Case: U.S. v. Tupelo City

1:94-cv-00312 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: Nov. 14, 1994

Closed Date: Dec. 30, 2003

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This was a case brought by the Justice Department against Tupelo City, Mississippi regarding the conditions at the Tupelo City Jail. Defendants included the City of Tupelo, the Mayor of Tupelo, the Chief of Police of Tupelo, and members of the Tupelo City Counsel, represented by Guy Mitchell III, the Tupelo City Attorney.The case was brought pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. An investigation was opened in May of 1993 focusing on allegations concerning security and s…

This was a case brought by the Justice Department against Tupelo City, Mississippi regarding the conditions at the Tupelo City Jail. Defendants included the City of Tupelo, the Mayor of Tupelo, the Chief of Police of Tupelo, and members of the Tupelo City Counsel, represented by Guy Mitchell III, the Tupelo City Attorney.

The case was brought pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. An investigation was opened in May of 1993 focusing on allegations concerning security and safety, conditions of confinement, structural deficiencies, staffing, medical services, and fire safety. The Justice Department issued a findings letter on November 17, 1993 based on its investigation. The main problems noted were: inadequate security, supervision, medical and mental health services; environmental health and safety deficiencies; and lack of opportunity for inmates to exercise or gain access to legal materials.

Based on correspondence, it appears that a complaint was filed concurrently with a consent decree on November 14, 1994. The docket begins with the filing of the complaint on this date. The District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, (Judge Glen H. Davidson) approved the consent decree several months later, on March 7, 1995. The consent decree provided for the construction of a new jail, drafting of a staff manual delineating general policies and procedures, renovations, increased staffing and training, improvements in medical care and mental health services, and increased access to outdoor exercise, legal materials, and visitation. The consent decree specified that quarterly compliance reports be submitted to the United States and the Court.

According to the docket, eight compliance reports were filed between May 1995 and September 1999, and on September 18, 2003, the United States moved to dismiss the case. On December 30, 2003, the court granted the Motion to Dismiss, dismissed the consent order, vacated the injunction, and terminated jurisdiction over the case.

Summary Authors

Theresa Spaulding (6/4/2005)

People


Judge(s)

Davidson, Glen H. (Mississippi)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Goldschmidt, Iris (District of Columbia)

Moreton, Alfred E. III (District of Columbia)

Patrick, Deval L. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Mitchell, Guy III (Mississippi)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:94-cv-00312

Docket [PACER]

Dec. 30, 2003

Dec. 30, 2003

Docket

Notice Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Tupelo City Jail in Tupelo, Mississippi

No Court

May 3, 1993

May 3, 1993

Notice Letter

Findings Letter re: CRIPA Investigation of the Tupelo City Jail in Tupelo, Mississippi

No Court

Nov. 17, 1993

Nov. 17, 1993

Findings Letter/Report

Re: U.S. v. City of Tupelo, MS

No Court

Nov. 8, 1994

Nov. 8, 1994

Correspondence
1

1:94-cv-00312

Complaint

Nov. 14, 1994

Nov. 14, 1994

Complaint
2

1:94-cv-00312

Consent Order

Nov. 22, 1994

Nov. 22, 1994

Order/Opinion

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT for violations of inmate rights under Civil Rights of Institutionalized persons statutes (dlh) (Entered: 11/16/1994)

Nov. 14, 1994

Nov. 14, 1994

NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT Judge Glen H. Davidson and Magistrate Judge Jerry A. Davis (dlh)

Nov. 16, 1994

Nov. 16, 1994

2

CONSENT ORDER ( signed by Judge Glen H. Davidson on 3/7/95) (dlh)

March 7, 1995

March 7, 1995

Case closed (dlh)

March 7, 1995

March 7, 1995

3

COMPLIANCE REPORT by City of Tupelo as required under consent decree entered 3/7/95 (jsw)

May 8, 1995

May 8, 1995

Compliance Report fled by City of Tupelo (dlh)

July 6, 1995

July 6, 1995

4

COMPLIANCE REPORT by City of Tupelo as required under consent decree entered 3/7/95 (jsw)

Jan. 23, 1996

Jan. 23, 1996

5

Compliance Report filed by City of Tupelo (dlh)

July 2, 1996

July 2, 1996

6

Compliance Report filed by defendant (dlh)

Sept. 17, 1996

Sept. 17, 1996

7

Compliance Report filed by the defendant (jlj)

Dec. 17, 1996

Dec. 17, 1996

8

Complaince Report by City of Tupelo (dlh)

March 24, 1997

March 24, 1997

9

Compliance Report filed by the City of Tupelo (dlh)

Sept. 16, 1999

Sept. 16, 1999

File Sent to FRC - temp (jla)

May 21, 2001

May 21, 2001

10

MOTION by USA to Dismiss (dlh)

Dec. 18, 2003

Dec. 18, 2003

11

ORDER granting [10-1] motion to Dismiss; the court dismissed the Consent Order, vacates the injunction and terminates jurisdiction over this case ( signed by Chief Judge Glen H. Davidson on 12/29/03) Date of Entry: 12/30/03 (dlh)

Dec. 30, 2003

Dec. 30, 2003

Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 14, 1994

Closing Date: Dec. 30, 2003

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Plaintiff Type(s):

U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Tupelo City Jail (Tupelo), City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq.

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

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: 1994 - 2003

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Counseling

Disciplinary procedures

Fire safety

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Mail

Phone

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Suicide prevention

Totality of conditions

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Disciplinary segregation

Law library access

Visiting

Crowding / caseload

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run