Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/10pdf/09-1233.pdf
Page Number: 37

Cite as:  563 U. S. ____ (2011) 

31 

Opinion of the Court 

three-judge  court’s  decision  have  confirmed  this  conclu-
sion.  In  October  2010,  the  State  notified  the  Coleman 
District  Court  that  a  substantial  component  of  its  con-
struction plans had been delayed indefinitely by the legis-
lature.  And  even  if  planned  construction  were  to  be 
completed,  the  Plata  Receiver  found  that  many  so-called 
“expansion” plans called for cramming more prisoners into
existing  prisons  without  expanding  administrative  and 
support  facilities.  Juris.  App.  151a–152a.    The  former 
acting  secretary  of  the  California  prisons  explained  that 
these  plans  would  “ ‘compound  the  burdens  imposed  on 
prison  administrators  and  line  staff’’ ”  by  adding  to  the
already  overwhelming  prison  population,  creating  new 
barriers to achievement of a remedy.  Id., at 152a. 

The  three-judge  court  also  rejected  additional  hiring  as
a realistic means to achieve a remedy.  The State for years 
had  been  unable  to  fill  positions  necessary  for  the  ade-
quate  provision  of  medical  and  mental  health  care,  and 
the three-judge court found no reason to expect a change.
Although  the  State  points  to  limited  gains  in  staffing
between 2007 and 2008, the record shows that the prison 
system remained chronically understaffed through trial in
2008.  See supra, at 20.  The three-judge court found that 
violence and other negative conditions caused by crowding 
made it difficult to hire and retain needed staff.  The court 
also  concluded  that  there  would  be  insufficient  space  for 
additional  staff  to  work  even  if  adequate  personnel  could 
somehow  be  retained.  Additional  staff  cannot  help  to
remedy the violation if they have no space in which to see 
and treat patients. 

The three-judge court also did not err, much less commit 
clear  error,  when  it  concluded  that,  absent  a  population
reduction,  continued  efforts  by  the  Receiver  and  Special
Master  would  not  achieve  a  remedy.    Both  the  Receiver 
and  the  Special  Master  filed  reports  stating  that  over-
crowding  posed  a  significant  barrier  to  their  efforts.    The