Filed Date: Dec. 27, 2016
Closed Date: July 2, 2020
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This case involves a claim filed against the Missouri Department of Corrections (“MDOC”) by an inmate in the MDOC system who was incarcerated as a minor.
On December 27, 2016, plaintiff, a prisoner in the MDOC system, filed a lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections (“MDOC”) in the Circuit Court of Cole County. The plaintiff was incarcerated as a juvenile in 2009 and denied parole as an adult in 2016.
Represented by the MacArthur Justice Center at St. Louis, the plaintiff alleged that MDOC violated the U.S. Constitution by denying him parole without recognizing the different standards and procedures that should apply to parole for juvenile offenders. The plaintiff argued that by depriving juvenile offenders of individualized, youth-focused assessments, the MDOC parole proceedings violated due process requirements and the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishments. The plaintiff sought declaratory judgment with nine counts, and asked the court to order MDOC to apply new standards to parole proceedings and to remand hismatter to the parole board to be heard under the new standards. The plaintiff also sought litigation costs and attorneys fees.
The matter was heard by Honorable Judge Daniel R. Green.
On March 22, 2017, the MDOC filed a motion to dismiss the matter. The motion to dismiss was denied on October 23, 2017.
On July 23, 2019, the plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment. On October 15, 2019, the MDOC filed its own motion for summary judgment.
The Missouri state trial court in Cole County granted the MDOC summary judgment on all of the plaintiff’s claims for relief on July 2, 2020. Consequently, the trial court additionally denied the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, denied the plaintiff’s petition for declaratory judgment, and entered judgment for the MDOC. The court found, based on the undisputed material facts that the plaintiff’s claims for declaratory judgment failed as a matter of law. The case is closed.
Summary Authors
Laura Greer (10/8/2024)
State / Territory: Missouri
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 27, 2016
Closing Date: July 2, 2020
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
An incarcerated individual who was incarcerated as a minor.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Missouri Department of Corrections, State
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: