Broward County Jail Conditions Subject to Consent Decree
The Broward County Sheriff entered into a consent Decree to settle a class action lawsuit challenging the conditions at the County’s jails.
The suit, filed in 1976, resulted in the federal district court overseeing the litigation to determine the conditions of confinement were unconstitutional. The county continued to exceed population caps set by court until the summer of 1992 despite a $1,000 per day fine levied for exceeding the cap.
The parties reached the Consent Decree on July 27, 1994. It required compliance with standards on Classification, Religious Practice, Use of Force, Housing, Recreation, Visitation, Programs, Medical, Dental and Mental Health Services, Capability and the Process to Achieve Compliance.
The agreement provided for a Compliance Monitor and an award of $25,000 each to lead plaintiffs Ollie Carruthers, Thomas Zervos, and Gerald Tice. It also provided for an award of attorney fees via monthly statements. See: Carruthers v. Cochran, USDC, S.D. Florida, case No. 76- civ-WMH.
As a digital subscriber to Prison Legal News, you can access full text and downloads for this and other premium content.
Already a subscriber? Login
Related legal case
Carruthers v. Cochran
| Year | 1994 |
|---|---|
| Cite | USDC, S.D. Florida, case No. 76- civ-WMH. |
| Level | District Court |
| Conclusion | Settlement |
| Damages | 75,000 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |