Case: Desrosiers v. Androscoggin Co.

2:85-cv-00091 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maine

Filed Date: April 5, 1985

Closed Date: 1986

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Case Summary

On April 5, 1985, a juvenile detained at the Androscoggin County jail filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine against Androscoggin County, the sheriff, the county commissioners, and two district court judges. The plaintiffs, who were represented in part by the Youth Law Center, asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions, policies and practices at the Androscoggin County jail violated the guarantee of due p…

On April 5, 1985, a juvenile detained at the Androscoggin County jail filed a class action lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine against Androscoggin County, the sheriff, the county commissioners, and two district court judges. The plaintiffs, who were represented in part by the Youth Law Center, asked the court for injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions, policies and practices at the Androscoggin County jail violated the guarantee of due process, prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment, provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5601 et seq., and various Maine statutes. The class included all current and future juveniles detained in Androscoggin County jail, and those who had been detained there after April 15, 1985. The Androscoggin County jail was being used to confine both adults and juveniles and the jail failed to keep juveniles separate from the adults. The juveniles were kept under unsanitary conditions, had no opportunity for recreation or education, and the jail neither performed a medical or psychological examination nor provided medical or psychological services.

The jail failed or refused to remedy these conditions and policies. On June 24, 1985, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine (Judge Gene Carter) dismissed the action against the district court judges, because they were neutral adjudicators and had no stake in the litigation. Desrosiers v. Androscoggin County, 611 F. Supp. 897 (D.C.Me. 1985). On March 18, 1986, the District Court entered a consent judgment, which required Androscoggin to cease using the jail for the detention of juveniles, and required that any facility maintained for the purpose of detaining juveniles be staffed by individuals with special training or education in the handling of juveniles who have been convicted of crimes. The court retained jurisdiction over the case for one year. We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Kristen Sagar (11/5/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Carter, Gene (Maine)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Choate, Andrew (Maine)

Attorney for Defendant

Eisenstein, Martin I. (Maine)

Frank, Robert S. (Maine)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Shauffer, Carole B. (California)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:85-cv-00091

Docket (Pacer)

Desrosiers v. Gagnon

June 10, 1996

June 10, 1996

Docket

2:85-cv-00091

Memorandum and Order Granting Defendant Judges' Motion to Dismiss

Desrosiers v. Androscoggin County

June 24, 1985

June 24, 1985

Order/Opinion

611 F.Supp. 897

2:85-cv-00091

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

Desrosiers v. Androscoggin County

July 1, 1985

July 1, 1985

Complaint

2:85-cv-00091

Consent Judgment

Desrosiers v. Androscoggin County

March 18, 1986

March 18, 1986

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated March 27, 2025, 8:54 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

CASE FILE SENT TO FEDERAL RECORDS CENTER (ARCHIVES) Accession No.: 021-90-0008 Box No.: 5 of 17 Location: A55232 Disposal Date: April 2010 (bfa) (Entered: 06/10/1996)

June 10, 1996

June 10, 1996

Case Details