Filed Date: Nov. 20, 1974
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On November 20, 1974, the plaintiffs in this case filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Suing under 42 U.S.C. §1983, the plaintiffs––individuals who were receiving mental health care––alleged that the shutdown of Branch Queens House of Detention ("Branch Queens") and failure to provide equivalent treatment and services at a comparable facility violated their constitutional rights. Represented by the Legal Aid Society of New York City, the plaintiffs named as defendants the City of New York, its Department of Corrections, and relevant officials and sought injunctive relief on behalf of a class of similarly situated persons. The case was assigned to Judge Robert J. Ward. The court granted class certification in a brief order on July 24, 1975.
Shortly after the plaintiffs filed their complaint, the court granted a preliminary injunction on November 24, 1974, which required that the defendants provide comparable treatment and services. A year later, on November 28 and December 23, 1975, the court expanded the scope of injunctive relief by requiring that the defendants also provide notice that individuals had a right to contact visits and preserve the programs and services available at the Adult Mental Health Center, a wing of Rikers Island.
On October 25, 1976, and February 15, 1977, the parties entered into a pair of settlement agreements that resolved all claims brought by the plaintiff class. The agreement set forth that the defendants would continue to permit contact visits, afford opportunities for detained persons to have outdoor recreation time as well as other recreational programs, maintain adequate levels of staff, and allow at least one telephone call a day. The court entered a judgment retaining jurisdiction to oversee the implementation of the settlement agreement on March 17, 1977.
On March 31, 1981, the court ordered that the defendants eliminate disparities between class members and other pre-trial detained persons with respect to the length of lock-in periods. A slight modification, removing an exception that permitted further confinement for the administration of medication, was made on May 23, 1986.
On June 10, 1981, the court entered a supplemental stipulation of final judgment that covered an wider range of issues and that added to the 1976-77 settlement agreement. These included possession and receipt of clothing and jewelry; correspondence; confiscation of property; cell and body cavity search procedures; religious services; attorney visitation; law library access; and food services.
Summary Authors
Matthew Feng (5/24/2023)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:30 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Nov. 20, 1974
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Individuals detained at the Branch Queens House of Detention
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
New York City Department of Corrections (New York, New York), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Substantive Due Process
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Order Duration: 1977 - None
Content of Injunction:
Goals (e.g., for hiring, admissions)
Issues
General:
Food service / nutrition / hydration
Placement in mental health facilities
Medical/Mental Health:
Type of Facility: