Filed Date: Jan. 18, 1983
Clearinghouse coding complete
In May 1983, juvenile inmates of the Ada County Jail in Boise, Idaho filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all present and future juveniles incarcerated there against the sheriff and commissioners of Ada County, the deputies and guards at the Ada County Jail, and the juvenile court judge. The plaintiffs filed the suit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.
The plaintiffs, who were represented by the Youth Law Center and private counsel, alleged that the defendants' disciplinary policies and other practices violated the juveniles' constitutional rights. They asked the court for declaratory and injunctive relief, alleging that the defendants improperly incarcerated juveniles by failing to separate them from adults and by confining them to secure detention even for minor offenses. They also claimed that the defendants refused community placements in alternative to jail, and that the conditions of the jail were illegal. One named plaintiff also sought punitive damages.
On February 13, 1985, the court (Judge Ray McNichols) ordered a permanent injunction, directing the defendants not to incarcerate any juvenile in the Ada County Jail except for those who had been waived to adult status or who had been initially charged as adults. The order did not resolve the individually named plaintiff's claims for money damages.
We do not have the docket for this case, so we do not know the subsequent history.
Summary Authors
Laura Uberti (5/30/2006)
McNichols, Raymond Clyne (Idaho)
Jameson, Elizabeth J. (California)
Mauk, William L. (Idaho)
Soler, Mark I. (California)
McNichols, Raymond Clyne (Idaho)
Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:29 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Idaho
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 18, 1983
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
All present and future juveniles incarcerated in the Ada County Jail.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5672
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1985 - None
Issues
General:
Sanitation / living conditions
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: