Scales v. Jonesboro Police Department et al

Filing 3

ORDER directing Plaintiff to submit, w/i 30 days of entry of this Order, either (1) the $350 statutory filing fee; or (2) a proper & complete in forma pauperis application, with the required calculation sheet completed & signed by an authorized prison official. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of this action w/o prejudice. Service is not appropriate on Defendants at this time. Signed by Judge James M. Moody on 6/17/09. (jct)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS JONESBORO DIVISION JOHN C. SCALES V. 3:09CV000087 JMM PLAINTIFF

JONESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT and VIC BROOK, Detective, Jonesboro Police Department ORDER

DEFENDANTS

Plaintiff, who states that he is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center of the Craighead County Detention Facility, filed this action pro se pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, his Complaint is unaccompanied by a filing fee or a properly completed motion for in forma pauperis status. If Plaintiff intends to pursue this matter, he must pay the statutory filing fee of $350 or submit a properly completed Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis. Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995 ("PLRA"), a prisoner who is permitted to file a civil action in forma pauperis still must pay the full statutory filing fee of $350. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). The only question is whether a prisoner will pay the entire filing fee at the initiation of the proceeding or in installments over a period of time. Ashley v. Dilworth, 147 F.3d 715, 716 (8th Cir. 1998). Even if a prisoner is without assets and unable to pay an initial filing fee, he will be allowed to proceed with his section 1983 claims and the filing fee will be collected by the Court in installments from the prisoner's inmate trust account. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(4). If the prisoner's case is subsequently dismissed for any reasons, including a determination that it is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief, the full amount of the $350 filing fee will be collected and no portion of this filing fee will be refunded to the prisoner.

The PLRA requires that Plaintiff submit a proper and complete Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, along with a calculation sheet, prepared and signed by an authorized officer of the Detention Center. Plaintiff is therefore directed to submit, within thirty (30) days from entry of this Order, either : (1) the statutory filing fee of $350; or (2) a proper and complete Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, with the required calculation sheet signed by an authorized official of the detention center at which he is confined. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: 1. The Clerk is directed to mail Plaintiff an in forma pauperis application and calculation sheet. 2. Plaintiff must submit, within thirty days of entry of this Order, either: (1) the $350 statutory filing fee; or (2) a proper and complete in forma pauperis application, with the required calculation sheet completed and signed by an authorized prison official. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of this action without prejudice. 3. Service is not appropriate on Defendants at this time.

DATED this 17th day of June, 2009.

________________________________ UNTIED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE