Opinion ID: 1339555
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Jail Facilities:

Text: A. Exercise: The primary complaint is the lack of exercise facilities except for a walkway in front of the cells which is approximately twenty-two and one-half feet long and five feet wide. No outdoor exercise is provided even though there are two fenced outdoor areas adjacent to the jail and a larger area behind the jail which could be fenced. One of the petitioners, Hickson, claims that he has been confined for over four months without indoor or outdoor exercise. The petitioners also assert that there is space on the second floor of the jail for a large indoor exercise area but the respondents claim it is not usable because of State fire regulations. The respondents do not deny the lack of outdoor exercise but assert the indoor walkway area is sufficient. The court in Dawson, supra at 1298, dealt with lack of exercise complaints and responded: Undue restrictions on prisoners' opportunities for physical exercise may constitute cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment when they pose an unreasonable threat to the prisoners' physical and mental health. See Clay v. Miller, 626 F.2d 345, 347 (4th Cir.1980); Kirby v. Blackledge, 530 F.2d 583, 586 (4th Cir.1976); Rhem v. Malcolm, 507 F.2d 333, 337 (2d Cir.1974), enforced, 377 F.Supp. 995 (S.D.N.Y.1974), aff'd, 527 F.2d 1041 (2d Cir.1975), enforced, 432 F.Supp. 769 (S.D.N.Y.1977). In Campbell v. Cauthron, 623 F.2d 503 (8th Cir.1980), where pretrial detainees were locked in their cells on a twenty-four hour basis, the court stated: They must, however, provide a meaningful opportunity for exercise. Merely allowing the inmate to walk around in the narrow corridor between the cells does not provide adequate exercise. It is apparent that some outdoor exercise could be provided at little or no cost. We consider the present indoor exercise area standing alone to be insufficient. B. Segregated Confinement: One of the petitioners, Jones, claims he was confined for two days without clothing and blankets. This incident is touched upon in the depositions but there appears to be some dispute as to the circumstances. The respondents contend that the measure was not punitive but a result of his attempted suicide. It does not appear from the record that his confinement was in an isolation cell of the type that has been rather uniformly condemned because there are no hygienic or sleeping facilities. E.g., Kirby v. Blackledge, 530 F.2d 583 (4th Cir.1976); Sweet v. South Carolina Department of Corrections, 529 F.2d 854 (4th Cir.1975); McCray v. Burrell, supra ; Wycoff v. Brewer, 572 F.2d 1260 (8th Cir.1978); Dawson, supra . In the absence of a developed record on this point, we are unable to determine this issue but accord the petitioners the right to develop further facts before the trial court on remand. [5] In the course of oral argument, the respondents indicated a willingness to correct some of the deficiencies outlined above. We anticipate that the parties may well be able to agree on an appropriate corrective plan without the necessity of any prolonged hearings below. We will therefore issue a moulded writ of mandamus directing that the respondents within sixty days from the filing of this opinion detail to the petitioners' counsel such corrective action that they will voluntarily undertake. In the event the matters herein cannot be resolved, the area of disagreement will be heard by the Honorable Larry V. Starcher, who is designated by this Court to sit as a Special Judge of the Circuit Court of Pocahontas County. Writ Granted as Moulded.