Filed Date: Dec. 6, 1999
Closed Date: Nov. 27, 2000
Clearinghouse coding complete
On August 2, 1995, the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent a notice letter to Maricopa County Jails, notifying the Board of Supervisors of the government's intention to investigate the conditions in jails overseen by the County. A findings letter was sent to the Board on March 25, 1996, in which the DOJ condemned the unconstitutional conditions present at the outdoor jail facility Tent City, and the intake section of the Madison Street Jail. The DOJ found that a deliberate indifference existed as to inmates' serious medical needs in these facilities, and the detention officers’ use of excessive force against inmates was “unacceptably prevalent.” Concern about stun guns was also cited in the DOJ’s report.
On June 1, 1996, an individual detained at Madison Street Jail died of asphyxiation after being tackled by 14 detention officers and placed in a restraint chair with a towel over his face. This use of force, alongside other allegations of ill-treatment of detained individuals, prompted a visit from Amnesty International to collect information on the treatment of inmates in the jails, and the conditions under which they lived. During its visit, Amnesty International received information on more than a dozen cases of alleged ill-treatment or use of excessive force, covering an 18-month period up to June 1996.
On December 6, 1999, the DOJ filed suit against the County and the County Sheriff in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The Clearinghouse does not have access to the substance of the complaint. The case was assigned to Judge Robert C. Broomfield. Alongside the complaint, the parties filed a joint motion for conditional dismissal. On June 21, 2000, the court conditionally dismissed the case, subject to defendants’ substantial compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. On September 18, 2000, the parties submitted a joint motion to dismiss the case with respect to one defendant, and the Sheriff was dismissed. On November 20, 2000, the parties submitted another joint motion, this time to dismiss the case due to settlement, which the court granted on November 27, 2000.
Summary Authors
Simran Takhar (4/9/2023)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11060316/parties/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/
Broomfield, Robert Cameron (Arizona)
Bartels, Robert (Arizona)
Duke, Cleon M. (Arizona)
Gorman, Louis Barry (Arizona)
Jones, William R. Jr. (Arizona)
Broomfield, Robert Cameron (Arizona)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/11060316/united-states-v-maricopa-county-of/
Last updated Feb. 13, 2024, 3:03 a.m.
State / Territory: Arizona
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 6, 1999
Closing Date: Nov. 27, 2000
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Maricopa County (Maricopa), County
Maricopa County Sheriff (Maricopa), Private Entity/Person
Maricopa County (Maricopa), County
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Issues
General:
Policing:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by staff (facilities)
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Disability and Disability Rights:
Medical/Mental Health:
Mental health care, unspecified
Type of Facility: