Filed Date: 1971
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This litigation began in 1971 when five prisoners in the Philadelphia Prison System (a jail) filed a class action seeking injunctive relief from conditions of confinement that they alleged violated their constitutional and statutory rights. Plaintiffs were represented by private civil rights lawyers. The case was assigned to a three judge panel of the court of common pleas which, on April 7, 1972, after a lengthy hearing, issued a 264 page opinion--unavailable to us--thatfound that various conditions in the City prisons violated both statutory and constitutional rights and constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The decree ordered the city officials named as defendants to take feasible action to improve conditions and ordered appointment of a Special Master to oversee long-term improvements in prison conditions.
On appeal, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania (Judge Bowman) affirmed in part and reversed and remanded in part. The court held that current conditions did constitute cruel and unusual punishment, but also held that the lower court erred by appointing a master. Hendrick v. Jackson, 309 A.2d 187 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1973).
In 1976, the court issued a remedial decree specifically designed to maintain the prison population at an acceptable level. The decree was modified in 1980 and 1981. In 1982, litigation continued over a provision of the decree that allowed for certain violent prisoners to be released after posting bail. The District Attorney of Philadelphia sought leave to intervene, but was denied by the court. The district attorney appealed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, but the court affirmed the lower court ruling finding that the district attorney's petition was not timely. Jackson v. Hendrick, 446 A.2d 226 (Pa. 1982).
Because this is a state case, we don't have the docket for this case, and therefore our information ends with last decision, dated May 25, 1982.
Summary Authors
Eoghan Keenan (6/10/2005)
Harris v. City of Philadelphia, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1982)
Bowers v. City of Philadelphia, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (2006)
Bowman, Pasco Middleton II (Missouri)
Doyle, Joseph T. (Pennsylvania)
Flaherty, John P. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Freedman, Frank Harlan (Massachusetts)
Friedman, Daniel Mortimer (District of Columbia)
Nix, Robert N.C. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Roberts, Samuel J. (Pennsylvania)
Beck, John A. (New York)
Bronstein, Donald S. (Pennsylvania)
Endy, Bruce E. (Pennsylvania)
Bowman, Pasco Middleton II (Missouri)
Doyle, Joseph T. (Pennsylvania)
Flaherty, John P. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Freedman, Frank Harlan (Massachusetts)
Friedman, Daniel Mortimer (District of Columbia)
Nix, Robert N.C. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Roberts, Samuel J. (Pennsylvania)
Beck, John A. (New York)
Bronstein, Donald S. (Pennsylvania)
Endy, Bruce E. (Pennsylvania)
Kairys, David (Pennsylvania)
Rudovsky, David (Pennsylvania)
Wenk, Joseph (Pennsylvania)
Berman, Marcia (District of Columbia)
Biondo, Dennis R. (Pennsylvania)
Clark, Tama (Pennsylvania)
Donaldson, Matthew S. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Feder, Richard (Pennsylvania)
Franklin-Suber, Stephanie L. (Pennsylvania)
Gallant, Kenneth S. (Pennsylvania)
Gold, Richard J. (Pennsylvania)
Halsted, John S. (Pennsylvania)
Henson, Eric B. (Pennsylvania)
Mather, Barbara W. (Pennsylvania)
Mattioni, John (Pennsylvania)
McNamara, James M. (Pennsylvania)
Myers, John M. (Pennsylvania)
Neuhauser, Gregory R. (Pennsylvania)
Panarella, Nicholas Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Penny, James M. Jr. (Pennsylvania)
Rendell, Edward G. (Pennsylvania)
Sellitto, August V. (Pennsylvania)
Sklar, S. Jay (Pennsylvania)
Stubbs, Jonathan K. (Pennsylvania)
Vilim, Guy (Pennsylvania)
Weinberg, Martin (Pennsylvania)
Wentz, Frederick M. (Pennsylvania)
Tate, Mercer D. (Pennsylvania)
State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1971
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
inmates of the Philadelphia Prison System
Attorney Organizations:
Kairys, Rudovsky, Messing & Feinberg, LLP
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Philadelphia Prison System (Philadelphia), City
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1973 - None
Issues
General:
Crowding:
Type of Facility: