NCJ Number
101891
Journal
New England Journal on Criminal and Civil Confinement Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1986) Pages: 1-69
Date Published
1986
Length
69 pages
Annotation
This description of the mechanisms and procedures used to implement a remedial decree concerning inmate legal access in Ruiz v. Estelle (Texas, 1980) elucidates the role of the special master or monitor in such cases.
Abstract
In this case, movement proceeded from the court's opinion detailing access rights, to the formulation of an implementation plan, its monitoring by the special master's office, the writing of a compliance report, and the final translation of the report's recommendations into practical directives. Information gathering and monitoring included site visits and physical inspections, interviews with prison officials, inmate correspondence and interviews, and questionnaire surveys of prison personnel and inmates' attorneys. Among issues examined during the monitoring process were staff interference with or harassment of inmates involved in legal activities, dissemination of access rules to inmates, law library adequacy, inmate access to the library, legal access of segregated inmates, storage of and access to inmates' personal legal materials, inmate request and complaint procedures, inmate legal services and attorney visitation, and legal mail. 111 notes.