Case: Katka v. State of Montana

BDV 2009-1163 | Montana state trial court

Filed Date: 2009

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

In 2009, a teenaged prisoner with mental illness who spent over a year in solitary confinement filed a lawsuit in the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, under Montana state law, against the State of Montana . Plaintiff, represented by the Montana ACLU, asked the court for injunctive relief.On March 30, 2012, the parties reached a partial settlement. Under the settlement, 1) juveniles cannot be placed in solitary confinement or behavior management programs for more th…

In 2009, a teenaged prisoner with mental illness who spent over a year in solitary confinement filed a lawsuit in the Montana First Judicial District Court, Lewis and Clark County, under Montana state law, against the State of Montana . Plaintiff, represented by the Montana ACLU, asked the court for injunctive relief.

On March 30, 2012, the parties reached a partial settlement. Under the settlement, 1) juveniles cannot be placed in solitary confinement or behavior management programs for more than 72 hours without the approval of the director of the Department of Corrections, 2) juveniles will initially be placed in the lowest category of confinement unless they have a significant institutional history or have been convicted of a severe offense, 3) classification of juvenile inmates will take into account their unique needs for education and mental and medical treatment and their lack of full maturity, 4) mentally ill prisoners cannot be placed into solitary confinement if it is determined it will harm their mental health, and those who are placed in solitary confinement must receive private treatment sessions with a mental health professional as often as necessary, and 5) suicidal inmates cannot be placed in behavior management programs.

No docket is available, for this court. But this case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Gregory Pitt (7/23/2012)

People


Attorney for Plaintiff

Ellingson, Jon (Montana)

Giuttari, Jennifer (Montana)

Griffing, Betsy (Montana)

Larose, Andree (Montana)

Attorney for Defendant

Davis, Maxon R. (Montana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

Press Release

No Court

April 16, 2011

April 16, 2011

Press Release

BDV 2009-1163

Settlement Agreement

March 30, 2012

March 30, 2012

Settlement Agreement

Resources

Docket

Last updated Aug. 30, 2023, 1:47 p.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Montana

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Key Dates

Filing Date: 2009

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Juvenile prisoner in Montana State Prison System.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: Unknown

Class Action Sought: Unknown

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

State of Montana, State

Montana Department of Corrections, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Order Duration: 2012 - 0

Content of Injunction:

Reporting

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Conditions of confinement

Juveniles

Suicide prevention

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Confinement/isolation

Disability and Disability Rights:

Mental impairment

Medical/Mental Health:

Mental health care, unspecified

Suicide prevention

Type of Facility:

Government-run