f  a  new j a i l  was  i n a u g u r a t e d  t h a t  y e a r .  

H a l f  t h e  c o s t  o f  c o n s t r u c t i n g  and  e q u i p p i n g  t h e  new 

j a i l ,  n e a r l y  a  m i l l i o n  d o l l a r s ,  was  f i n a n c e d  b y  t h e  

f e d e r a l  g o v e r n m e n t .  I t  was  c o n s t r u c t e d ,  e q u i p p e d  

a n d  s t a f f e d  i n  a c c o r d a n c e  w i t h  f e d e r a l  LEAA s t a n d a r d s .  

I t  i s  o p e r a t e d  a c c o r d i n g  t o  s t a n d a r d s ,  r u l e s ,  and 

p r o c e d u r e s  p r e s c r i b e d  b y  LEAA. I t  i s  t o  b e  d o u b t e d

/ '  *!

r

4



t h a t  a mor e  m o d e rn  j a i l  f a c i l i t y  c a n  b e  f o u n d  a n y ­

w h e r e  i n  t h e  U n i t e d  S t a t e s .

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  f a i l s  t o  c r e d i t  t h e  

p e o p l e  and  t h e  a u t h o r i t i e s  o f  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  w i t h  t h e  

new j a i l  a n d  a l s o  c h o o s e s  t o  o v e r l o o k  t h e  f o l l o w i n g :

1 .  E x c e p t  f o r  H in d s  C o u n t y ,  i n  w h i c h  t h e  

S t a t e  C a p i t o l  i s  s i t u a t e d ,  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  m a i n t a i n s  

t h e  b e s t  c o u n t y  l a w  l i b r a r y  i n  t h e  S t a t e  f o r  u s e  b y  

p u b l i c  d e f e n d e r s  a n d  o t h e r s ;

2 .  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  i n s t i t u t e d  t h e  f i r s t  work  

r e l e a s e  p r o g r a m  i n  t h e  S t a t e ,  b y  w h i c h  c o n v i c t e d  i n ­

d i v i d u a l s  c a n  l i v e  away f ro m  t h e  j a i l  o r  p e n i t e n t i a r y ,  

s p e n d  t h e i r  n i g h t s  i n  a minimum s e c u r i t y  e n v i r o n m e n t ,  

w o rk  d u r i n g  t h e  d a y  a n d  s u p p o r t  t h e i r  f a m i l i e s ,  and  

make e f f o r t s  t o  r e h a b i l i t a t e  t h e m s e l v e s  b y  e m p lo y m e n t ;

3 .  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y ,  i n  c o o p e r a t i o n  w i t h  S t a t e  

a u t h o r i t i e s ,  i n s t i t u t e d  t h e  f i r s t  r e s t i t u t i o n  c e n t e r  

i n  t h e  S t a t e ,  i n  w h i c h  i n d i v i d u a l s  c o n v i c t e d  o f  c r i m e s  

i n v o l v i n g  p r o p e r t y  r i g h t s  may w o rk  a n d  make r e s t i t u t i o n  

t o  t h e i r  v i c t i m s  w i t h o u t  b e i n g  s e n t  t o  j a i l  o r  t o  t h e  

p e n i t e n t i a r y ;

4 .  Th e  new p r i s o n  p r o g r a m  a u t h o r i z e d  a 

c o u n t y  b o n d  i s s u e  o f  $ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 ,  a p p r o v e d  a t  t h e  p o l l s .  

T h i s  p r o v i d e d  t h e  f u n d s  f o r  a  m o d e rn  J u v e n i l e  F a c i l i t y ,

1
5



o p e n e d  i n  1 9 7 5 ,  a l o n g  w i t h  t h e  new j a i l .

T h e s e  f a c t s  c o n c l u s i v e l y  n e g a t e  an  a t t i t u d e  

o f  i n d i f f e r e n c e  f o r  t h e  w e l f a r e  o f  p r i s o n e r s  and 

n e g a t e s  t h e  n o t i o n  t h a t  t h e  o f f i c i a l s  o f  J a c k s o n  

C o u n t y  c a n  b e  e x p e c t e d  t o  do  r i g h t  o n l y  i f  t h e y  a r e  

r e q u i r e d  t o  o p e r a t e  t h e  new j a i l  u n d e r  t h e  t e r m s  o f  

a s w e e p i n g  i n j u n c t i o n .



II

INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IS NOT WARRANTED

T h e r e  i s  n o t  t h e  s l i g h t e s t  w h i s p e r  t h a t  

t h e  j a i l  now b e i n g  u s e d  b y  J a c k s o n  C o un ty  i s  i n  

v i o l a t i o n  o f  C o n s t i t u t i o n a l  g u a r a n t i e s .  H ence ,  

t h i s  c a s e ,  i n  p r i n c i p l e ,  i s  e x a c t l y  l i k e  t h e  D a l l a s  

C o u n t y  (Te xas )  j a i l  c a s e  d e c i d e d  a l i t t l e  o v e r  a 

y e a r  a g o ,  T a y l o r  v .  S t e r r e t t ,  600  F . 2 d  1135 ( 5 t h  

C i r . ,  A u g u s t  1 6 ,  1979  -  Wisdom,  A i n s w o r t h  a n d  Ro ne y ,  

J J )  .

The C o u r t  p o i n t e d  o u t  t h a t  t h e  o b j e c t s  

s o u g h t  t o  b e  a c c o m p l i s h e d  i n  t h e  o r i g i n a l  s u i t  h ad  

b e e n  a c c o m p l i s h e d  and t h a t  t h e  c o n d i t i o n s  f o r  w h i c h  

a r eme dy  was s o u g h t  h ad  b e e n  r e m e d i e d .  H e l d :  t h e

t r i a l  j u d g e  s h o u l d  h a v e  g r a n t e d  t h e  c o u n t y ' s  m o t i o n  

t h a t  t h e  c o u r t  d e c l i n e  t o  r e t a i n  f u r t h e r  j u r i s d i c t i o n  

o f  t h e  c a s e .

T h i s  d e c i s i o n  was  i n  k e e p i n g  w i t h  t h e  

f o l l o w i n g  p r e c e d e n t s :

F e d e r a l  C o u r t s  do  n o t  s i t  t o  s u p e r v i s e  s t a t e  

p r i s o n s .  Meachum v .  F a n o ,  427  U .S .  215 ,  22 9 ,  96 S . C t .  

25 32 ,  49 L . E d . 2d 451 ( 1 9 7 6 ) .



An e q u i t a b l e  d e c r e e  s h o u l d  n o t  go  f u r t h e r

t h a n  n e c e s s a r y  t o  e l i m i n a t e  t h e  p a r t i c u l a r  v i o l a t i o n  

w h i c h  p r o m p t e d  j u d i c i a l  i n t e r v e n t i o n  i n  t h e  f i r s t  

p l a c e .  D a y t o n  B o a r d  o f  E d u c a t i o n  v .  B r i n k m a n ,  433 

U .S .  4 0 6 ,  4 2 0 ,  97 S . C t .  2 7 6 6 ,  53 L . E d . 2 d  851 ( 1 9 7 7 ) .

I n  a c h i e v i n g  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  c o m p l i a n c e  no 

c o u r t  i s  b o u n d  t o  i n v o k e  d r a c o n i a n  m e a s u r e s ,  p a r t i c u ­

l a r l y  when a n o t h e r  c o u r s e ,  l e s s  d r a s t i c  a n d  a l r e a d y  

i n i t i a t e d ,  se em s  mor e  l i k e l y  t o  p r o d u c e  r e s u l t s .

B a t t l e  v .  A n d e r s o n ,  594  F . 2 d  78 6 ,  792 ( 1 0 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) .

C o u r t s  m u s t  b e  w a r y  t o  a v o i d  o b t r u s i v e l y  

m o n i t o r i n g  t h e  c o n d u c t  o f  p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s  and  t h e r e b y  

e n c u m b e r i n g  t h e  a d m i n i s t r a t i o n  o f  p r i s o n  a f f a i r s .

Newman v .  A la b a m a ,  503 F . 2 d  1 3 2 0 ,  1328  ( 5 t h  C i r .

1 9 7 4 ) .

P r i s o n  a u t h o r i t i e s  s h o u l d  n o t  b e  r e q u i r e d  t o  

m a i n t a i n  p r i s o n  s e c u r i t y  w i t h  one e y e  on t h e  s u b j e c t  

a n d  t h e  o t h e r  on  t h e  c o n s e q u e n c e s  o f  c o n t e m p t ,  i n  

w h i c h  t h e  D i s t r i c t  C o u r t  c o u l d  c o n v e r t  a w a r d e n  i n t o  

a p r i s o n e r .  Newman v .  A la b a m a ,  559  F .  2d 2 8 3 ,  291 

( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  c e r t , d e n i e d , 438 U . S .  915 ( 1 9 7 8 ) .

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  d i r e c t s  t h a t  t h e  l o c a l  

p r i s o n  o f f i c i a l s  s h a l l  b e  p u t  u n d e r  a s w e e p i n g  i n j u n c ­

t i o n ,  g o v e r n i n g  t h e  d a i l y ,  r o u t i n e  o p e r a t i o n s  o f  t h e  

j a i l .

8



■

S i n c e  t h e  m a j o r i t y  t a k e s  t h i s  p o s i t i o n  

I  c a n  o n l y  r e m i n d  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  t h a t  t h e r e  a r e  

w e l l  d e f i n e d  p o l i c i e s  a n d  p r o c e d u r e s  f o r  t h e  d i s s o ­

l u t i o n  o f  i n j u n c t i o n s ,  o n c e  t h e y  h a v e  b e e n  i s s u e d .

1
j

9



I l l

THE EN BANC COURT HAS RETRIED 
THE CASE AT THE APPELLATE LEVEL.

I n  1 9 7 1 ,  t h i s  C o u r t  d e c l a r e d :

T h i s  C o u r t  r e v i e w s  c a s e s ,  i t  
n e i t h e r  t r i e s  n o r  r e t r i e s  f a c t  i s s u e s .
T h u s  we m u s t  n o t  b e  u n d e r s t o o d  a s  
e v e n  i n t i m a t i n g  t h a t  we c a n  e n g a g e  
i n  t h e  f a c t - f i n d i n g  p r o c e s s  a t  t h e  
a p p e l l a t e  l e v e l .

H i l l  Y o rk  C o r p o r a t i o n  v .  A m e r i c a n  
I n t e r n a t i o n a l  F r a n c h i s e s ,  I n c . ,  448  
F . 2d 6 8 0 ,  691  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 1 ) .

A p p a r e n t l y ,  t h e  1971  C o u r t  was  w a s t i n g  i t s  

t i m e .  I n  o v e r  f i f t e e n  y e a r s  t h i s  i s  t h e  f i r s t  t i m e ,  

t h a t  I  c a n  r e c a l l ,  i n  w h i c h  t h e  C o u r t  makes  i t s  own 

c r e d i b i l i t y  c h o i c e s  a n d  f i n d i n g s  o f  f a c t .  T h i s  t u r n  

o f  j u d i c i a l  e v e n t s  i s  a l l  t h e  more d i s a p p o i n t i n g  

b e c a u s e  t h e  m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  f r a n k l y  c o n c e d e s :

" T h e r e  was a b s o l u t e  c o n f l i c t  i n  t h e  t e s t i m o n y  a b o u t  

s a n i t a r y  c o n d i t i o n s  ( e m p h a s i s  a d d e d ) . ”

The C o u r t  i s  o b v i o u s l y  w e l l  a w a r e  o f  w h a t  

i t  i s  d o i n g  when i t  r e p u d i a t e s  t h e  f i n d i n g s  o f  t h e  

D i s t r i c t  C o u r t ,  made on c o n f l i c t i n g  e v i d e n c e ,  a f t e r  

t h a t  C o u r t  h ad  s e e n  a n d  h e a r d  t h e  w i t n e s s e s .

I

10



The D i s t r i c t  J u d g e  f i l e d  40 p a g e s  o f  f a c t u a l  

f i n d i n g s .  He f o u n d :

"The j a i l  i s  i n  a g e n e r a l l y  go o d  s t a t e  o f  

c l e a n l i n e s s  a n d  t h e  b u r d e n  o f  p r o o f  c o n c e r n i n g  t h e  

f o r e g o i n g  a l l e g a t i o n s  was n o t  me t  b y  t h e  p l a i n t i f f s . "  

( F i n d i n g s ,  p .  10 )  .

He f o u n d  t h a t  t h e  j a i l  was  r e a s o n a b l y  f r e e  

o f  i n s e c t s  o r  e v i d e n c e  t h e r e o f .  T h e r e  i s  no  e v i d e n c e  

o f  m i c e ,  r a t s ,  o r  v e r m i n  i n  t h e  j a i l .

He f o u n d  t h a t  e a c h  p r i s o n e r  i s  p r o v i d e d  a 

c l e a n  m a t t r e s s ,  b l a n k e t ,  m a t t r e s s  c o v e r ,  a n d  s h e e t .  

O v er  a p e r i o d  o f  a p p r o x i m a t e l y  e i g h t e e n  m o n t h s  p r i o r  

t o  t r i a l ,  718 new m a t t r e s s e s  had  b e e n  b o u g h t  a n d  p u t  

t o  u s e  i n  t h e  j a i l .

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  s a y s  ( m a n u s c r i p t ,  p .  12)

t h a t :

" P h o t o g r a p h s  and  o t h e r  e v i d e n c e  
s a t i s f y  u s  t h a t  t h e  p r i s o n e r s '  a c c o u n t  
o f  t h e  j a i l  more  a c c u r a t e l y  d e s c r i b e d  
c o n d i t i o n s ,  a t  l e a s t  a t  t h e  o u t s e t  o f  
t h e  s u i t , t h a n  t h e  a c c o u n t  b y  t h e  s h e r ­
i f f  a n d  j a i l e r  and  t h a t  t h e  d i s t r i c t  
c o u r t  was  c l e a r l y  e r r o n e o u s  i n  r e a c h ­
i n g  t h e  c o n c l u s i o n  i t  d i d . "  (Em ph as i s  
a d d e d . )

The C o u r t  r e l i e s  h e a v i l y  on  t h e  t e s t i m o n y

o f  J o h n  Boone  a n d  an a c c o m p a n y i n g  e n v i r o n m e n t a l i s t
I

who made a one  d a y  v i s i t  t o  t h e  j a i l ,  F e b r u a r y ,  1 9 7 7 ,

-  11 -

i



s o l e l y  f o r  t h e  p u r p o s e  o f  g e t t i n g  r e a d y  t o  t e s t i f y  f o r  

t h e  p l a i n t i f f s .  On t h e  b a s i s  o f  t h a t  o n e  v i s i t  Boone 

t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  on  t h a t  i s o l a t e d  o c c a s i o n ,  i n  h i s  o p i n i o n ,  

t h e  j a i l  was f i l t h y ,  i n h u m a n l y  o v e r c r o w d e d  and  u n s u i t ­

a b l e  f o r  t h e  c o n f i n e m e n t  o f  p r i s o n e r s .

The c o l d  r e c o r d  e x p l o d e s  Mr.  B o o n e ' s  c r e d i b i ­

l i t y .  I t  s h o w s ,  w i t h o u t  d i s p u t e ,  t h a t  on t h e  d a y  o f  

B o o n e ’ s v i s i t  t h e  p r i s o n  h e l d  t w e n t y - o n e  s t a t e  c o n v i c t s

a n d  22 p r e - t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s ,  a g a i n s t  a b u n k  c a p a c i t y  o f
2/

7 6 .  F u r t h e r m o r e ,  t h i s  was  a b o u t  two  m o n th s  a f t e r  

t h e  p r i s o n e r s  r i o t e d  b e c a u s e  t h e i r  v i s i t a t i o n  p r i v i ­

l e g e s  h ad  b e e n  c u r t a i l e d  when t h e  s h e r i f f  c a u g h t  

c o n t r a b a n d  b e i n g  b r o u g h t  i n t o  t h e  j a i l .  T h e s e  o r d e r l y  

members  o f  t h e  p l a i n t i f f  c l a s s  d i d  o n l y  $ 3 0 , 0 0 0  w o r t h

o f  damage t o  t h e  j a i l ,  p u t t i n g  i t  o u t  o f  b u s i n e s s  f o r
3 /

a c o n s i d e r a b l e  t i m e .  The e v i d e n c e  showed  t h a t  r e ­

p a i r s  t o  t h e  j a i l  h ad  n o t  b e e n  c o m p l e t e d  when Boone 

h ad  h i s  v i s i t .

The d i f f i c u l t y  w i t h  t h e  C o u r t ' s  p o s i t i o n  i s  

t h a t  Boone a n d  T h e o d o r e  J a m e s  Gordo n  w e r e  n o t  t h e  o n l y  

" e x p e r t s "  who v i s i t e d  t h e  j a i l  and  t h e r e a f t e r  t e s t i f i e d .

12



D r , A l l e n  A u l t

A l l e n  A u l t ,  P h . D . ,  had  b e e n  Warden a n d  S u p e r — 

i n t e n d e n t  o f  t h e  Maximum S e c u r i t y  P r i s o n  and  A s s o c i a t e  

C o m m i s s i o n e r  i n  G e o r g i a ,  w h e r e  he h ad  b e e n  r e s p o n s i b l e  

f o r  t h e  o p e r a t i o n s  o f  19  s t a t e  p r i s o n s  and  35 c o u n t y  

p r i s o n s ,  w i t h  1 1 , 0 0 0  p r i s o n e r s .  I n  1977.  he  was  s e r v i n g  

a s  C o m m i s s i o n e r  o f  t h e  M i s s i s s i p p i  D e p a r t m e n t  o f  C o r ­

r e c t i o n s  ( p e n i t e n t i a r y )  and  was  a member o f  t h e  B o a r d  

o f  D i r e c t o r s  o f  t h e  A m e r i c a n  C o r r e c t i o n a l  A s s o c i a t i o n .

D r .  A u l t  t e s t i f i e d .  D u r i n g  t h e  p r e c e d i n g  

s i x  m o n t h s ,  on  t h r e e  d i f f e r e n t  o c c a s i o n s ,  i n  u n a n n o u n c e d  

v ^s i t s .  D r .  A u l t  h a d  i n s p e c t e d  t h e  J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  j a i l .  

On t h o s e  i n s p e c t i o n s .  D r .  A u l t  had  f o u n d  t h e  j a i l  t o  

be  c l e a n ,  " p r o b a b l y  a s  n e a t  and  c l e a n  a s  a n y  j a i l  

I ' v e  o b s e r v e d " .  The p r i s o n e r s  w e r e  c l e a n .  He saw no  

e v i d e n c e  o f  r o d e n t s  o r  i n s e c t s .  The j a i l  was  q u i e t ,  

a p p e a r e d  t o  b e  o r d e r l y ,  a n d  t h e r e  was  n o t  a  l o t  o f  

com mot ion  o r  c h a o s .  He f e l t  no  h i g h  r a t e  o f  t e n s i o n  

i n  t h e  j a i l .

13



Timothy Wilson

T i m o t h y  W i l s o n ,  a w i t n e s s  c a l l e d  b y  t h e  

p l a i n t i f f ,  was a p h o t o g r a p h e r  f o r  t h e  P a s c a g o u l a  

n e w s p a p e r ,  w h e r e  he  h a d  w o r k e d  f o r  7 y e a r s .  I n  1 9 7 1 ,  

o n e  o f  t h e i r  r e p o r t e r s  h a d  b e e n  p u t  i n  j a i l .  T h i s  

was  d u r i n g  t h e  t e r m  o f  S h e r i f f  N a v a r e t t e ,  whose  

a d m i n i s t r a t i o n  i s  n o t  i n v o l v e d  i n  t h i s  l i t i g a t i o n  

b u t  who was  s h e r i f f  i m m e d i a t e l y  p r e c e d i n g  Diamond.

The p a p e r  was t r y i n g  t o  g e t  t h e  j a i l  c l e a n e d  u p ,  so  

W i l s o n  w e n t  up a n d  t o o k  7 p i c t u r e s  o f  t h e  c o n d i t i o n  

o f  t h e  j a i l  u n d e r  N a v a r e t t e . T h e s e  p i c t u r e s .  E x h i b i t s  

98 t h r o u g h  1 0 4 ,  w e r e  i n t r o d u c e d  i n  e v i d e n c e .  Some 

o f  th e m  w e r e  h a n d e d  a r o u n d  a t  o u r  ejn b a n c  c o n f e r e n c e ,  

u n d e r  t h e  a p p a r e n t l y '  m i s t a k e n  b e l i e f  t h a t  t h e y  i l l u s ­

t r a t e d  c o n d i t i o n s  u n d e r  Di am on d .  I n  1 9 7 1 ,  W i l s o n  

s a i d ,  t h e  j a i l  f a c i l i t i e s  w e r e  p r e t t y  b a d ;  h o l e s  in  

t h e  w a l l s ,  t o r n  u p  l a v a t o r i e s ,  p a i n t  o f f  t h e  w a l l s ,  

m a t t r e s s e s  t o r n  u p .  W i l s o n  h a d  n e v e r  s e e n  a j a i l  

b e f o r e ,  b u t  t h i s  o n e  "was  a  m e s s " .

I n  1 9 7 2 ,  a f t e r  Diamond  t o o k  o f f i c e ,  W i l s o n  

h a d  g o n e  b a c k  and  t a k e n  p h o t o g r a p h s  w h i c h  showed  

" v a s t  i m p r o v e m e n t . "  T h e r e  was  " q u i t e  a c h a n g e ,  a 

v e r y  n i c e  c l e a n u p ,  w a l l s  p a i n t e d ,  e v e r y t h i n g  l o o k e d

14



p r e t t y  g o o d . "  I t  " s a t i s f i e d  u s  a s  a  n e w s p a p e r . "

L a t e r ,  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  c a l l e d  G a r y  H o l l a n d

t h e  E d i t o r  o f  t h e  n e w s p a p e r ,  a s  t h e i r  w i t n e s s .  S h o r t l y  

a f t e r  Diamond  t o o k  o f f i c e ,  a s  a  m a t t e r  o f  i n v e s t i g a t i o n ,  

H o l l a n d  w e n t  u n a n n o u n c e d  t o  t h e  j a i l  a n d  a t e  some o f  

t h e  f o o d  b e i n g  i s s u e d  t o  t h e  p r i s o n e r s .  He f o u n d  i t  

t o  b e  v e r y  g o o d .  He h ad  b e e n  i n  t h e  j a i l  a f ew t i m e s  

s i n c e ,  l o o k e d  i n  on  some o f  t h e  i n m a t e s ,  t a l k e d  w i t h  

a f ew i n m a t e s .  He h ad  h e l p e d  c o n d u c t  r e l i g i o u s  s e r ­

v i c e s  i n  t h e  j a i l .  He t h o u g h t  t h e  j a i l  was  "c ro w d e d "  

b u t  h ad  n o t  " s e e n  a n y t h i n g  n e c e s s a r i l y  u n c l e a n ;  seeme d  

t o  b e  i n  p r e t t y  g o o d  s h a p e . "

I  s h a l l  n o t  e x t e n d  t h i s  o p i n i o n  t o  i n o r d i n a t e  

l i m i t s  b y  s u m m a r i z i n g  t h e  t e s t i m o n y  o f  S h e r i f f  Diamond 

( t h e n  f a t a l l y  i l l  w i t h  l u n g  c a n c e r  a n d  p r o b a b l y  n o t  

l i k e l y  t o  s w e a r  a  p a c k  o f  l i e s  i n  p r e p a r a t i o n  f o r  h i s  

e n c o u n t e r  w i t h  h i s  M a k e r ) , J a i l e r  T o o t l e ,  S h e r i f f  

L e d b e t t e r ,  J a i l e r  B r o a d u s  (now d e a d )  a n d  o t h e r s .

The m a j o r i t y  c o n c e d e s  t h a t  t h i s  t e s t i m o n y ,  i f  b e l i e v e d  

( wh ic h  was  t h e  f u n c t i o n  o f  t h e  D i s t r i c t  C o u r t ) , e x o n ­

e r a t e d  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s .

What  we h a v e  h e r e  i s  t h e  c l a s s i c a l  s i t u a t i o n  

o f  e x p e r t s  a n d  o t h e r  w i t n e s s e s  t e s t i f y i n g  on o p p o s i t e  

s i d e s  o f  a c a s e  a n d  c o n t r a d i c t i n g  o n e  a n o t h e r  on t h e

15



w i t n e s s  s t a n d .  Somebody  i s  m i s t a k e n .  The r e s o l u t i o n  

o f  c o n f l i c t s  o f  t h a t  k i n d ,  w h e r e  c r e d i b i l i t y  i s  i n ­

v o l v e d ,  i s  a l w a y s  f o r  t h e  t r i e r  o f  f a c t  a n d  n e v e r  f o r  

t h e  a p p e l l a t e  t r i b u n a l .  I n  c r e d i t i n g  t h e  t e s t i m o n y  

o f  Mr.  Boone a n d  h i s  a s s o c i a t e ,  a v i t a l  p a r t  o f  w h i c h  

was  e r r o n e o u s  on  i t s  f a c e ,  and  i n  d i s c r e d i t i n g  t h e  

t e s t i m o n y  o f  D r .  A u l t  a n d  t h e  o f f i c e r s ,  t h e  m a j o r i t y  

a b a n d o n s  t h e  t i m e - h o n o r e d  r u l e  and  s t a n d s  t h e  a p p e l ­

l a t e  f u n c t i o n  on  i t s  h e a d .  I t  i s  some wh a t  i r o n i c a l  

t h a t  t h e  v e h i c l e  f o r  s u c h  a n  e v e n t  i s  a c a s e  w h i c h ,  

i n  f a c t ,  h a s  a l r e a d y  e v a p o r a t e d .

I n c i d e n t a l l y ,  D r .  A u l t  t e s t i f i e d  t h a t  t h e  

J a c k s o n  C o u n t y  p r i s o n  a u t h o r i t i e s  h a d  t a l k e d  w i t h  him 

a b o u t  t a k i n g  t h e  s t a t e  c o n v i c t s  t o  t h e  p e n i t e n t i a r y ,  

b u t  h e  t o l d  th e m  he  c o u l d  n o t  do i t  b e c a u s e  an  o u t ­

s t a n d i n g  f e d e r a l  c o u r t  o r d e r ,  a f f i r m e d  b y  t h i s  C o u r t ,  

f o r b a d e  i t .  The  f e d e r a l  c o u r t  o r d e r  r e q u i r i n g  t h a t  

c o n d i t i o n s  a t  P a r c h m a n  b e  u p g r a d e d  t o  C o n s t i t u t i o n a l  

s t a n d a r d s  was  u n d o u b t e d l y  c o r r e c t .  Even  s o ,  J a c k s o n  

C o u n t y  a u t h o r i t i e s  m u s t  know,  now, w h a t  i t  m ea n s  t o  

b e  g r o u n d  b e t w e e n  S c y l l a  a n d  C h a r y b d i s .

“ w k -

16



CONTACT VISITATION

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  on  t h i s  s u b j e c t  i s  a 

c u r i o s i t y .  I t  r e f r a i n s  f ro m  h o l d i n g  o u t r i g h t  t h a t  

p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  a r e  c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y  e n t i t l e d  t o  

c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n .  I n s t e a d ,  i t  d i r e c t s  t h a t  when 

t h i s  c a s e  r e t u r n s  t o  t h e  D i s t r i c t  C o u r t  t h e r e  s h a l l  

b e  an e v i d e n t i a r y  h e a r i n g  i n  w h i c h  t h e  p a r t i e s  s h a l l  

b e  a c c o r d e d  an o p p o r t u n i t y  t o  s u b m i t  e v i d e n c e  c o n ­

c e r n i n g  w h e t h e r  t h e r e  i s  r e a s o n  t o  d e n y  c o n t a c t  

v i s i t a t i o n  t o  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  u n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d  

o f  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h . 441 U .S .  5 2 0 ,  99 S . C t .  1 8 6 1 ,  60 

L . E d . 2 d  447  ( 1 9 7 9 ) .  T h i s  p u t s  t h e  b u r d e n  on  t h e  

j a i l e r  i n s t e a d  o f  t h e  o n e  s e e k i n g  t h e  p r i v i l e g e  and  

i s  t a n t a m o u n t  t o  h o l d i n g  t h a t  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  f o r  

p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  i s  r e q u i r e d  b y  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n  

u n l e s s  t h e  c u s t o d i a l  o f f i c i a l s  c a n  e s t a b l i s h  a go o d  

r e a s o n  t o  t h e  c o n t r a r y .

I n  my o p i n i o n ,  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  f o r  p r e -  

t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  i s  n o t  a r i g h t  g u a r a n t e e d  b y  t h e  

F e d e r a l  C o n s t i t u t i o n .  I t  i s  a m a t t e r  w h i c h  i s ,  a n d  

o u g h t  t o  b e ,  l e f t  t o  t h e  d i s c r e t i o n  o f  p r i s o n



a u t h o r i t i e s  who,  n o t  t h e  c o u r t s ,  h a v e  t h e  c r i t i c a l  

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y  f o r  m a i n t a i n i n g  p r i s o n  s e c u r i t y  and

g o o d  o r d e r ,  i n c l u d i n g  t h e  p r e v e n t i o n  o f  a c c e s s  t o  

d r u g s  and  w e a p o n s .

S u b s e q u e n t  t o  B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h , two  c o u r t s  o f  

a p p e a l s  h a v e  s p e c i f i c a l l y  d e c i d e d  t h i s  i s s u e .  The 

c a s e s  a r e  I n m a t e s  o f  A l l e g h e n y  C o u n t y  J a i l  v .  P i e r c e . 

612  F . 2d 754 ( 3 r d  C i r .  1 9 7 9 ) ,  a n d  J o r d a n  v .  W o I k e . 615 

F . 2 d  749 ( 7 t h  C i r .  1 9 8 0 ) .  I n  b o t h  c a s e s  t h e  C i r c u i t  

C o u r t s  o f  A p p e a l s  h e l d  t h a t  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  do n o t  

h a v e  an  u n f e t t e r e d  r i g h t  t o  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n .  The 

l a n g u a g e  o f  J o r d a n  v .  Wolke  i s  p a r t i c u l a r l y  a p p r o p r i ­

a t e ,  615 F . 2d a t  7 5 3 - 7 5 4 :

F o r  s i m i l a r  r e a s o n s  we b e l i e v e  
t h a t  t h e  d e n i a l  o f  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  
b y  t h e  a u t h o r i t i e s  who o p e r a t e  t h e  
M i l w a u k e e  C o u n t y  J a i l  d o e s  n o t  c o n ­
s t i t u t e  p u n i s h m e n t  i n  a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l  
s e n s e .  P l a i n t i f f s '  s o l e  c o m p l a i n t  
i s  t h a t  d e t a i n e e s  a r e  n o t  a l l o w e d  
p h y s i c a l  c o n t a c t  w i t h  v i s i t o r s  d u r i n g  
t h e  r e l a t i v e l y  b r i e f  p e r i o d s  o f  t h e i r  
d e t e n t i o n .  A l t h o u g h  t h e  C o u r t  i n  
W o l f i s h  d i d  n o t  a d d r e s s  t h e  i s s u e  
o f  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n ,  i d .  a t  5 5 9 - 6 0  
n . 4 0 ,  99 S . C t .  a t  1885 n . 4 0 ,  i t  d i d  
c h a r t  t h e  p a t h  on  w h i c h  a n a l y s i s  m u s t  
p r o c e e d .  F i r s t ,  t h a t  p r o h i b i t i o n  o f  
c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  i s  n o t  i n t e n d e d  
b y  t h e  d e f e n d a n t s  a s  p u n i s h m e n t  i s  
u n d i s p u t e d .  S e c o n d ,  t h e  p r o h i b i t i o n  
i s  r a t i o n a l l y  r e l a t e d  t o  t h e  l e g i t i ­
m a t e  p u r p o s e  o f  p r e s e r v i n g  p r i s o n  
s e c u r i t y  a n d  o r d e r .  As t h e  Supreme 
C o u r t  s a i d ,  t h e  a u t h o r i t i e s  "mu s t  b e

i



a b l e  t o  t a k e  s t e p s  t o  m a i n t a i n  
s e c u r i t y  an d  o r d e r  a t  t h e  i n s t i t u ­
t i o n  a n d  make c e r t a i n  no w ea p o n s  o r  
i l l i c i t  d r u g s  r e a c h  d e t a i n e e s . "  I d . 
a t  5 4 0 ,  99 S . C t .  a t  1 8 7 4 .  F i n a l l y ,  
t h e  p r o h i b i t i o n  o f  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a ­
t i o n  i s  n o t  " e x c e s s i v e  i n  r e l a t i o n  
t o  t h e  . . .  p u r p o s e "  o f  m a i n t a i n i n g  
s e c u r i t y  and  o r d e r .  I d .  W o l f i s h  
i t s e l f  s u s t a i n e d  t h e  v a l i d i t y  o f  
h i g h l y  i n t r u s i v e  " b o d y - c a v i t y "  
s e a r c h e s  o f  d e t a i n e e s  t h a t  w e re  
p e r f o r m e d  a s  a  m a t t e r  o f  c o u r s e  
a f t e r  e a c h  c o n t a c t  v i s i t .  I n  
a p p r o v i n g  t h e s e  s e a r c h e s ,  t h e  
C o u r t  n o t e d  t h a t  a n  a l t e r n a t i v e  
t o  t h e i r  u s e  w o u ld  b e  t o  " a b o l i s h  
c o n t a c t  v i s i t s  a l t o g e t h e r . "  I d . 
a t  560 n . 4 0 ,  99 S . C t .  a t  1885 n . 4 0 .
The C o u r t  t h u s  r e c o g n i z e d  t h e  d i lem m a 
o f  p r i s o n  a u t h o r i t i e s .  Some m e th o d  
m u s t  b e  e m p lo y e d  t o  a s s u r e  t h a t  
w e a p o n s ,  d r u g s ,  an d  o t h e r  k i n d s  o f  
c o n t r a b a n d  do  n o t  e n t e r  t h e  j a i l .
W here c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  i s  p e r m i t t e d ,  
t h e  S uprem e C o u r t  h a s  f o u n d  i t  p e r m i s ­
s i b l e  t o  c o n d u c t  b o d y - c a v i t y  s e a r c h e s .
W here no  c o n t a c t  v i s i t a t i o n  i s  p e r m i t ­
t e d ,  t h e  s e a r c h e s  a r e  u n n e c e s s a r y .
N e i t h e r  a l t e r n a t i v e  i s  s o  c l e a r l y  
p r e f e r a b l e  t o  t h e  o t h e r  t h a t  a  c o u r t  
i s  w a r r a n t e d  i n  s u b s t i t u t i n g  i t s  
j u d g m e n t  f o r  t h a t  o f  " t h e  p e r s o n s  
who a r e  a c t u a l l y  c h a r g e d  w i t h  and  
t r a i n e d  i n  t h e  r u n n i n g "  o f  d e t e n t i o n  
f a c i l i t i e s .  See  i d . a t  5 6 0 ,  99 S . C t .  
a t  1 8 8 6 .  T h u s ,  u n d e r  t h e  s t a n d a r d s  
p r e s c r i b e d  i n  W o l f i s h , t h e  C o n s t i t u ­
t i o n  w as n o t  o f f e n d e d .

The S e c o n d  C i r c u i t  h a d  t h e  i s s u e  b e f o r e  i t  i n  

M a r c e r a  v .  C h i n l u n d , 595 F .2 d  1231  ( 1 9 7 9 ) .  I t  h e l d ,  

595 F . 2d a t  1 2 3 7 :  " I n  sum, i t  i s  t o o  l a t e  i n  t h e  d a y

t o  s u g g e s t  t h a t  i t  d o e s  n o t  o f f e n d  t h e  C o n s t i t u t i o n  

n o t  t o  p e r m i t  p r e t r i a l  d e t a i n e e s  c o n t a c t  v i s i t s . "  The

V

19



S uprem e C o u r t  p r o m p t l y  g r a n t e d  c e r t i o r a r i ,  v a c a t e d

a n d  rem a n d ed  f o r  f u r t h e r  c o n s i d e r a t i o n  in ,  l i g h t  o f  

B e l l  v .  W o l f i s h . 99 S . C t .  2 8 3 3 .

As t o  an y  f u r t h e r  h e a r i n g ,  t h e  r e c o r d  i n d i s ­

p u t a b l y  show s t h a t  when S h e r i f f  L e d b e t t e r  a p p r e h e n d e d  

t h e  i n t r o d u c t i o n  o f  d r u g s  i n t o  t h e  j a i l  h e  b e g a n  s e a r c h ­

i n g  v i s i t o r s  f o r  c o n t r a b a n d ,  a p e r m i s s i b l e  p r o c e d u r e ,  

s e e  Newman v .  A lab a m a ,  559 F . 2 d  2 8 3 ,  291 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 7 ) ,  

c e r t ,  d e n i e d , 483 U .S .  915 ( 1 9 7 8 ) .  N e v e r t h e l e s s ,  t h e  

p r i s o n e r s  r i o t e d  and  w r e c k e d  t h e  j a i l ,  t o  t h e  t u n e  o f  

$ 3 0 ,0 0 0  i n  d a m a g e s .  I n d e e d ,  t h e  r e p a i r s  h ad  n o t  b e e n  

c o m p l e t e d  when t h e  d e s i g n a t e d  " e x p e r t s "  f o r  t h e  p l a i n ­

t i f f  v i s i t e d  t h e  j a i l  i n  F e b r u a r y ,  1 9 7 7 ,  one  o f  t h e  

c a u s e s  f o r  t h e  d e l a y  b e i n g  t h a t  t h e  r e p l a c e m e n t  o f  

t o i l e t  b o w ls  h ad  t o  b e  a c c o m p l i s h e d  b y  h a v i n g  them  

s p e c i a l l y  m o u ld e d .

When o n e  n o t i c e s  t h a t  f o u r  c o n v i c t s  on  d e a t h  

row  i n  t h e  G e o r g i a  p e n i t e n t i a r y  c o u l d ,  and  d i d ,  e s ­

c a p e  b y  u s i n g  h a c k s a w s  s m u g g le d  t o  them  —  when one  

n o t i c e s  t h a t  i n  a n o t h e r  G e o r g i a  s t a t e  p r i s o n  e i g h t  

c o n v i c t s  e s c a p e d ,  f o u r  o f  them  c o n v i c t e d  m u r d e r e r s  —  

one  r e a l i z e s  a s  a  m a t t e r  o f  s o u n d  ju d g m e n t  t h a t  p r i s o n  

s e c u r i t y  i s  n o t  l i g h t l y  t o  b e  u n d o n e ,  e v e n  b y  t h e  

f e d e r a l  j u d i c i a r y .  I t  i s  n o t  uncommon f o r  a p r e t r i a l  

d e t a i n e e  t o  b e  a m u r d e r e r  o r  a  b a n k  r o b b e r  o r  a

t

t ✓

20



k i d n a p p e r ,  h e l d  on p r o b a b l e  c a u s e .  The f e d e r a l  c o u r t s  

s h o u l d  r e s t r a i n  t h e m s e l v e s  f ro m  i n v a d i n g  t h i s  a r e a  

i n  t h e  name o f  t h a t  C o n s t i t u t i o n  w h i c h ,  a t  t h e  o u t s e t ,  

h a i l e d  d o m e s t i c  t r a n q u i l i t y .

I

21 -

i



V

' EXPERT WITNESS FEES

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  d i r e c t s  t h a t  u p o n  rem and  

t h e  p l a i n t i f f s  s h a l l  b e  a l l o w e d  t o  r e c o v e r  e x p e r t  w i t ­

n e s s  f e e s .  No A c t  o f  C o n g r e s s  i s  c i t e d  a s  a u t h o r i t y  

f o r  t h i s  p r o p o s i t i o n ;  i n d e e d ,  t h e r e  i s  n o n e .  I n s t e a d ,  

t h e  m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  r e l i e s  on  a S e n a t e  R e p o r t  c o n c e r n ­

in g  l e g i s l a t i o n  w h ic h  c o u l d  h a v e  c o n t a i n e d  s u c h  a 

p r o v i s i o n ,  b u t  d i d  n o t .

The m a j o r i t y  o p i n i o n  l e n d s  no e a r  t o  w h a t  

t h e  S up rem e C o u r t ,  n e a r l y  f i f t y  y e a r s  a g o ,  t o l d  u s  i n  

H e n k e l  v .  C h i c a g o , S t .  P .  , M. & 0_;_ Rv. C o , , 284 U .S .

4 4 4 ,  52 S . C t .  2 2 3 ,  76 L .E d .  386 ( 1 9 3 2 ) ,  w h ic h  p o i n t e d

o u t ,  i n  a u n a n im o u s  o p i n i o n  b y  Mr. C h i e f  J u s t i c e  H ughes ,  

t h a t  f ro m  1 7 9 9  f o r w a r d  C o n g r e s s  h ad  n e v e r  a u t h o r i z e d  

f e e s  f o r  e x p e r t  w i t n e s s e s  i n  c i v i l  s u i t s  a n d  h e l d  

t h a t  C o n g r e s s i o n a l  l e g i s l a t i o n  i s  c o n t r o l l i n g .

The F i f t h  C i r c u i t  h a s  c o n s i s t e n t l y  d e n i e d  

r e c o v e r y  o f  e x p e r t  w i t n e s s  f e e s  i n  e x c e s s  o f  t h a t  

p r o v i d e d  b y  28 U .S .C .  § 1 8 2 1 .  Baum v .  U n i t e d  S t a t e s ,

432  F . 2 d  8 5 ,  86 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 7 0 ) ;  G e r b e r  v .  S t o l t e n b e r g ,

394 F . 2d 1 7 9  ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 6 8 ) ;  U n i t e d  S t a t e s  v .  K o l e s a r



I

313 F .  2d 8 3 5 ,  837  ( 5 th  C i r .  1 9 6 3 ) ?  G re e n  v .  A m e r ic a n  

T o b a c c o  C o . ,  304 F .2 d  7 0 ,  77 ( 5 t h  C i r .  1 9 6 2 ) .

T h e r e  i s  no  d o u b t  t h a t  C o n g r e s s  c o u l d ,  and  

may y e t ,  l e g i s l a t e  on t h e  s u b j e c t  o f  e x p e r t  w i t n e s s  

f e e s  i n  c i v i l  c a s e s ,  j u s t  a s  i t  h a s  on t h e  s u b j e c t  

o f  a t t o r n e y  f e e s ,  b u t  t h e  i n e s c a p a b l e  f a c t  i s  t h a t  

i t  h a s  n o t  d o n e  s o .  T h a t  i s  i m m a t e r i a l ,  I  s u p p o s e ,  

f o r  t h e  C o u r t  now d o e s  s o .

-  23 -

!



1

I

1

CONCLUSION

On t h e  t o p i c s , and  f o r  t h e  r e a s o n s  h e r e i n ­

a b o v e  s e t  f o r t h ,  I  r e s p e c t f u l l y  d i s s e n t . :

5sr.'-

i

24

I



FOOTNOTE 1

Typewritten manuscript, p. 21.

FOOTNOTE 2

In his prepared resume, filed with the District Court, 
plaintiff's Exhibit 82, Mr. Boone refers to himself as a public 
administrator, media executive-, social worker, human services 
professional, penologist, and correctional change planner. A 
shortened version of the resume reads as follows:

Was 55 years old. Held an undergraduate degree in 
sociology, a master's degree in psychiatric social work, and 
had done postgraduate work in mental health services and crimi­
nal justice management, and at the National Institute of Law 
Enforcement and Criminal Justice. He was organizer and founder 
of the "Campaign for Alternatives to Prisons". In 1951-1952, he 
was a prison guard at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta. 
From 1952 to 1965, he worked as a parole officer, group psycho­
therapist, and case worker, as case supervisor, and as chief of 
the classification and parole department at Atlanta. In 1965- 
1966, he was Director of the Crime and Corrections Project of 
the Southern Regional Council. In 1969-1970, he was field rep­
resentative, community relations services, United States Depart­
ment of Justice. In 1970-1973, he served at Lorton and im Massa­
chusetts.

Except for his time at Lorton and as Massachusetts 
Commissioner of Corrections, which includes Walpole prison, Mr. 
Boone had not been employed in jail administration, although he 
had had peripheral employment in prisons. According to his 
resume, Mr. Boone was Superintendent at Lorton, 1970-1972, and 
Commissioner of Corrections, Massachusetts, 1972-1973, but the 
resume also shows that he attended summer sessions at the Uni­
versity of California in 1972 and 1973 and that he was a Fellow 
at Harvard in 1972-1973. Since 1973 Boone had been with the 
National Campaign for Alternatives to Prisons, of which he was 
the founder. Since 1974 he had been an empl oyee of a_ tel evision 
station in Boston.



I
i

h . - According to his sworn testimony, Dr. Ault had nevpr

brsmss;

W i l l ,  Or. Ault ™ “ S  ;?;;iL"SSt“ nd[°"“ ,n9 “ " • «

Q. Who was Warden of Walpole at that time?
A. I don't recall who was Warden but 

John Boone had been Cormissioner 
and had just recently been fired. 
They then called me and inquired 
whether I'd like to be Commissioner 
of the Department of Corrections in 
Massachusetts.

BY MR. WALKER:

Object as to what he was told by 
other persons, Your Honor. I 
think this is hearsay.

BY THE COURT:-
Sustained.

However, there had been 
was asked and after the answer was strike it.

no objection when the question 
given there was no motion to

I

■ S
P?



FOOTNOTE 3

The majority opinion, Footnote 11, attaches signifi­
cance to the fact that the exasperated sheriff referred to these 
rebellious destroyers of public property as jail birds, even 
though the majority disclaims any condonation for the rebellion. 
This is reminiscent of the speech which the famous liberal 
philosopher, John Stuart Mill, M. P., made in the British House 
of Commons, April 21, 1868:

"What was formerly our chief secondary 
punishment - transportation - before it 
was abolished, had become almost a reward.
Penal servitude, the substitute for it, was 
beginning, to the classes who were princi­
pally subject to it, to be almost nominal, 
so comfortable did we make our prisons, and 
so easily had it become to get quickly out 
of them".