Case: U.S. v. Wyandotte County

2:70-cv-03163 | U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Filed Date: June 5, 1970

Closed Date: Jan. 29, 1974

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The Attorney General of the United States filed a lawsuit on June 5, 1970, under Sections 301(a) and (b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000b, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The Attorney General was seeking an injunction against the Wyandotte County Jail regarding an alleged policy of racial segregation within the jail. On May 9, 1972, the district court (Chief Judge Wesley E. Brown) found that there was segregation within the jail but dismissed…

The Attorney General of the United States filed a lawsuit on June 5, 1970, under Sections 301(a) and (b) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000b, in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. The Attorney General was seeking an injunction against the Wyandotte County Jail regarding an alleged policy of racial segregation within the jail. On May 9, 1972, the district court (Chief Judge Wesley E. Brown) found that there was segregation within the jail but dismissed the complaint and denied relief because it found that the segregation was not intentional and was part of an effort to protect inmates. United States v. Wyandotte County, 343 F.Supp. 1189 (D. Kan. 1972). On appeal, the Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (per curiam) reversed and remanded for further proceedings because conditions in the jail did not warrant segregation. United States v. Wyandotte County, 480 F.2d 969 (10th Cir. 1973). The court stated that segregation is permissible for the protection of inmates in situations of unusual stress but that the record in this case did not justify segregation in Wyandotte County. The case was remanded for further proceedings.

On January 29, 1974, Judge Brown ordered the defendants permanently enjoined from discriminating against any prisoner in the operation of the Wyandotte County Jail or any other penal facility. He ordered the defendants to implement a standard system of prisoner classification not related to race, religion, or national origin and required defendants to submit a report to the court within thirty days of the complete desegregation of the Wyandotte County Jail. The court retained jurisdiction of the case.

Summary Authors

Angela Heverling (4/10/2006)

People


Judge(s)

Barrett, James Emmett (Colorado)

Brown, Wesley Ernest (Kansas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Bourne, Richard W. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Foster, Robert J. (Kansas)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Duncan, Harold E. (Oklahoma)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

72-cv-03163

Docket Sheet

Aug. 1, 1997

Aug. 1, 1997

Docket

72-cv-03163

Resolution of the Ad Hoc Committee of Citizens for the Improvement of the County Jail

No Court

Oct. 16, 1968

Oct. 16, 1968

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Proposed Title III Litigation Against Wyandotte County, Kansas Regarding the Segregated Wyandotte County Jail

No Court

April 24, 1970

April 24, 1970

Internal memorandum

72-cv-03163

Complaint

June 5, 1970

June 5, 1970

Complaint

Correspondence to Attorney General

No Court

June 25, 1970

June 25, 1970

Correspondence

72-cv-03163

Legal Memo on Caselaw Relative to Prisoners' Rights

July 15, 1970

July 15, 1970

Internal memorandum

Correspondence

No Court

July 16, 1970

July 16, 1970

Internal memorandum

2:70-cv-03163

Correspondence

Nov. 27, 1970

Nov. 27, 1970

Correspondence

72-cv-03163

DOJ File Memorandum

Feb. 26, 1971

Feb. 26, 1971

Internal memorandum

2:70-cv-03163

LEAA Assistance with Respect to Pending Suit Against Wyandotte County, Kansas, Jail

April 12, 1971

April 12, 1971

Internal memorandum

Docket

Last updated Feb. 15, 2024, 3:03 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: Kansas

Case Type(s):

Jail Conditions

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 5, 1970

Closing Date: Jan. 29, 1974

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

United States Department of Justice

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Wyandotte County Jail (Kansas City, Wabaunsee), County

Case Details

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Order Duration: 1974 - None

Issues

General:

Racial segregation

Discrimination-basis:

Race discrimination