Filed Date: May 12, 1972
Closed Date: 1973
Clearinghouse coding complete
On May 12, 1972, a class action lawsuit was filed, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, on behalf of boys confined at the Indiana Boys School (IBS) in Plainfield, Indiana, against the Indiana Department of Corrections. The plaintiffs, represented by the Youth Advocacy Program and Legal Services' Legal Education Program, sought declaratory and injunctive relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, alleging violations of their constitutional rights.
According to the court, juveniles detained at IBS were beaten, isolated, and pharmaceutically tranquilized as punishment for misbehavior. Detainees were required to attend weekly Protestant or Catholic services, regardless of their religious beliefs. IBS censored both incoming and outgoing mail, ostensibly searching for contraband. Finally, IBS did not consistently provide rehabilitative treatment to detainees, although their policies indicated that individualized rehabilitation plans would be developed and implemented for all juveniles.
On June 15, 1972, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana (Judge Robert Allen Grant) held that the conditions of corporal punishment, punitive isolation, and behavior-controlling tranquilizers used as ISB violated the Eighth Amendment's bar on cruel and unusual punishment. Nelson v. Heyne, 355 F. Supp. 451 (N.D. Ind. 1972). The court, however, found that the religious services did not force juveniles to alter their beliefs or practice any religion. The court ordered IBS to cease all unconstitutional practices and develop and implement policies, which would preclude future constitutional violations.
On February 8, 1973, the court (Judge Grant) filed a supplemental opinion in which it held that juveniles have a due process right to rehabilitative treatment. The court ordered both parties file proposed specific findings of fact and conclusions of law to identify specific constitutional standards for programming. Nelson v. Heyne, 355 F. Supp. 451 (N.D. Ind. 1972). On January 31, 1974, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals (Judge Roger Joseph Kiley) affirmed the lower court's rulings. Nelson v. Heyne, 491 F.2d 352 (7th Cir. 1974).
We do not have the pleadings or any information on subsequent proceedings.
Summary Authors
Elizabeth Chilcoat (5/26/2006)
DiGrazia, Thomas A. (Indiana)
Forhan, John P. (Indiana)
Diamond, Darrel K. (Indiana)
Broden, Thomas F. Jr. (Indiana)
Faust, Ralph (Missouri)
Grant, Robert Allen (Illinois)
Kiley, Roger Joseph (Illinois)
Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:25 a.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Indiana
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 12, 1972
Closing Date: 1973
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Boys confined at the Indiana Boys School in Plainfield, Indiana.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Granted
Defendants
Indiana Department of Corrections (Plainfield), State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Mixed
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Order Duration: 1972 - 0
Issues
General:
Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:
Affected Sex or Gender:
Type of Facility: