Opinion ID: 457730
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Showers

Text: 28 The inmates also complain of restrictions placed on the number of showers allowed them each week. The district court found that Marquette general population inmates received three five-minute showers per week, reduced from six received weekly prior to the riot. Those in administrative segregation continued to receive only one shower per week, as before. 29 At the Jackson Central Complex, the general population and inmates in Cell Blocks 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, and 12, were allowed to shower daily, but only as an alternative for a meal or yard period, not the same procedure as before the riots. Those in administrative segregation were found to be allowed only one shower every eight to eleven days, down from the pre-riot allotment of once per week. 30 At the Northside Complex, assigned inmates were found to be able to shower daily during their yard periods. On the other hand, unassigned inmates received only one shower per week. Before the riots, on the other hand, all Northside inmates were allowed daily showers. The trial court made no specific findings regarding showers at Ionia; thus there appears to be no issue that showers at that prison are unduly restricted. 31 The district court concluded that at Marquette the shower allotment was not unconstitutional. 544 F.Supp. at 360. Recognizing that sanitation is an important prison concern, the court concluded that the shower allotment presented no danger to personal hygiene and sanitation. As to the Jackson Central and Northside Complexes, however, the court ordered that the general population inmates be granted three showers per week, separate and apart from allotted yard time, in view of the requirement that to obtain a shower one would have to forego either meal or yard time. The court also directed that inmates in administrative segregation be allowed a minimum of one shower each week. Although somewhat troubled by the conclusions of the district court in regard to Jackson as they differ from Marquette to some slight degree, we are disposed to agree that the court's findings and conclusions are generally appropriate as stating minimal constitutional standards in respect to showers. 5 Because we remand the yard time issue, we express no opinion whether inmates who choose to shower must be afforded additional yard or meal time. 32 We recognize that sanitation is a major concern in prisons today. See Rhodes, 452 U.S. 337, 101 S.Ct. at 2392. In Preston v. Thompson, 589 F.2d 300 (7th Cir.1978), the court held that a district court could, within its proper role, order that inmates be afforded two showers per week. Likewise, in Dorrough v. Hogan, 563 F.2d 1259 (5th Cir.1977), the court upheld access to showers at least two times per week. We therefore AFFIRM the district court's order that prisoners in administrative segregation at Jackson, not in frequent contact with others, be afforded at least one shower per week as a constitutional minimum, and that general population inmates receive three showers per week, as being in substantial conformity with the precedent noted. Finally, we agree with the district court's order that inmates at Marquette be allowed to wear appropriate clothing while walking to the showers.