Case: Campbell v. Cauthron

78-01838 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas

Filed Date: 1978

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Case Summary

In 1978, inmates at the Sebastian County jail filed a class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Eighth Amendment, alleging that their constitutional rights were violated by overcrowding and lack of exercise, inadequate diet, forced exposure to religious witnessing, restricted visitation privileges, denial of access to newspapers, insufficient medical care, and inadequate security. The United States District Court for the Wes…

In 1978, inmates at the Sebastian County jail filed a class action suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Eighth Amendment, alleging that their constitutional rights were violated by overcrowding and lack of exercise, inadequate diet, forced exposure to religious witnessing, restricted visitation privileges, denial of access to newspapers, insufficient medical care, and inadequate security. The United States District Court for the Western District of Arkansas (Judge Paul X. Williams) dismissed the class action.

The United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (Judge Gerald William Heaney) partially reversed and remanded, holding that the jail was unconstitutionally overcrowded and that many prisoners are deprived of exercise. Additionally, the court held that the diet was deficient, and inmates were being unconstitutionally exposed to religious witnessing against their will. On the other issues the 8th Circuit affirmed the District Court. Campbell v. Cauthron, 623 F.2d 503 (8th Cir. 1980). The docket was not available on PACER, and, accordingly, we do not have further information on the case.

Summary Authors

David Terry (3/8/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Gibson, Floyd Robert (Missouri)

Heaney, Gerald William (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Horan, Matthew T. (Arkansas)

Attorney for Defendant

Fields, Ronald G. (Arkansas)

Porter, J. Lamar (Arkansas)

Judge(s)

Gibson, Floyd Robert (Missouri)

Heaney, Gerald William (Minnesota)

Attorney for Plaintiff

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

78-01838

Reported Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

May 29, 1980

May 29, 1980

Order/Opinion

623 F.2d 623

Docket

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Arkansas

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: 1978

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

inmates at the Sebastian County Jail in Arkansas

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Sebastian County Jail (Sebastian), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Free Exercise Clause

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1980 - 1980

Issues

General:

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Recreation / Exercise

Religious programs / policies

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, unspecified

Type of Facility:

Government-run