Filed Date: 1974
Clearinghouse coding complete
In 1974, the plaintiffs in this case––nine individuals formerly or presently held at the Brooklyn House of Detention for Men––filed this case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Suing under 42 U.S.C. §1983, the plaintiffs made a pair of constitutional due process violations regarding their alleged arbitrary placement into administrative segregation and the differentiated treatment they received as persons in administrative segregation compared to other detained persons not so placed. Represented by the Legal Aid Society of New York City, the plaintiffs sought injunctive relief against New York City, its Department of Corrections, and relevant officials.
On June 7, 1974, the court granted in part and denied in part as moot the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction. 380 F. Supp. 1232. As to the plaintiffs' administrative segregation argument, the court found that some of the plaintiffs had since been released. As to the still-detained plaintiffs, the court found that they had attempted to escape and that their trials on those escape charges afforded them sufficient due process protections to ensure they would not unreasonably be placed in administrative segregation. The court did, however, hold that individuals in administrative segregation could not be treated differently from people in the general detention population with respect to at least a few services that were available to members of the broader jail population. Specifically, the court ruled that people held in administrative segregation were unconstitutionally deprived of access to religious services, legal assistance, and educational programs. The court did not rule that administrative segregation was per se impermissible, finding that there were constitutionally permissible purposes for such a classification, even for pre-trial detained persons.
The remainder of the case and its documents is unavailable to the Clearinghouse.
Summary Authors
Matthew Feng (5/26/2023)
Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 2:55 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: New York
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1974
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Nine presently or formerly detained persons at the Brooklyn House of Detention for Men
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
New York City Department of Corrections (New York, Kings), 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:
Order Duration: 1974 - None
Content of Injunction:
Issues
General:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Type of Facility: