Case: U.S. v. Elrod

1:76-04768 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: Dec. 29, 1976

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 29, 1976, the United States filed a lawsuit against the Cook County Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois. The United States sought injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and inadequate visitation at the Department of Corrections constituted violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the individuals incarcerated there. The United States further alleged that the defendants we…

On December 29, 1976, the United States filed a lawsuit against the Cook County Department of Corrections in the U.S. District Court for the District of Illinois. The United States sought injunctive relief, alleging that the conditions of overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and inadequate visitation at the Department of Corrections constituted violations of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the individuals incarcerated there. The United States further alleged that the defendants were housing inmates on the basis of race, and that the defendants had breached contractual conditions attached to funds, which had been received for the construction of correctional facilities.

The Cook County Department of Corrections, which housed persons awaiting trial, received federal funding pursuant to the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, 42 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq. The United States alleged that inmates were assigned to the housing units at the facilities operated by the Cook County Department of Corrections on the basis of their race or color, creating housing units containing only black inmates.

The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that the United States lacked standing to bring an action to protect the constitutional rights of third persons. On January 26, 1979, the District Court (Judge Hubert Louis Will) dismissed the constitutional claims, stayed the proceedings regarding the contractual claims, on the grounds that those claims should first be adjudicated through administrative proceedings, and ruled that the government had stated a claim as to the allegations of racial discrimination. The United States appealed the stay of the contractual claims and the dismissal of the constitutional claims. On August 4, 1980, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Judge Richard Dickson Cudahy) held that the contractual claims did not need to first be adjudicated through administrative proceedings, and that the standing of the government as to the constitutional claims was governed by the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), 42 U.S.C. § 1997 et seq. United States v. Elrod, 627 F.2d 813 (7th Cir. 1980). The court remanded the case to give the government an opportunity to comply with the statutory requirements of CRIPA, which had been enacted while the appeal was pending.

After negotiation, the parties reached an agreement. On January 4, 1980, the District Court (Judge Will) entered a consent decree. The consent decree provided that the defendants would not discriminate against or segregate any inmate or group of inmates on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The agreement further provided that the defendants would not use any criteria or methods of administration to for assignment or classification, which would have the purpose or effect of discriminating against or segregating inmates on the basis of race, color, or national origin. The National Institute of Corrections was to develop a comprehensive plan consistent with the consent decree. The plan described in detail the classification procedures to be used by the Department of Corrections, and was docketed on December 17, 1982.

We have no further information on this case.

Summary Authors

Kaitlin Corkran (6/13/2006)

Richard Jolly (10/25/2014)

People


Judge(s)

Cudahy, Richard Dickson (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Days, Drew S. III (District of Columbia)

Dimsey, Dennis J. (District of Columbia)

Groenberg, Robert T. (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Daley, Richard M. (Illinois)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:76-04768

Defendants' Compliance with Consent Decree, Pars. D and E Classification Plan

Jan. 4, 1980

Jan. 4, 1980

Pleading / Motion / Brief

1:76-04768

Consent Decree

Jan. 4, 1980

Jan. 4, 1980

Order/Opinion

79-01394

Opinion

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Aug. 4, 1980

Aug. 4, 1980

Order/Opinion

627 F.2d 627

1:76-04768

Cook County Dept. of Corrections, Initial Classification Review

April 1, 1982

April 1, 1982

Statute/Ordinance/Regulation

Docket

Last updated Jan. 23, 2024, 3:22 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 29, 1976

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

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

Cook County Department of Corrections (Cook), County

Cook County Jail (Cook), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

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: 1980 - 0

Issues

General:

Classification / placement

Jails, Prisons, Detention Centers, and Other Institutions:

Visiting

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination

Type of Facility:

Government-run