Case: In Re: Jail Population (New Caldwell Parish Corrections Center)

3:82-cv-00810 | U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Sept. 10, 1982

Closed Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This is one of a collection of § 1983 inmate cases filed in Louisiana federal courts to challenge the operation and conditions of confinement in the Louisiana prison system and in parish and city jails through Louisiana. These cases worked their way through the federal courts for the three decades.In an effort to avoid inconsistent decrees, in Hamilton v. Morial, 644 F.2d 351 (5th Cir. 1981) [See JC-LA-3 of this collection] the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that all federal litigation…

This is one of a collection of § 1983 inmate cases filed in Louisiana federal courts to challenge the operation and conditions of confinement in the Louisiana prison system and in parish and city jails through Louisiana. These cases worked their way through the federal courts for the three decades.

In an effort to avoid inconsistent decrees, in Hamilton v. Morial, 644 F.2d 351 (5th Cir. 1981) [See JC-LA-3 of this collection] the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that all federal litigation then against state, parish or local prison facilities, relating to inmate population issues, be consolidated in the District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. Thereafter, many Louisiana state, parish, and city facilities entered into consent decrees which specified inmate population limits and officer-to-inmate ratios. Since 1981, those facilities were under the judicial oversight of District Judge Frank J. Polozola of the Middle District of Louisiana. Over the years Judge Polozola revised the decrees to adjust population caps and officer-to-prisoner ratios as necessary.

In this case, the original Consent Decree was entered on September 10, 1982 and the case was closed.

On August 4, 1994, District Court Judge Polozola ordered that all cases involving population caps for parish prisons must be reopened and reconsidered.

A modified Stipulation And Consent Decree was approved by Judge Frank J. Polozola on June 18, 1996. The Decree was again modified on February 21, 1997.

The PACER docket reflects that the case was closed on December 23, 1997.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (2/9/2007)

People


Judge(s)

Polozola, Frank Joseph (Louisiana)

Judge(s)

Polozola, Frank Joseph (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:82-cv-00810

Docket (PACER)

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Docket
5

3:82-cv-00810

Consent Decree

June 18, 1996

June 18, 1996

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 24, 2024, 3:07 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

THIS CASE WAS SKELTON DOCKETED ON 8/26/94 (bm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Sept. 9, 1982

Sept. 9, 1982

1

STIPULATION and Consent Decree (bm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Sept. 10, 1982

Sept. 10, 1982

Case closed (bm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Sept. 11, 1982

Sept. 11, 1982

3

ORDER..clerk shall reopen each case involving population limits for parish prisons, and city and local jails and lockups... ( signed by Judge Frank J. Polozola ), issued notices. (bm) Modified on 08/26/1994 (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

Set magistrate assignment. (bm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

Case reopened (bm) (Entered: 08/26/1994)

Aug. 4, 1994

Aug. 4, 1994

4

JAIL POPULATION Cadwell Parish Detention RE: Stipulation and Consent Decree (hcj) Modified on 06/18/1996 (Entered: 06/18/1996)

June 14, 1996

June 14, 1996

5

STIPULATION AND CONSENT DECREE in re: Caldwell Parish Detention Center approved by Judge Frank J. Polozola (hcj) (Entered: 06/18/1996)

June 18, 1996

June 18, 1996

6

LETTER to Judge Polozola from John Whitley RE: Application for proposed Consent Decree Caldwell Correctional Center (hcj) (Entered: 02/28/1997)

Feb. 27, 1997

Feb. 27, 1997

Case closed (rgm) (Entered: 12/23/1997)

Dec. 23, 1997

Dec. 23, 1997

Case Details

State / Territory: Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 10, 1982

Closing Date: Dec. 23, 1997

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Inmates in Caldwell Parish jail.

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

New Caldwell Parish Corrections Center (Caldwell), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1982 - None

Issues

General:

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Crowding / caseload

Type of Facility:

Government-run