Opinion ID: 458728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jail Conditions During Second Subclass Period

Text: 20 With respect to jail conditions during the second subclass period, the jury was instructed: 21 If you find that on and after December 19, 1980, conditions in the Madison County Jail were such that: 22 (a) inmates could not be assured a reasonably safe environment including acts of violence and sexual assault and threats of acts of violence and sexual assault; or 23 (b) inmates were not provided food prepared under safe conditions; or 24 (c) inmates were not provided shelter which did not threaten physical and/or mental degeneration including protection from excessive temperatures and unsanitary conditions; or 25 (d) inmates were not afforded adequate medical care; or 26 (e) in general, the conditions then existing were incompatible with contemporary standards of decency that are the mark of a maturing society, 27 then you may find that conditions in the Madison County Jail on and after December 19, 1980, did not meet minimal constitutional standards. 28 Robert Jones, the director of Madison County Health Department, testified concerning the inspection of the jail's food preparation and storage facility. He stated that on November 12, 1980 the facility received an overall score of 43. He also indicated that the 1980 scores as compared to the 1979 scores were slightly lower. 1 TR. at VII, 46-53. Although this inspection was about one month prior to the beginning of the second subclass period, the jury could have inferred that similar conditions continued into the second subclass period and that the food was not prepared under safe conditions. 29 Darance White had been incarcerated during both subclass periods. He testified that the conditions in March, 1981 were the same as those in September, 1979. TR. at IV, 167. John English had been an inmate during the second subclass period. He testified that the jail was hot, by steaming heat. It was hard to breathe in that heat. TR. at VII, 70. The jury could have concluded that the inmates were not protected from excessive temperatures or unsanitary conditions. 30 While in jail, English observed the brutal homosexual assault on Glen Adkins. 2 Adkins was beaten on two separate days. The prison officials knew nothing of these attacks until informed by English upon his release to go to court. TR. at VII, 86-95. English testified that the prison officials never physically looked at each individual in the cell block, TR. at VII, 92, and that the guards made infrequent weekend checks on the cell block, TR. at VII, 85. English also described the oppressive effect on inmates when confined with an inmate who is a bully. Tr. at VII, 94. From this testimony the jury could have concluded that the inmates were not assured a reasonably safe environment. 31 We conclude that there is ample evidence to support the jury's finding that the jail did not meet constitutional standards during the second subclass period and that the district court erred in entering judgment in favor of the defendants notwithstanding the verdict.