Dunn et al v. Thomas et al

Filing 3795

REVISED REMEDY SCHEDULING ORDER ON PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2A ADA CLAIMS AND PHASE 2A EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIM: it is ORDERED that the court adopts the parties' proposals (Doc. 3791 & Doc. 3794 ) and that the deadlines and dates for the Phases 1 and 2A remedy scheduling order for the ADA and Eighth Amendment claims remain and are revised as set forth below, as further set out in order. Signed by Honorable Judge Myron H. Thompson on 9/8/2022. (wcl, )

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA, NORTHERN DIVISION EDWARD BRAGGS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. JOHN HAMM, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, et al., Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 2:14cv601-MHT (WO) REVISED REMEDY SCHEDULING ORDER ON PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2A ADA CLAIMS AND PHASE 2A EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIM Now before the court are the parties’ submissions regarding the safe functioning of RHUs and redressing correctional-staffing levels (Doc. 3791 & Doc. 3794), which submissions include their desire to continue mediation subject to further reporting obligations every 21 days. Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the court adopts the parties’ proposals (Doc. 3791 & Doc. 3794) and that the deadlines and dates for the Phases 1 and 2A remedy scheduling order for the ADA and Eighth Amendment claims remain and are revised as set forth below. 2 OLD DATES I. GENERAL The effective date of the Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order. (Doc. 3464) at § 1.3. Troy Connell’s motion to intervene (Doc. 3633 & Doc. 3634-1). Oral argument held on 8/15/2022. Troy Connell’s requests for judicial notice (Doc. 3655 & Doc. 3659). Oral argument held on 8/15/2022. II. PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2A ADA CLAIMS The court granted an extension of the Phase 2A ADA consent decree as to Adaptive Behavior/Life Skills Training and associated Beta III/IV testing, with an updated date of termination as to those provisions. Order (Doc. 3787). Status conference: Discussion of the parties’ joint status report on their mediation efforts before Judge Ott concerning the Phase 1 and Phase 2A ADA Consent Decrees (Doc. 3778). (Doc. 728 & Doc. 1291). (Doc. 3762). III. PHASE 2A EIGHTH AMENDMENT CLAIM MONITORING The parties filed a joint report updating the court on their progress with respect to Karen Rea’s replacing Catherine Knox as the EMT’s nurse. (Doc. 3792). At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally their progress with respect to executing contracts with all EMT members. (Doc. 3769). 3/9/2022 Under submission Under submission 10/1/2023 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. Under submission 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. 3 NEW DATES CORRECTIONAL STAFFING The defendants must submit correctional staffing reports to the court and the EMT. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.1.6. By agreement of the parties, the defendants are to submit these reports on the dates set forth in the Phase 2A Understaffing Remedial Order (Doc. 1657) at § 4, namely, March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year. The parties submitted a joint filing concerning a proposal for the mediation and development of a concrete plan to address ADOC’s still grossly inadequate correctional staffing levels and a method to assess and reassess over time the effectiveness of the steps taken pursuant to that plan. (Doc. 3791). The court adopted the parties’ proposal and ordered joint reports on the same to be filed every 21 days. At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally their efforts as to mediation of the correctional staffing issues above. (Doc. 3764). The formatting for the correctional staffing reports shall be further revised, if necessary, based on input from the EMT. See Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order (Doc. 3464) at § 2.1.6. The defendants proposed that they begin developing ADOC’s policy related to correctional staffing analysis by March 28, 2022. See Defs.’ Proposal Regarding ADOC’s Staffing Unit (Doc. 3546). On April 20, 2022, the defendants filed a notice that they had “initiated the creation of a policy to provide instruction on developing and maintaining a On March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year Status report due 9/27/22 and every 21 days thereafter 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. To be determined Done 4 correctional staffing analysis.” Defs.’ Notice (Doc. 3558) at 2. See below the process as to how to keep the court and the EMT abreast of the defendants’ continued progress in updating the correctional staffing analysis. The defendants proposed that they begin collecting information from ADOC’s major facilities for updating the Savages’ 2018 staffing analysis by April 1, 2022. See Defs.’ Proposal Regarding ADOC’s Staffing Unit (Doc. 3546). On April 20, 2022, the defendants filed a notice that they had “initiated the collection of necessary documents from ADOC’s major facilities to facilitate updating the Savages’ 2018 staffing analysis.” Defs.’ Notice (Doc. 3558) at 2. See below for the process for keeping the court and the EMT abreast of the defendants’ continued progress in updating the correctional staffing analysis. The defendants proposed that they begin visiting ADOC’s major facilities to gather information for updating the Savages’ 2018 staffing analysis by May 1, 2022. See Defs.’ Proposal Regarding ADOC’s Staffing Unit (Doc. 3546). On May 3, 2022, the defendants filed a notice that they had “coordinated with Russ and Meg Savage ... to conduct tours of two (2) major facilities ... on May 4-6, 2022.” Defs.’ Notice (Doc. 3565) at 2. See below the process as to how to keep the court and the EMT abreast of the defendants’ continued progress in updating the correctional staffing analysis. Coordinator Cheryl Price and other members of the agency staffing unit, or “resource planning unit,” are to Done Done 9/16/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 5 participate in the training program on correctional staffing analysis taught by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). In light of the defendants’ representation that ADOC was not yet selected to participate in the NIC’s training programs, see Defs.’ Status Reports (Doc. 3563, Doc. 3663 & Doc. 3702), and pursuant to the court’s order requiring defendants to continue to pursue such training (Doc. 3756), the defendants shall file a report on the status of their efforts. At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally the issue of ADOC’s participation in the training program on correctional staffing analysis taught by the NIC. (Doc. 3756). The parties are to file a joint status report updating the court as to their progress to develop a plan for the plaintiffs to discuss with Russ and Meg Savage their role in updating the correctional staffing analysis. The parties may mediate the issue with Judge Ott if necessary. (Doc. 3756). At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally the issue of the development of a plan for the plaintiffs to discuss with Russ and Meg Savage their role in updating the correctional staffing analysis. (Doc. 3756). Pursuant to the court’s order requiring the defendants to keep the court, the EMT, and the plaintiffs abreast of the defendants’ continued progress in updating the correctional staffing analysis (Doc. 3757), the defendants shall file reports on their progress in updating 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. 9/16/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. First non-court-holiday business day of each month, beginning September 2022 6 their correctional staffing analysis. The defendants report that they have obtained information from more than half of ADOC’s major facilities for updating the Savages’ 2018 staffing analysis. (Doc. 3663). Per the defendants’ proposal, the defendants are to complete the information as to the remaining facilities by August 31, 2022. See Defs.’ Notice (Doc. 3663) at 3-4. The defendants shall file a notice with the court confirming that they have met this deadline. The defendants are to complete the update to the Savages’ 2018 staffing analysis. The defendants shall file a notice with the court confirming that they have met this deadline. The defendants must develop with the Savages, and submit to the court, realistic benchmarks for the level of correctional staffing ADOC will attain by December 31 of 2022, 2023, and 2024 respectively to put ADOC on track to fill all mandatory and essential posts by July 1, 2025. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.1.5. Deadline by which ADOC must fill all mandatory and essential posts at the level indicated in the most recent staffing analysis at that time. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.1.4. MENTAL-HEALTH STAFFING The defendants must submit mental-health staffing reports to the court and the EMT. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.2.4. By agreement of the parties, the defendants are to submit these reports on the dates set forth in the Phase 2A Understaffing Remedial Order (Doc. 1657) at § 4, namely, March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year. 9/9/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 11/1/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 12/1/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 7/1/2025 On March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year 7 The parties filed reports on what the most recent quarterly mental-health staffing reports to the court reflect. (Doc. 3709 & Doc. 3749). At the status conference on August 15, 2022, the court decided to take no action. Instead, it decided to revisit the issue later. (Doc. 3766). Accordingly, the plaintiffs are to file a report with an update on what the most recent quarterly mental-health staffing reports to the court reflect. In doing so, the plaintiffs should also address what the court identified as an apparent disagreement on the appropriate method for comparison of ADOC’s mental-health staffing levels against the levels set forth by the mental-health staffing ratios and mental-health staffing matrix incorporated in Sections 2.2.1 and 2.2.3 of the Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order (Doc. 3464), including what efforts, if any, they have made at mediation with Judge Ott if the parties continue to disagree. (Doc. 3766). The defendants are to file a response to the plaintiffs’ report regarding the quarterly mental-health staffing reports, including the disagreement noted above. (Doc. 3766). They should also note what efforts, if any, they have made at mediation with Judge Ott if the parties continue to disagree. At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally what the most recent updates on the quarterly mental-health staffing reports to the court reflect. They should also be prepared to address any efforts at mediation with Judge 10/28/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 11/4/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 11/10/2022 at 9:00 a.m. 8 Ott regarding the disagreement noted above. The formatting for the mental-health staffing reports shall be revised, if necessary, based on input from the EMT. See Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order (Doc. 3464) at § 2.2.4. The EMT shall review ADOC’s mental-health staffing ratios and, if necessary, make recommendations for revising them. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.2.2. Deadline by which ADOC must achieve the staffing levels set forth in the staffing matrix previously approved by the court in the Phase 2A Order and Injunction on Mental-Health Staffing Remedy (Doc. 2688), subject to any subsequent modifications. (Doc. 3464) at § 2.2.3. RESTRICTIVE HOUSING The defendants must file with the court and the EMT reports on each inmate who has been in restrictive housing for longer than 72 hours under exceptional circumstances during that week. (Doc. 3464) at § 3.1.4, (Doc. 3557), and (Doc. 3771). The parties submitted a joint proposal on revising the format of the weekly SMI reports in light of the Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order (Doc. 3464) at § 3.1.4; see also order (Doc. 3557). (Doc. 3706). The court has adopted the proposal with two modifications. (Doc. 3771). The defendants are to begin using the revised format as of this date. (Doc. 3771). The court required the parties to file reports on what the most recent weekly SMI reports to the court reflect (trends, etc., if any). While the reports raised serious concerns, the court To be determined Beginning one year from the initiation of monitoring 7/1/2025 On a weekly basis 9/27/2022 11/4/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 9 decided at the August 15, 2022, status conference not take any immediate action, albeit with the understanding that the EMT will examine the concerns closely in the very near future and that, otherwise, the court will reconsider looking into the issue itself. (Doc. 3768). According, the parties are to file a joint report on whether the EMT is now looking into the concerns and whether the court should reconsider looking into the concerns itself. At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally the issue of whether the EMT is addressing the court’s concerns about what the weekly SMI reports to the court reflect and whether the court should reconsider looking into the concerns itself. (Doc. 3768). The parties submitted a joint filing concerning a proposal for the mediation and development of plan that will allow ADOC’s RHUs (with the exception of the RHU at Tutwiler) to function safely with the correctional staff that ADOC currently employs. (Doc. 3794). The court adopted the parties’ proposal and ordered joint reports on the same to be filed every 21 days. At a status conference, the parties are to update the court on their efforts with regard to mediation of the RHU issue above. (Doc. 3763). The Phase 2A omnibus remedial order provided that all RHU cells must be cleaned by June 8, 2022. (Doc. 3464) at § 3.1.1. The defendants filed a notice with the court confirming that they have met this deadline. (Doc. 3698). Based on the representations made at the 11/10/2022 at 9:00 a.m. Status report due 9/27/22 and every 21 days thereafter 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. 11/4/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 10 status conference on August 15, the court stated that it will not take any immediate action with respect to the continued cleanliness of RHU cells, albeit with the expectation that the EMT will monitor the issue as soon as it is fully operational. (Doc. 3770). The court stated that it would revisit the issue later in light of the status of the EMT at that time. (Doc. 3770). Accordingly, the parties are to file a joint report on whether the EMT is monitoring the issue of the continued cleanliness of RHU cells and, if not, whether the court itself needs to take further action. (Doc. 3770). At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to address orally the issue of the continued cleanliness of RHU cells. (Doc. 3770). Deadline by which all RHU cells must comply with the conditions set forth in Lindsay M. Hayes’s Checklist for the “Suicide-Resistant” Design of Correctional Facilities (Doc. 3206-5). (Doc. 3464) at § 3.1.3. Stayed pursuant to opinion and order on motion to stay. (Doc. 3526) at 75-76. SUICIDE PREVENTION ADOC must conduct inspections of all suicide watch, SU, and RHU cells to verify that they meet the conditions set forth Lindsay M. Hayes’s Checklist for the “Suicide-Resistant” Design of Correctional Facilities (Doc. 3206-5). (Doc. 3464) at § 2.1.7.2. Stayed as to RHU cells pursuant to opinion and order on motion to stay. (Doc. 3526) at 75-76. 11/10/2022 at 9:00 a.m. Stayed Stayed as to RHU cells only; otherwise, on a quarterly basis HIGHER LEVELS OF CARE 11 In collaboration with the EMT, ADOC must reassess (1) the number of inmates on its mental-health caseload and (2) whether the current estimate of the percentage of the mental-health caseload requiring inpatient treatment is accurate. (Doc. 3464) at § 11.2.2. The parties have submitted to the court their views on the issue of whether serious risks are posed by high temperatures in the mental-health units, (Doc. 3464) at § 11.3, including the adequacy of Administrative Regulation 619 as a means of addressing the risk in light of the court’s previous discussion of its concerns as to that regulation, see Phase 2A Inpatient Treatment Remedial Opinion and Order, Braggs v. Dunn, 2020 WL 2789880, *14-15 (M.D. Ala. 2020) (Thompson, J.) (discussing Administrative Regulation 619); see also Phase 2A Omnibus Remedial Order (Doc. 3464) at § 11.3, and the question of whether ADOC employees are trained to follow the regulation. Based on the parties’ written filings and representations on August 15, 2022, the court is requiring that the parties pursue mediation of these concerns with Judge Ott. (Doc. 3767). The parties are to file a joint report of their mediation efforts. At a status conference, the parties should be prepared to discuss the results of their mediation efforts on the issue of the risk of high temperatures in the mental-health units, as described above. (Doc. 3464) at § 11.3. (Doc. 3767) On an annual basis 9/16/2022 at 5:00 p.m. 9/22/2022 at 9:00 a.m. IV. MISCELLANEOUS STATUS CONFERENCES 12 Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). Triannual status conference, with the parties to submit reports 10 business days before the status conference (Doc. 3467 and Doc. 3480). 11/10/2022 at 9:00 a.m. 2/10/2023 at 9:00 a.m. 7/7/2023 at 9:00 a.m. 11/17/2023 at 9:00 a.m. 2/9/2024 at 9:00 a.m. 7/12/2024 at 9:00 a.m. 11/22/2024 at 9:00 a.m. 2/7/2025 at 9:00 a.m. STANDING ORDERS FOR HEARINGS AND STATUS CONFERENCES All hearings and evidentiary hearings shall be in accordance with the order entered on 1/15/2020 (Doc. 2727), unless otherwise specified. All hearings, evidentiary hearings, and status conferences 13 are to be by videoconferencing unless otherwise specified. DONE, this the 8th day of September, 2022. /s/ Myron H. Thompson UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 14

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