Case: Doe v. Minidoka County

1:87-cv-01356 | U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho

Filed Date: Dec. 11, 1987

Closed Date: 1991

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 11, 1987, a juvenile confined in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jail system filed a class action lawsuit, through his guardian, on behalf of all juveniles who are, have been, or would in the future be confined in Minidoka County and Cassia County Jails. The plaintiff brought his lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the sheriff and county commissioners of Minidoka and Cassia counties in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. Represented by counsel from the Yout…

On December 11, 1987, a juvenile confined in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jail system filed a class action lawsuit, through his guardian, on behalf of all juveniles who are, have been, or would in the future be confined in Minidoka County and Cassia County Jails. The plaintiff brought his lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against the sheriff and county commissioners of Minidoka and Cassia counties in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho. Represented by counsel from the Youth Law Center of San Francisco, the plaintiffs asked the court for declaratory, injunctive, and other equitable relief, alleging that they had been subjected to cruel, unconscionable, and illegal conditions by the defendants while in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jails. The plaintiffs also alleged that they had been illegally incarcerated without separation from adult offenders.

Specifically, the plaintiffs contended that the conditions and practices in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jails violated Section 223(13) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5633(13), and constituted cruel and unusual punishment. In the jails, juveniles had extensive contact with adults in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jails. They had direct contact with adult inmates, who served the juveniles meals in their cells, cleaned the bed linens and clothes. Juveniles had no privacy, and were not afforded reading material, mental or medical health, or recreation. There was no supervision and little staff training.

On June 18, 1990, the Court (Judge Harold L. Ryan) entered a stipulated dismissal of the plaintiffs' claims against Cassia County and the officials and sheriff from Cassia County. The matter was referred to Magistrate Mikel H. Williams, who oversaw several settlement conferences, which resulted in the parties' submission of a settlement agreement in April 1991. Under the agreement the defendants committed to no longer house juveniles in the Cassia County jail except for those who had been certified to be tried as adults.

The Court (Judge Ryan) dismissed the case with prejudice on June 6, 1991.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Stacey Jensen (5/31/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Ryan, Harold Lyman (Idaho)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bell, James Raymond (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Bywater, Stephen (Idaho)

Penland, Paul S. (Idaho)

Sasser, David (Idaho)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:87-cv-01356

Docket [PACER]

June 3, 1991

June 3, 1991

Docket

1:87-cv-01356

Amended Civil Rights Complaint for Declaratory, Injunctive, and other Equitable and Relief (Class Action)

March 9, 1988

March 9, 1988

Complaint

1:87-cv-01356

Settlement Agreement (Draft)

Feb. 1, 1990

Feb. 1, 1990

Settlement Agreement

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:01 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
4

COMPLAINT for civil rights (Summons(es) issued) (jb) (Entered: 06/14/1990)

Dec. 11, 1987

Dec. 11, 1987

26

ANSWER by defendants Cassia County, Billy R Crystal, Weldon Beck, Norman Daily, and John Adams (jb) (Entered: 06/14/1990)

May 2, 1988

May 2, 1988

34

ORDER by Honorable Harold L. Ryan Case Mgmt ddl - plas' proposed notice to class due 4/27/90 (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 06/14/1990)

March 26, 1990

March 26, 1990

38

NOTICE OF STATUS CONF - set for 9/28/90 at l0:00 am in Boise, to be initiated by office of HLR (cc:attys) (jb) (Entered: 06/14/1990)

June 7, 1990

June 7, 1990

39

STIPULATION for dismissal w/prejudice of all pla's claims against dfts Cassia County, Billy Crystal, Weldon Beck, Norman Dailey and John Adams (jb) (Entered: 06/19/1990)

June 18, 1990

June 18, 1990

40

ORDER by Honorable Harold L. Ryan dismissing w/prejudice all pla's claims against dfts John Adams, Norman Daily, Weldon Beck, Billy R Crystal, and Cassia County (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 06/19/1990)

June 18, 1990

June 18, 1990

LODGED: settlement agreement (sealed) (jb) (Entered: 06/19/1990)

June 18, 1990

June 18, 1990

41

ORDER OF REFERENCE by Honorable Harold L. Ryan referring status conference to Magistrate Mikel H. Williams (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 11/13/1990)

Nov. 9, 1990

Nov. 9, 1990

42

NOTICE OF TELEPHONE STATUS CONFERENCE ; Status Conference set for 4:00 on 1/10/91 in Boise before MHW (jb)

Dec. 12, 1990

Dec. 12, 1990

43

NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE before Magistrate Williams; Status Conference set for 1/10/91 @ 4:00 vacated and reset for 4:00 1/28/91 (mn)

Jan. 4, 1991

Jan. 4, 1991

44

ORDER OF REFERENCE by Honorable Harold L. Ryan Case referred to Magistrate Mikel H. Williams for all pretrial matters and status conference. (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 01/07/1991)

Jan. 4, 1991

Jan. 4, 1991

45

MINUTES OF STATUS CONFERENCE; pla's to file copy of notice posted in mails w/court; another status conf set 3/4/91 at 3:00 pm (jb) (Entered: 01/30/1991)

Jan. 29, 1991

Jan. 29, 1991

46

NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE ; Telephonic Status Conference set for 3:00 pm on 3/4/91, Mr. Bell to initiate call (jb)

Jan. 30, 1991

Jan. 30, 1991

47

NOTICE to all juveniles 18 years or under detained in the Minidoka County Jail by Christine Cross of the Youth Law Center (jb)

Feb. 8, 1991

Feb. 8, 1991

48

MINUTES OF STATUS CONFERENCE; for status conference ; Another Telephonic Status Conference set for 3:00 pm on 4/5/91, Parties have 15 days to draft a settlement agreement (gl) (Entered: 03/06/1991)

March 4, 1991

March 4, 1991

49

NOTICE OF HEARING telephone conference call set 4/5/91 at 3:00 pm (cc: all counsel) (gl) (Entered: 03/06/1991)

March 5, 1991

March 5, 1991

50

ORDER by Magistrate Mikel H. Williams ; tele status conf held 3/4/91; that pla prepare and submit a copy of the settlement agreement to dfts by 3/25/91 ; that a tele status conf is set for 4/5/91 at 3:00 pm MST, Mr. Peland to initiate call; that between the submission by pla of settlement agreement and the tele status conf set for 4/5/91, counsel shall meet and confer on language of the settlement agreement and on attys fees (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 03/11/1991)

March 8, 1991

March 8, 1991

51

MINUTES OF STATUS CONFERENCE; parties advised court they had settled case; parties will submit stipulation after signatures are obtained on 4/26/91 (jb) (Entered: 04/10/1991)

April 5, 1991

April 5, 1991

52

STIPULATION for dismissal w/prejudice of all plas' claims against dfts Minidoka County, Ray Jarvis, Norman Seibold, Lyle Barton and Clarence Bellem (jb) (Entered: 06/04/1991)

June 3, 1991

June 3, 1991

53

ORDER for dismissal w/prejudice of plas' claims against dfts Minidoka County, Ray Jarvis, Norman Seibold, Lyle Barton and Clarence Bellem by Honorable Harold L. Ryan dismissing case (cc: all counsel) (jb) (Entered: 06/04/1991)

June 3, 1991

June 3, 1991

Case Details

State / Territory: Idaho

Case Type(s):

Juvenile Institution

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 11, 1987

Closing Date: 1991

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

all past, present and future juveniles confined in the Minidoka and Cassia County Jails

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

Youth Law Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Granted

Defendants

Minidoka and Cassia County Jail system, County

Minidoka County Jail (Minidoka), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Juvenile Justice Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5672

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Freedom of speech/association

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Mixed

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree

Order Duration: 1991 - 0

Issues

General:

Bathing and hygiene

Food service / nutrition / hydration

Juveniles

Recreation / Exercise

Sanitation / living conditions

Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Library (non-law) access

Youth / Adult separation

Crowding / caseload

Medical/Mental Health:

Medical care, general

Mental health care, general

Type of Facility:

Government-run