Case: Yellen v. Ada County

1:83-01026 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: Jan. 18, 1983

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

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…

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)

People


Judge(s)

McNichols, Raymond Clyne (Idaho)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jameson, Elizabeth J. (California)

Mauk, William L. (Idaho)

Soler, Mark I. (California)

Judge(s)

McNichols, Raymond Clyne (Idaho)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:83-01026

Second Amended Civil Rights Complaint for Injunctive, Declaratory and Other Equitable Relief and Damages (Class Action)

May 1, 1983

May 1, 1983

Complaint

1:83-01026

Order of Permanent Injunction

Feb. 13, 1985

Feb. 13, 1985

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:29 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Idaho

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

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):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Youth Law Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Ada County (Ada), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5672

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1985 - None

Issues

General:

Disciplinary procedures

Education

Mail

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Youth / Adult separation

Assault/abuse by non-staff (facilities)

Affected Sex or Gender:

Male

Type of Facility:

Government-run