Case: Sandoval v. Noren

3:72-cv-02213 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Dec. 4, 1972

Closed Date: 1978

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In December 1972, prisoners at the Santa Cruz County Jail filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, challenging their conditions of confinement. The plaintiffs, represented by Community Advocates Legal Aid Society of Santa Cruz County, Public Advocates, Inc., and California Rural Legal Assistance Cooperative Legal Services Center, brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming their Eight and Fourteenth Amendment rights were being violated. …

In December 1972, prisoners at the Santa Cruz County Jail filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, challenging their conditions of confinement. The plaintiffs, represented by Community Advocates Legal Aid Society of Santa Cruz County, Public Advocates, Inc., and California Rural Legal Assistance Cooperative Legal Services Center, brought suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, claiming their Eight and Fourteenth Amendment rights were being violated. Specifically, they complained of overcrowding, improper prisoner classification, inadequate medical care, prisoner discipline without due process, inadequacy of the law library, inadequate visitation policies, and a variety of safety and sanitation defects.

In September 1974, the State Fire Marshall ordered the Sheriff to vacate the basement, first, and second floors of the jail, claiming that the offices posed a fire threat to the third floor.

On October 5, 1975, the District Court granted plaintiffs' motion for partial summary judgment on the issues of the right to security, privacy and humane treatment and ordered the County it to institute a meaningful classification system, provide reasonable facilities for exercise and recreation, create and maintain a safe and sanitary environment, and employ sufficient numbers of qualified staff. It also granted plaintiffs summary judgment on the issues of lack of attorney-client confidentiality within the jail and failure to meet the requirements of due process. It granted the County summary judgment on the issue of conjugal visits, and declined to rule one way or the other on the issues of general visitation and access to the courts.

On July 15, 1976, the Court (Judge Robert F. Peckham) ordered the County to take immediate action to reduce overcrowding and set a population cap. The Court also ordered several safety and health defects be remedied, and appointed a special master "to conduct hearings and make findings and recommendations concerning classification, exercise, recreation, staffing, attorney-client confidentiality, medical care, access to the courts, visitation, disciplinary procedures, and a safe and healthful environment." 10 Clearinghouse Rev. 398.

In response to the population cap, the Sheriff entered into an agreement with the San Francisco County Sheriff to house some Santa Cruz prisoners at its San Bruno Facility.

On December 10, 1976, the Court issued consent orders governing the jail's classification system and medical facilities and services; the County was required, among other things, to provide adequate medical, dental and psychiatric care.

On October 27, 1978, the Court entered final judgment in the case and issued specific orders regarding (1) overcrowding, (2) institution of a classification system, (3) necessary medical care; (4) jail disciplinary procedures, (5) provision and use of a law library, and (6) contact visitation. It also awarded the plaintiffs $1,394.87 in damages. The Court retained jurisdiction in the case until a new jail was constructed and the old jail ceased to house inmates, in the mid-1980s.

Summary Authors

Christopher Schad (8/20/2012)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Berger, Joel (New York)

Campbell, Lorenzo (California)

Celaya, Joaquin (California)

Clarenbach, Sara (California)

Hellerstein, William E. (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Court Grants Plaintiffs Partial Summary Judgment (9 Clearinghouse Review 661)

Sandoval v. James

No Court

Jan. 1, 1976

Jan. 1, 1976

Press Release

Court Grants Interim Relief and Appoints Special Master (10 Clearinghouse Review 398)

No Court

Sept. 1, 1976

Sept. 1, 1976

Press Release

Court Issues Consent Orders Governing Medical Issues and Classification System (10 Clearinghouse Review 920)

No Court

Feb. 1, 1977

Feb. 1, 1977

Press Release

Court Enters Final Judgment (12 Clearinghouse Review 925 )

No Court

April 1, 1979

April 1, 1979

Press Release

Docket

Last updated March 14, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

California Jail Population Caps

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 4, 1972

Closing Date: 1978

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

prisoner

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

County of Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz), County

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Damages

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Litigation

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Amount Defendant Pays: $1,394.87

Order Duration: 1975 - None

Content of Injunction:

Monitor/Master

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Classification / placement

Conditions of confinement

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Law library access

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Pre-PLRA Population Cap

Medical/Mental Health:

Dental care

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run