Opinion ID: 2995601
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Jail Policies

Text: Sheriff Cottey and his staff devised several policies for the protection of detainees that were in place at the time of Butera’s assault. First, he instituted a classification scheme under which the Jail housed detainees. The Jail not only classified and assigned detainees by sex and age, but also by behavior. With respect to behavior, the Jail separated detainees with a history of violence from others. Cellblock 2-I housed males who had been arrested for violent crimes. The Jail also isolated detainees who exhibited extremely violent behavior and restricted their activities. Jail policy also required correctional officers to make clock rounds through each cellblock at least once per hour in order to ensure detainee safety and prevent violence. During the clock rounds, the correctional officers approached the respective cellblock, spoke to the detainees, and determined whether any of them needed assistance. The policy provided that if a detainee informed Jail personnel that he was having a problem with another detainee and identified that detainee, one of the two detainees would be transferred to another cellblock. In addition, call cards were available in every cellblock. Detainees could write a note to a correctional officer on a call card to request protection or identify a specific problem that they were having. Correctional officers picked up call cards every time that they were in a cellblock. In addition to their hourly rounds, correctional officers monitored each cellblock three times a day to distribute meals and pick up trays and utensils afterwards. At those times, detainees could approach the officers to request protection or report problems, or could place a call card on his meal tray for the correctional officer to pick up. Detainees were also able to leave their cellblocks every day for attorney visits, court dates, sick calls, or to attend Jail church services or school classes. During these times, correctional officers were present to respond to detainee requests or problems. After his assault, Butera brought suit in the Southern District of Indiana, claiming that the Sheriff, knowing about an imminent and serious risk of harm to him, maintained detainee housing and protection policies that were inadequate. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Sheriff, holding that Butera had failed to present sufficient evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact.