Filed Date: 1976
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1973, inmates of the Philadelphia Prison System, represented by private counsel, filed a class action suit in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia against prison officials. Plaintiffs alleged that due to overcrowding, the conditions of confinement in the Philadelphia prison system constituted a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
Following an evidentiary hearing, the District Court (Judge Donald Jamieson) issued an order decreeing that the prison system as presently operated was in violation of the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. Judge Jamieson appointed a master to review the conditions and to file a report and recommendation to assist the court in framing its final decree. Defendants appealed.
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 the most recent 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)
Last updated May 12, 2022, 8 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Pennsylvania
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1976
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):
Availably 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:
Type of Facility: