Case: Brenneman v. Madigan

3:70-01911 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: Sept. 8, 1970

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Case Summary

On September 8, 1970, five pretrial detainees filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, on behalf of themselves and all others awaiting trial in the Greystone section of the Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center in California. The named defendants were the Sheriff and the members of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County where the facility was located. The plaintiffs claimed that conditions at the facility were cruel and unusual…

On September 8, 1970, five pretrial detainees filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, on behalf of themselves and all others awaiting trial in the Greystone section of the Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center in California. The named defendants were the Sheriff and the members of the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County where the facility was located. The plaintiffs claimed that conditions at the facility were cruel and unusual punishment in violation of their 14th Amendment rights. After the judge visited the facility, on March 11, 1971, the court instructed the defendants to take whatever steps necessary to alleviate the cruel and unusual conditions of confinement at Greystone. The defendants made regular reports to the court regarding their progress over the next year.

On May 12, 1972, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Judge Alfonso Zirpoli) ruled that the conditions of confinement at Greystone violated the Due Process and Equal Protection rights of pretrial detainees. Brenneman v. Madigan, 343 F.Supp. 128 (N.D. Cal. 1972). The court found that the proper analysis for pretrial detainees was under the 14th Amendment rather than the 8th Amendment because they had not yet been found guilty of any crime. The court stated that the only valid interest the state possessed in restricting the liberty of the pretrial detainees was in ensuring their presence in court. The court found that administrative costs and expedience were not compelling reasons for violating the plaintiffs rights. The court ordered that the defendants not hold pretrial detainees continuously in cells, that the defendants offer activities for the pretrial detainees, that the pretrial detainees have access to phones for a large amount of time and that the pretrial detainees be allowed to visit as may people as they wish for more than 15 minutes per week. The parties were ordered to keep reporting to the court regarding their progress and the defendants were ordered to file a proposed set of rules for the treatment of pretrial detainees with the court within 90 days.

Summary Authors

Jaclyn Adams (2/20/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Zirpoli, Alfonso Joseph (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Berg, Richard (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Booty, Kelvin H. Jr. (California)

Fennone, Thomas J. (California)

Moore, Richard J. (California)

Judge(s)

Zirpoli, Alfonso Joseph (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:70-01911

Reported Opinion

May 12, 1972

May 12, 1972

Order/Opinion

343 F.Supp. 343

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:15 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: California

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 8, 1970

Case Ongoing: Perhaps, but long-dormant

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

pretrial detainees awaiting trial in the Greystone section of the Santa Rita Rehabilitation Center in California

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Legal Services/Legal Aid

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Alameda County (Alameda), 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:

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1972 - 0

Content of Injunction:

Reporting

Issues

General:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Conditions of confinement

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run