Filed Date: Sept. 6, 1973
Closed Date: April 30, 1974
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1973, prisoners in the San Diego County jail system filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, challenging their conditions of confinement. The plaintiffs, represented by California Indian Legal Services and the Native American Rights Fund, alleged among other things that they were being denied access to their mail and to counsel, subjected to discipline without due process, provided with inadequate exercise and unsanitary clothing and conditions, and being kept in overcrowded facilities. They sought declaratory and injunctive relief.
On October 29, 1973, the District Court granted a preliminary injunction. The injunction restrained prison officials from interfering with prisoner mail unless they could prove it was being used to smuggle contraband and required them to implement due process protections in their disciplinary procedure, segregate pre-trial detainees from other prisoners per California law, and allow plaintiffs' attorneys access to their clients in private.
On April 30, 1974, the parties settled, and the County agreed to a population cap and other measures to prevent overcrowding, as well as an improvement in sanitation (including provision of fresh clothing and linens) and an increase in outdoor exercise opportunities.
As of the time of this writing, we have no further information about the case.
Summary Authors
Christopher Schad (8/16/2012)
Albu, Ronald (California)
Echohawk, John (Colorado)
Fix, Barbara (California)
Greene, Bruce (California)
Haber, Roy (Colorado)
Last updated May 5, 2024, 3 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
California Jail Population Caps
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 6, 1973
Closing Date: April 30, 1974
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
prisoners at the San Diego County Jail
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
County of San Diego (San Diego), County
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 1973 - None
Issues
General/Misc.:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Sanitation / living conditions
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions: