Filed Date: 1966
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Prisoners at the Arkansas State Penitentiary filed a lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the Arkansas Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The prisoners alleged that their constitutional rights had been violated by cruel and unusual punishment through the use of a strap or hide to whip inmates as a form of discipline.
On June 3, 1967, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas (Judges Oren Harris and Gordon E. Young) enjoined the use of the strap in the state penitentiary until the prison administration could develop proper and adequate safeguards. Jackson v. Bishop, 268 F.Supp. 804 (E.D.Ark. 1967). The prisoners appealed this decision.
On December 9, 1968, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit (Judge Harry A. Blackmun) vacated the district court's judgment and remanded the case, holding that since the strap was cruel, any use of it violated the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Jackson v. Bishop, 404 F.2d 571 (8th Cir. 1968).
Summary Authors
Kristen Sagar (3/14/2006)
Blackmun, Harry Andrew (District of Columbia)
Harris, Oren (Arkansas)
Arnold, William S. (Arkansas)
Langston, Don (Arkansas)
Purcell, Joe (Arkansas)
Last updated April 15, 2024, 3:05 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: 1966
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Prison inmates alleging cruel and unusual punishment
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Arkansas State Penitentiary, State
Arkansas Department of Corrections, State
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Arkansas 66-00064
Eastern District of Arkansas 66-00099
Eastern District of Arkansas 66-00074
Eastern District of Arkansas 69-00024
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 18957
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 18958
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit 18959
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Relief Granted:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions: