Appendix — Soto v. Dickey
Supreme Court brief1985
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84-1327 BAN 31 1985
ALEXANDER L. STEVAS,
CLERK
NO.
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES
OCTOBER TERM, 1984
CARLOS S. SOTO and ROBERT
DEMALLORY, on behalf of
themselves and all others
Similarly situated, Petitioners
Ve
WALTER J. DICKEY, WARREN
YOUNG and THOMAS BORGEN.
ON WRIT CF CERTIORARI TO THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
APPENDIX IN S!UPPORT OF
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
Peter J. Stone
Counsel of Record
2100 Marine Plaza
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-4894
Tele: (414) 271-8210
Counsel for Petitioners
Of Counsel:
Peter L. Gardon
Whyte & Hirschboeck S.C.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53202-4894
lu
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Soto v. Dickey, Nos. 83-2380, 3-56
83-2381, Slip. Op. (7th Cir.
September 20, 1984) [Opinion
of the Appellate Court as
it was entered on September 20,
1984)
Soto v. Cady, Nos. 80-C-146, 57-116
80-C-321, Slip. Op. (E.D.
Wis. June 29, 1983) [Dis-
trict Court's Opinion,
Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law]
Soto v. Cady, No. 80-C-146, 117-118
Judgment (E.D. Wis.
June 29, 1983) [District
Court's Judgment]
Soto v. Cady, No. 80-C-146, 119-148
Decision and Order
(E.D. Wis. February 22,
1982) [Order denying
plaintiffs' motions for
preliminary injunction
and summary judgment]
Soto v. Dickey, Nos. 83-2380, 149-150
83-2381, Judgment (7th
Cir. September 20, 1984)
[Appellate Court's
Judgment]
Soto v. Dickey, Nos. 83-2380,
83-2381, Order (7th Cir.
November 5, 1984) [Order
amending opinion and
denying petition for
rehearing with suggestion
for rehearing en banc]
4 Wis. Admin. Code HSS 306.01,
306.03, 306.06, 306.08
4 Wis. Admin. Code HSS 306.08
(as amended, effective
November 1, 1984)
Page
151-152
153-159
160-167
UNITED STATE COURT OF APPEALS
For the Seventh Circuit
Nos. 83-2380, 83-2381
CARLOS S. SOTO and ROBERT DeMALLORY on
behalf of themselves and all others
Similarly situated,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
vs.
WALTER J. DICKEY, DONALD CLUSEN, and
GERALD HERRINGA,
Defendants-Appellants.
CARLOS S. SOTO and ROBERT DeMALLORY on
behalf of themselves and all others
Similarly situated,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
vs.
WALTER J. DICKEY, DONALD CLUSEN, and
GERALD HEERINGS,
Defendants-Appellants.
Appeal from the United States
District Court for the Eastern
District of Wisconsin.
Nos. 80-C-146 and 80-C-321---
Terence T. Evans, Judge.
ARGUED MAY ll, 1984--
DECIDED SEPTEMBER 20, 1984
Before FLAUM, Circuit Judge, PELL,
Senior Circuit Judge, and KELLAM,
Senior District Judge.*
KELLAM, District Judge. Alleging
violation of their constitutional
rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth
Amendments to the United States
Constitution, and of Rules and
Regulations of the Waupun Correctional
Institution through the improper use
of mace, a trade name for tear gas,
and similar chemical agents, in the
adjustment center at said institution
in the State of Wisconsin, Carlos S.
Soto and Robert DeMallory (Mallory)
instituted a class action pursuant to
42 U.S.C. §1983, Appeal No. 83-2380,
for injunctive and declaratory relief.
*The Honorable Richard B. Kellam,
Senior District Judge for the Eastern
District of Virginia, sitting by
designation.
Carlos S. Soto, also instituted a
separate action for damages,
injunctive and other relief, Appeal
No. 83-2381, pursuant to 42 U.S.C.
§1983, for an alleged unlawful macing
on December 13, 1979. The incident
complained of by Soto in his damage
action is also one of the incidents
forming a part of the complaint in the
Class action. The named defendants
were the administrator of the
Wisconsin Division of Corrections,
Superintendent of the Waupun
Correctional Institution (WCI) and
Assistant Superintendent of Security
at WCI, and their replacements. Tried
to the court, it rendered its decision
on June 29, 1983, granting declaratory
and injunctive relief in each action,
but denying damages to Soto. The
trial court held that the defendants'
policies and practices relating to the
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= ‘ ry ; Pe. eo th
use of chemical agents in the
Adjustment Center (AC) at WCI violated
Pplaintiffs' constitutional rights
under the Eighth and Fourteenth
Amendments of the United States
Constitution and were in violation of
the Division of Corrections
Administrative Regulations, Chapter
HSS 306.08. The court issued an
injunction restricting the use of
chemical agents against inmates,
except in specific circumstances set
forth in its order. In the action for
damages, the trial court held that a
good faith immunity defense was
available to defendants and declined
to award damages to Soto.
WCI is a maximum security prison,
designed for 810 inmates, but having a
population of some 1100 or more during
-7-
the period in question. The AC, the
major segregation facility within the
prison, contains 67 cells, 59 of which
are arranged in two tiers on the main
floor, with the remaining eight cells
in the basement. Fifteen of the cells
have a wooden outer door in addition
to the iron bar doors, and are
referred to as double door or wooden
door cells. A wire mesh cage in the
AC, approximately four feet square and
10 feet high, is used for conducting a
strip search of inmates. Inmates are
sent to the AC from the general
population because of violation of
prison rules, such as possession of
contraband, theft, refusing to go to
work, fighting with prisoners or
staff, disobeying rules and refusing
to obey orders. Because the average
population in the AC during the course
of this case numbered about 80,
-8-
inmates were, at times,
double-celled. The AC in this maximum
security prison has been described as
the "end of the line."
When mace is used, it is sprayed
from a canister approximately two
inches in diameter, about five and
one-half inches high and contains
approximately four and one-half
ounces, the equivalent of
approximately 35 one-second bursts.
It vaporizes upon contact with the
human body or other surfaces. From
January 1979 until the middle of
November 1982, about 130 macing
incidents occurred in the AC, or about
2.7 macings per month. Whenever mace
is used, a written report of its use
must be made by the correctional
officer, giving information regarding
its use and the reasons therefor.
These reports are reviewed by the
-9-
Assistant Superintendent, or in his
absence, by one designated by him.
Only a supervisor may authorize the
use of mace, and he is usually the one
summoned from outside of the AC. He
must be on the spot to authorize its
use. While excessive or improper use
of a chemical agent can cause some
injury, during the four and one-half
years of use in the AC there is no
evidence in the record or documented
at WCI or the AC showing any serious
Or permanent injury from the use of a
chemical agent. Inmates will
generally experience itching,
irritation or discomfort for a period
of time from its use, but washing with
water will generally alleviate any
discomfort. The procedure prescribed
following the use of mace is to have
the inmate shower, have his eyes
rinsed out, and change his clothing.
-10-
This usually gives immediate relief of
any discomfort.
If.
Without exception, the
institutional officials and officers
were of the opinion that the use of
mace was much more humane and
effective than a flesh to flesh
confrontation with an inmate. That
is, whenever it is necessary to move
an inmate from his cell or for an
officer to enter the cell, the
procedure used is to have the inmate
come to the front of the cell and be
handcuffed so that he can be better
controlled if he is to be moved, or if
the officer needs to enter the cell.
If he refuses to come to the front of
the cell to be handcuffed, there are
few options open to the institution,
elie
one is that three or four guards,
suited up in Emergency Response Unit
gear (ERU), must enter the cell and
physically overpower the inmate and
place him in handcuffs. Experience at
WCI established this often resulted in
serious injury to staff or inmate, or
both.
Gerald Heeringa, Assistant
Superintendent in Charge of Security
at WCI, was responsible for designing
and implementing the chemical agency
policy upon his return to WCI in
1977. During 11 months of 1977, there
were forty one serious assaults on
correctional officers, and numerous
inmates and staff were injured.
Heeringa, along with Superintendent
Israel, Major Kahelski and others
testified, without contradictions,
that since the use of a chemical
agent, rather than physical force, the
o) 2<
number of assaults upon and injuries
to staff and inmates had been
drastically reduced. In fact, the
threat of the use of mace, except in a
few instances, brings about compliance
and in most instances, avoids any
necessity of physical force.
The district court found that the
inmates see the use of mace as a
serious form of force, while the
institution sees it as a substitute
for actual physical force and the most
humane and least harmful method of
dealing with obstinate and dangerous
inmates. The fact is, that in most
instances here mace was used, the
inmate immediately complied with the
order from the officer, whether it was
to be handcuffed in order to remove
him from his cell or for other
action. The officer was thus
permitted to perform his duty without
“2%<
physical confrontation between staff
and inmate. In some of the instances
complained of by the plaintiffs, they
had told the officers they would not
comply with the order unless they were
maced, and when maced, they
immediately complied.
The institution is well aware of
the need for concern in dealing with
the inmates in AC. Fortunately, as
the trial court found, most of the
inmates sent to AC serve their stay
and are returned to the general
population. A few create most of the
problems. Over more than a four year
period mace was used only 130 times or
two and a fraction times a month, and
without a single serious injury.
IIlft.
The provisions of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code, Chapter HSS 306,
at@e
deals with security at its
institutions of confinement.
Subsection HSS 306.08 prescribes that
chemical agents may be used only to
Subdue an inmate who poses an
immediate threat of bodily injury or
death to another or to regain control
of the institution or a part of it.
In confined or close areas only CN or
CS chemical agents and canister dust
chemical agent may be used, and the
manufacturer's safety instructions
must be followed. The use must be
authorized by the Superintendent, and
may only be discharged by a
correctional officer, supervisor or by
a trained staff member under the
immediate supervision of such
Supervisor, who has been properly
trained in its use. After use, the
inmate shall be examined by the
medical staff, have their eyes cleaned
=) 5-
with water and be provided with a
change of clothes. An incident report
must be submitted to the director of
the Bureau of Institutions.
The district court found that
defendants had used mace in violation
of the guidelines set out in the
Wisconsin Administrative Code, HSS
§306.08, and that since its use did
not comply with the above code, it
constituted a violation of the
Fourteenth Amendment's due process
provisions.
IV.
Turning to the more detailed
testimony of the five inmates who
testified in this case, we are mindful
that under Rule 52 of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure, we are bound
by the findings of fact of the trial
sY=
ere. we
court, unless clearly erroneous. This
rule, however, does not apply to
conclusions of law. Pullman-Standard
v. Swint, 102 S.Ct. 1781, 1789 (1982),
Tankersley v. Albright, 514 F.2d 956,
966 (7th Cir. 1975). Rule 52 is
particularly applicable where the
findings are based primarily upon the
credibility of the witnesses, Lee v.
National Can Corporation, 699 F.2d
932, 936 (7th Cir. 1983), unless the
reviewing court, after reviewing the
evidence, is left with the definite
and firm conviction that a mistake has
been committed. Commissioner of
Internal Revenue v. Duberstein, 363
U.S. 278, 291, 80 S.Ct. 1190, 1200
(1960); Klockner, Inc. v. Federal Wire
Mill Corp., 663 F.2d 1370, 1375 (7th
Cir. 1981). An “appellate court must
set aside the trial court's findings
if it concludes that they are ‘clearly
ai Po
erroneous.'" Kelly v. Southern
Pacific Company, 419 U.S. 318, 323, 95
S.Ct. 472, 475 (1974).
"Evaluations of evidence reached
by the accurate application of
erroneous legal standards are
erroneous evaluations." Protective
Committee, etc. v. Anderson, 390 U.S.
414, 445, 88 S.Ct. 1157, 1173 (1968).
The five inmates, including the
two named plaintiffs, testified to
instances in which they were maced.
Admitted as exhibits in the case were
reports filed by the supervisors in
some 130 instances in which they had
used mace at WCI over a four and a
fraction years period. The trial
court's findings, upon which it
determined to issue its injunction,
set out that most of the instances of
macing involved situations where
inmates were locked in their cells or
-18-
in the strip cage; that witnesses
Mallory, McAdoo, McKinley and Soto
were maced under those conditions;
that most conduct violations in the AC
were for disrespect and disobeying
orders; that most of the inmates sent
to AC are respectful to officers, do
their adjustment time and are returned
to the general population; and that
the procedures for the use of a
chemical agent in the AC do not
require that the officer in charge
create a show of force by gathering
other correctional officers and
suiting them up in ERU before the
chemical agent was usea.2/ The ERU
gear consists of a helmet with a flip
down face guard, leg guards, a four
l/rne record establishes that on
the occasion of each of the macings
referred to, there were numerous
officers present.
-19-
and one-half foot high plastic shield
used to push an inmate in the
direction it was desired he move, a
jump suit or type of coveralls made of
polyester material, gloves and a
wooden baton. In addition to the
above, the trial court's opinion sets
out that chemical agents have been
used against inmates who were throwing
liquids from their cells, yelling
obscenities, refusing to remove a book
from the butt of the door, refusing to
return a meal tray, refusing to
properly submit to a strip search, and
refusing to be double-celled, and that
some inmates suffered the effects from
macing not directed to them.
Many of the findings made by the
trial court are supported by the
evidence. Where the trial court erred
was in the conclusions reached from a
consideration of only a part of the
-20-
eee
evidence. Some of the findings leave
out facts clearly established by
credible, material and uncontradicted
evidence. For instance, the trial
court's finding that inmates were
maced while locked in their cell or in
the strip cage, or handcuffed, is
Supported by evidence. But, such
findings do not set forth the reason,
necessity or basis for the macing, and
the evidence relative to the incident.
Where the trial court found that
inmates were maced to create and
preserve an atmosphere of discipline,
to gain compliance with non-emergency
orders, to stop yelling obscenities,
stop throwing liquids from their
cells, refusing to move a book from
the butt of the wooden door to a cell,
refusing to return a meal tray, and
merely refusing to be double-celled,
they are clearly erroneous. While
=a
McKinley, McAdoo, Mallory and Soto
each asserted they were passive,
locked in their cells, had not made
threats against anyone, did not
possess a weapon, had violated no rule
at the time they were maced, and that
there was no legitimate reason to mace
them, the evidence established the
contrary. The record and exhibits
uncontradictedly establish that when
an inmate who is hollering, rattling
the bars, yelling obscenities at the
staff, throwing objects from his cell
at the staff, refused to return a meal
tray, blocks the closing of a door,
refuses to be double-celled or refuses
to comply with direction, he is
ordered to come to the front of the
cell and put his hands out so that he
can be handcuffed, guards can then
enter the cell and remove a meal tray
or an object used to throw liquid; and
=22-
Oh ee en ee eee
where necessary, moved him to another
cell with a wooden door which can be
closed to prevent his hollering or
yelling from disturbing others, or
prevent him from throwing liquid or
other objects on the officers, or
double-celled or whatever is
appropriate. If he refuses to come to
the front of the cell to be handcuffed
after being ordered so to do, and the
guard cannot prevail upon him to do
sO, a supervisor is called. The
Supervisor then attempts to persuade
the inmate to comply with the order.
If the inmate refuses, he is then
ordered by the supervisor to come to
the front of the cell and be
handcuffed. If he still refuses, he
is told that unless he does do so, he
will be maced. If he still refuses,
mace is then used. In most every
instance, the inmate then complies
= 23-
with the order. He is handcuffed and
removed from the ceil to permit a
guard to enter, and when appropriate
the inmate is moved to another cell.
Reference in the trial court's opinion
to inmates Mallory, McAdoo, McLaughlin
and Soto requires specific comment.
The evidence shows without challenge
that the first four were a serious
disciplinary problem. They were
involved in many violations of the
rules and orders of the institution,
and spent much time in the AC.
Mallory testified that of the eight
years in confinement he had spent
approximately six of them in the AC.
McAdoo, McLaughlin and Soto each had
spent about two years in the AC.
Mallory and McAdoo admitted they had
been previously found guilty of
assaulting a staff officer. Soto
admitted he had assaulted numerous
=24-
prisoners and staff officers while he
was in a Pennsylvania prison and that
he had been involved in fights with
several inmates at WCI. He admitted
he struck officer Harkinson and that
he tried to kick Dr. Bergen because he
thought he was a crackpot. He
admitted throwing his dinner tray at
an officer on July 15, 1981. He
admitted he was a real problem to get
along with because he wanted to be
himself. He, and the other inmates
were described as unpredictable--
passive at one moment and aggressive
at another. The finding that Mallory
was maced for refusing to return his
meal tray, that McAdoo was maced for
throwing milk on an officer; that
McKinley was maced for refusing to
remove a book so the wooden door to
his cell could be closed, and while he
was in the strip cage; and that Soto
-25-
was maced for refusing to be
double-celled is only a part of the
evidence. What the finding did not
include was the uncontradicted fact
that in each instance these four
inmates were maced for refusing to
obey an order to come to the front of
the cell to be handcuffed so that they
could be moved to another cell. 4/
Mallory testified that he refused to
return the meal tray to the
guarda;2/ that Lt. Prieve was
summoned and requested him to return
the tray but he refused.
2/plaintiffs' expert, Dr.
Kirkham, testified it was appropriate
for the guards to handcuff the inmate
before attempting to enter the cell.
3/The plaintiffs' expert
witness, Dr. Kirkham, testified a meal
tray can be used as a weapon; that an
inmate who had refused to return a
tray should not be permitted to keep
it. In fact, he replied “absolutely
not,” and that the rule on return of
trays must be enforced.
-26-
After the lieutenant was unable to
persuade him to do so, the lieutenant
ordered him to come to the front of
the cage and be handcuffed so an
officer could enter the cell and
collect the tray. Mallory refused,
and said the only way he would come to
the front and be handcuffed was if he
was maced. After being maced, he
admitted he came to the front of the
ceil and was handcuffed. The tray was
then removes. 4/
In the instance of inmate McAdoo,
the evidence established numerous
inmates had been throwing articles and
unknown fluids at the officers, and
4/mallory Says that again the
next day he refused to return his tray
and that on that occasion, three or
four guards suited up in ERU gear came
in and removed the tray. There is no
record of such an incident in the
files of the AC, and Assistant
Superintendent Heeringa said that if
such an event occurred, a record would
have been made of it.
o2F=
that mass confusion existed in the
AC. Several inmates had been moved to
controlled status. Captain Nichols
was summoned to the AC. McAdoo
testified he was frustrated because
his request for a tylenol tablet had
not been responded to, and that he
decided he would go up on the first
two officers who came by his cell.
Captain Nichols and Lieutenant Smith
were the victims of milk thrown by
McAdoo. Captain Nichols ordered
McAdoo to come to the front of the
cell so he could be handcuffed. He
refused, and was sprayed with mace,
after which he came to the front of
the cell, was handcuffed, carried to
the strip cage and searched. After
all containers that could be used to
throw a liquid were removed from his
cell, his cell was cleaned and he was
returned.
«26-
Inmate McKinley was maced on two
separate occasions. The first while
in the strip cage for refusing to
spread his buttocks for a strip
search,>/ after being ordered to do
so by the lieutenant. After the
macing guards in ERU gear entered the
cage and completed the search. On the
other occasion inmates had been
throwing objects and liquids at
officers. Captain McLaughlin was
called to the AC. McKinley said he
placed a book in between the butt of
the door and the door facing,
preventing the solid wooden door from
being closed. With it closed, the
5/In Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S.
at 558, 99 S.Ct. at 1884, the court
held that a requirement that all
inmates expose their body cavities for
visual inspection as a part of a strip
search conducted after every contact
visit with a person from outside the
institution was not unreasonable and
may be conducted on less then probable
cause.
o29-
inmate could not throw articles at the
officers. Captain McLaughlin ordered
McKinley to remove it./ After he
refused, he was ordered to come to the
front of the cell and be handcuffed.
When he refused he was told he would
be maced if he did not do so. He was
maced and immediately came to the
front of the cage and was handcuffed.
After he was handcuffed at the front
of the cell, he threw milk on the
captain and officer Beam.
Inmate Soto was told he would have
to double-cell. He testified he told
the officer on several occasions he
would not be double-celled, period.
When ordered to pack up his things so
another inmate could be moved in with
him, he testified he said he would not
6/an officer could probably have
removed it, but he would have exposed
himself to having liquids thrown at
him.
-30-
do it. The lieutenant was called and
received the same response. He was
ordered to come to the front of the
cell to be handcuffed but refused. He
was maced and immediately came to the
front of the cell and was handcuffed.
While some of these inmates
asserted they had not been ordered to
come to the front of the cage and be
handcuffed, in every instance, after
they were maced, without further
order, they came to the front of the
cell and were handcuffed.
The trial court found that inmates
were not given a shower or attention
for their eyes after being maced.
Such finding overlooks not only the
testimony of the staff but also the
testimony of the inmates. In all
instances but one the inmates were
offered or given a shower. In that
instance, the unit was cn lockdown and
-3l-
the water was cut off because the
inmates were throwing it from their
cells. In each instance the inmate
was furnished clothing, and a nurse
rinsed out the eyes of the inmates,
except where the inmate refused to
have it done. While the findings say
the cells were not cleaned, in all
instances referred to except one, the
cell was cleaned or the inmate removed
to another cell. Lastly, the court
found the inmate Johnson suffered some
Slight effects from the macing of
other inmates by the mace reaching his
cell and that McKinley said he had
some ill effects from the macing of
others. We need not deal with these
issues because under the evidence in
this case they do not reach
constitutional proportions.
-32-
V.
In providing security, the
institution must be concerned about
the safety of its staff as well as of
its inmates. It has the duty to
protect the staff from assaults,
whether by physical attack upon them,
or whether by the throwing of objects
or liquids on them. The same kind of
duty exists to protect other inmates.
The inmates in AC are there for
failure to obey the rules and
regulations of WCI, such as possession
of contraband, fignting, assault on
staff officers and so on.
Disturbances arise. Inmates become
edgy. They get noisy and almost out
of control. They are described as
unpredictable-- sive at one time and
aggressive the next moment. On one
occasion 26 inmates broke up meal
-33-
trays and made weapons of them.
Assistant Superintendent Heeringa
testified he carried scars on his body
from opening a cell door of an inmate
who appeared passive, but became
violent. Injuries occur to the staff
even when they enter the cell in the
ERU gear. While the helmet covers
part of the fact, the helmets can and
have been knocked off the head of the
guards. Too, the helmet does not
cover the full face or protect the
front of the neck. One guard dressed
in the ERU equipment had his arm cut
by a razor blade deten the inmate had
taped to his hand, requiring more than
90 stitches.
When an order is given to an
inmate there are only so many choices
available to the correctional
officer. If it is an order that
requires action by the institution,
=34-
and the inmate cannot be persuaded to
obey the order, some means must be
used to compel compliance, such as a
chemical agent or physical force.
While experts who testified on behalf
of the plaintiffs, suggested that
rather than seek to enforce orders, it
was possible to leave the inmate alone
if he chooses not to obey a particular
order, and wait him out, experience
and common sense establish that a
prison cannot be operated in such a
way.
Discipline in a maximum security
correctional institution no doubt is
difficult, but it is essential if the
prison is to function and provide for
the care, safety and security of the
staff and inmates. Services to
provide food, clothing, health,
medical, cleaning, laundry and all
other services would come to end
-35-
without discipline. Mob rule would
take over. There would not, and could
not, be any protection for staff or
inmates. Orders given must be
obeyed. Inmates cannot be permitted
to decide which orders they will obey,
and when they will obey them. Someone
must exercise authority and control.
One can quickly reason what would
happen in a maximum security prison
without proper discipline.
The evidence establishes that it
is the policy and practice at WCI for
officers to enter a cell to enforce
compliance with orders. Inmates are
and must be required to obey orders.
When an inmate refused to obey a
proper order, he is attempting to
assert his authority over a portion of
the institution and its officials.
Such refusal and denial of authority
places the staff and other inmates in
=36-
danger. One of the plaintiffs' expert
witnesses agreed that the institution
cannot permit an inmate to violate a
rule or disobey an order and that
action must be taken to compel
compliance with a lawful order.
VI.
Imprisonment carries with it the
circumscription or loss of many
Significant rights and in some cases
the complete withdrawal of certain
rights, all of which are justified by
the considerations underlying our
penal system. Hudson v. Palmer,
U.S. ’ S.Ct. » 52 L.W.
5052 (1984). Prisons are places of
confinement of persons who have
demonstrated their inability to
control and conform their behavior to
the legitimate standards of society.
o37-<
Most of those sent to the AC have
Gemonstrated their lack of respect for
the rules and regulations of the
institut‘on and their disregard of the
rights of others. A reflection upon
the facts demonstrate the severe and
grave problem confronting prison
officials. As pointed out in Hudson
v. Palmer, supra, during 1981 and the
first half of 1982, in state and
federal prisons, there were over 29
riots or similar disturbances, a
number of prison personnel were
murdered by prisoners, and over 120
prisoners were murdered by fellow
inmates. In the federal system during
1983, there were 1l inmate homicides,
359 inmate assaults on other inmates,
and 227 inmate assaults on prison
staff. There were in the same system
in 1981 and 1982, over 750 inmate
assaults on other inmates and over 520
-38-
inmate assaults on prison personnel.
With such statistics, we must “strike
the balance in favor of institutional
security" which is “central to all
other correctional goals." Hudson v.
Palmer, supra. Knowledge of the above
facts make it clear that within the
institutions “prison administrators
are to take all necessary steps to
ensure the safety of not only the
prison staff and administrative
personnel, but visitors." Hudson v.
Palmer, supra. See also Bell v.
Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 547, 99 S.Ct.
1861, 1878 (1979).
The district court's assertion
that we have recognized the trend
towards restricting the use of
chemical agents misinterprets what we
have said, and the decisions of other
courts.
-39-
In Stringer v. Rowe, 616 F.2d 993,
998 (7th Cir. 1980), we said:
In order to establish a
violation of the Eighth
Amendment, a plaintiff
must show that prison
officials intentionally
inflicted excessive or
grossly severe
punishment on him or
that the officials
knowingly maintained
conditions so harsh as
to shock the general
conscience. United
States ex rel. Miller v.
CEST) (7th Cir. 1973),
cert. denied, Gutierrez
v. Dept. of Public
Safety, 414 U.S. 1146,
34 eet. 900, 39 L.Ed.2d
102 (1974). Courts have
sanctioned the use of
tear gas “when
reasonably necessary
» « « to subdue
recalcitrant
prisoners." Clemmons v.
Greggs, 509 F.2a 1336, 5
The -Tsth Cir. 1975).//
2/This case was before us on the
issue of whether a motion for summary
judgment on behalf of defendants was
justified. Finding a disputed issue
of a material fact, it was remanded
for further proceedings.
-40-
Later in Lock v. Jenkins, 641 F.2d
488, 496 (7th Cir. 1981), we quoted
with approval from Johnson v. Glick,
481 F.2d 1028 (2nd Cir.), cert. denied
sub non, Employee-Officer Jones v.
Johnson, 414 U.S. 1033, 94 S.Ct. 462
(1973) this language:
In determining whether
the constitutional line
has been crossed, a
court must look to such
factors as the need for
the application of
force, the relationship
between the need and the
amount of force that was
used, the extent of the
injury inflicted, and
whether force was
applied in a good faith
effort to maintain or
restore discipline or
maliciously and
sadistically for the
very purpose of causing
harm. 481 F.2d at 1033.
Courts should proceed cautiously
in making an Eighth Amendment judgment
for unless the Supreme Court reverses
it, “a decision that a given
punishment is impermissive under the
e¢le<
Ea OA A 8 AME VE
Eighth Amendment cannot be reversed
short of a constitutional amendment,"
so that revisions cannot be made in
the light of further experience.
Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 35l,
101 S.Ct. 2392, 2401 (1981); see also
Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153, at
176, 96 S.Ct. 2909, at 2926. In
considering whether the Eighth
Amendment has been violated, it must
be rembered that such inquiries
“spring from constitutional
requirements and that judicial answers
to them must reflect that fact rather
than a court's idea of how best to
operate a detention facility." Rhodes
v. Chapman, supra, 452 U.S. at 35l,
101 S.Ct. at 2401. Bell v. Wolfish,
441 U.S. at 539, 99 S.Ct. at 1874.
The Supreme Court in Procunier v.
Martinez, 416 U.S. 396, 404-405, 94
S.Ct. 1800, 1807 (1974) and in Rhodes
242
v. Chapman, supra, 452 U.S. at 35l,
n.16, 101 S.Ct. at 2401, n.16, pointed
out some of the problems of prisoners
and reasons why federal courts adopted
a broad hands-off attitude towards
problems of prison administration, and
the limitations on the scope of
federal review of conditions in state
penal institutions. It said in
Procunier v. Martinez, supra:
Prison administrators
are responsible for
maintaining internal
order and discipline,
for securing their
institutions against
unauthorized access or
escape, and for
rehabilitating, to the
extent that human nature
and inadequate resources
allow, the inmates
placed in their
custody. The Herculean
obstances to effective
discharge of these
duties are too apparent
to warrant explication.
Rhodes v. Chapman, supra, n.16, says:
-43-
We have sketched before
the magnitude of the
problems of prison
administration.
Procunier v. Martinez,
416 U.S. 396, 404-405,
94 S.Ct. 1800, 40
D.Ed.2d (1974). See
generally National
Institute of Justice,
American Prisons and
Jails (1980) (5 Vols.).
It suffices here to repeat:
[T]he problems of
prisons in America are
complex and intractable,
and more to the point,
they are not readily
susceptible of
resolution by decree.
Most require expertise,
comprehensive planning,
and the commitment of
resources, all of which
are peculiarly within
the province of the
legislative and
executive branches of
government. For all of
those reasons, courts
are ill equipped to deal
with the increasingly
urgent problems of
prison administration
and reform. Judicial
recognition of that fact
reflects no more than a
healthy sense of
realism." Procunier v.
Martinez, Supra, at
404-405, 94 §.Ct., at
-44-
1807 (footnote
omitted). See also
Wolff v. McDonnell, 418
U.S. 539, 561-562, 568,
94 S.Ct. 2963, 2977,
2980, 41 L.Ed.2d 935
(1974); Jones v. North
Carolina Prisoners'
Labor Union, supra, at
125, 97 S.Ct., at 2537.
Since our decision in
Martinez, the problems
of prison population and
administration have been
exacerbated by the
increase of serious
crime and the effect of
inflation on the
resources of states and
communities. This case
is illustrative. Ohio
designed and built SOCF
in the early 1970’s, and
even at the time of
trial it was found to be
a modern “top-flight,
first-class facility."
Supra, at 2395. Yet, an
unanticipated increase
in the state's prison
population compelled the
double celling that is
at issue. 452 U.S. at
351, 101 S.Ct. at 2401,
n.16.
Central to all other correctional
goals is the institutional
consideration of internal security
-45-
within the correctional facilities
themselves, and “preserving internal
order and discipline are essential
goals that may require limitation or
retraction of the retained
constitutional rights of both
convicted prisoners and pretrial
detainees." Bell v. Wolfish, supra,
441 U.S. at 546, 99 S.Ct. at 1878. If
prison officials are to be free to
take appropriate action to ensure the
safety of inmates and correctional
personnel, they must be accorded
wide-ranging deference in the adoption
and execution of policies and
practices that in their judgment are
needed to preserve internal order and
discipline to maintain institutional
security. Such considerations are
peculiarly within the province and
professional expertise of correctional
officers, and without substantial
-46-
evidence to indicate such officials
have exaggerated their response to
these considerations, courts should
defer to their judgment. Not only are
such administrators in a better
position to know and determine what
action or remedies are needed and
proper, but the operation of our
correctional systems and facilities is
within the responsibility of the
Executive and Legislative branches of
government. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S.
at 547-548, 99 S.Ct. at 1878-1879;
Procunier v. Martinez, 416 U.S. at
405, 94 S.Ct. at 1807. See also, Pell
Vv. Procunier, 417 U.S. 817, 94 §.Ct.
2800 (1974); Hewitt v. Helms, supra.
The Supreme Court has “repeatedly said
both that prison officials have broad
administrative and discretionary
authority over the institution they
manage, and that lawfully incarcerated
-47-
persons retain only a narrow range of
protected liberty interests." Hewitt
v. Helms, 103 S.Ct. 864, 869 (1983).
The Eighth Amendment prohibits the
infliction of cruel and unusual
punishment; that is, the infliction of
excessive or grossly severe punishment
disproportionate to the severity of
the offense, or the unnecessary and
wanton infliction of pain or
infliction of pain without
justification. Eighth Amendment
judgments “should neither be nor
appear to be entirely the subjective
views of judges,” but such "judgments
should be informed by objective
factors to the maximum possible
extent." Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S.
346, 101 S.Ct. at 2399. Hence,
"conditions that cannot be said to be
cruel and unusual under contemporary
standards are not unconstitutional,"
-
and to “the extent that such
conditions are restrictive and even
harsh, they are part of the penalty
that criminal offenders pay for their
offenses against society." Id.
The Supreme Court has never held,
nor have we or any other court of
appeals, so far as we can determine,
that the use of tear gas or a chemical
agent is a per se violation of the
Eighth Amendment, whether an inmate is
locked in his cell or not. What we,
and other courts have held, is that
the appropriateness of the use must be
determined by the facts and
circumstances of the case. We have
held, and now restate that it is a
violation of the Eighth Amendment for
prison officials to use mace or other
chemical agents in quantities greater
than necessary for the sole purpose of
punishment or the infliction of pain.
-49-
Thus, we adhere to what we said in
Stringer v. Rowe, 616 F.2d at 998, set
out above. The use of mace, tear gas
Or other chemical agent of the like
nature when reasonably necessary to
prevent riots or escape or to subdue
recalcitrant prisoners does not
constitute cruel and inhuman
punishment. Lock v. Jenkins, Supra;
Poindexter v. Woodson, 510 F.2d 464,
466 (10th Cir.), cert. denied, 423
U.S. 846 (1975); Clemmons v. Greggs,
509 F.2d 1338, 1340 (5th Cir.), cert.
denied, 423 U.S. 946 (1975); Landman
v. Peyton, 370 F.2d 135 (4th Cir.
1966); Bailey v. Turner, No. 82-6552,
(4th Cir. June 7, 1984);
Donahue v. Maynard, 437 F.Supp. 47 (D.
Kan. 1977), and this is so whether the
inmate is locked in his prison cell or
is in handcuffs, Bailey v. Turner,
supra; McCargo v. Mister, 462 F.Supp.
=$0-
|
813 (D. Md. 1978); Greear v. Loving,
391 F.Supp. 1269 (W.D. Va. 1975). The
"use of the substance (tear gas) in
small amounts may be a necessary
prison technique if a prisoner refuses
after adequate warning to move from a
cell or upon other provocation
presenting a reasonable possibility
that slight force will be required."
Spain v. Procunier, 600 F.2d 189, 195
(9th Cir. 1979). Continuing in Spain,
the court said:
The infliction of pain
and the danger of
serious bodily harm may
be necessary if there is
a threat of an equal or
greater harm to others,
as is reflected in the
doctrine of self defense
which permits one to do
harm to another person
who threatens unlawfully
to do an equal or
greater harm to another.
The responsible institutional
personnel on the spot are in a better
position to determine when its use is
-5l-
necessary than the courts. Clearly,
the use of a chemical agent in
dangerous quantities is justified only
in narrowly defined circumstances but
the use of nondangerous quantities of
the substance in order to prevent a
perceived future danger does not
violate “evolving standards of
decency” or constitute an “unnecessary
and wanton infliction of pain." We
think its use can be justified in
Situations which are reasonably likely
to result in injury to persons or a
substantial amount of valuable
property. 600 F.2d at 196. Prison
officials' responsibility extends to
the protection of the guard, as well
as to the inmates. The “safety of the
institution's guards and inmates is
perhaps the most fundamental
responsibility of the prison
administration." Hewitt v. Helms, 103
-52-
S.Ct. at 872. We should therefore be
extremely cautions before attempting
to prohibit or limit the necessary
meaus by which they may carry out this
responsibility.
The record in this case fails to
disclose that prison officials
unjustifiably used excessive force
against plaintiffs, or other inmates
or that they failed to act in good
faith and with a reasonable belief of
the lawfulness of their actions under
the circumstances. 8/ The actions
were therefore not a violation of the
Constitution, and since not a
violation of the Constitution, "it
does not in itself subject an inmate's
treatment by prison authorities to
judicial oversight." Montayne v.
8/rhe trial court found the
action of the guards in macing Soto
was in good faith.
-53-
Haymes, 427 U.S. at 242, 96 S.Ct. at
2547; Hewitt v. Helms, 103 S.Ct. 869.
The inmates’ argument is that the use
of the chemical agent is greater force
than is necessary to satisfy the
institution's legitimate interest in
maintaining security. However, in the
instances shown in the record the
chemical agent was used for failure of
the inmate to obey a direct order and
the use of mace was a reasonable
response to the institution's
legitimate security concern. The use
of mace is not a per se violation of
the Eighth Amendment. Appellees have
not met their burden of showing that
the defendants intentionally used
exaggerated or excessive means to
maintain discipline and provide the
needed security for the institution.
Nor have they shown it was used to
inflict excessive or grossly severe
-54-
)
|
punishment on them. It is not a
question here of whether the district
court's plan or the institution's plan
for maintaining order and discipline
is best, "but in what branch of the
government is lodged the authority to
initially devise the plan," Bell v.
Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 562, 99 S.Ct. at
1886. The evidence does not establish
that the actions and conduct of the
institution or its personnel, or the
regulations of the institution or
their application violate the Eighth
Or Fourteenth Amendments, or that a
chemical agent has been unjustly or
improperly used.
The decision of the district court
is therefore reversed and these cases
remanded with direction to dissolve
the injunctions issued and to dismiss
=55~
the complaints with direction that
Gefendants recover their costs.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
A true Copy:
Teste:
Clerk of the United
States Court of Appeals
for the Seventh Circuit
-56-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
CARLOS S. SOTO and
ROBERT MALLORY, on behalf
of themselves and all
others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
Civil Action
vs. No. 80-C-146
ELMER O. CADY, THOMAS R.
ISRAEL and GERALD HEERINGA,
Defendants.
CARLOS S. SOTO,
Plaintiff,
Vv. Civil Action
No. 80-C-321
ELMER O. CADY,
Administrator, Division
of Corrections of the
State of Wisconsin, et al.,
Defendants.
{June 29, 1983]
DECISION
Case number 80-C-146 is a class
action suit brought on behalf of
-57-
inmates confined in the Adjustment
Center at the Wisconsin Correctional
Institution at Waupun, Wisconsin. The
inmates seek an injunction, or
alternatively declaratory relief,
prohibiting the current uses of
chemical agents ("“mace" hereinafter)
at the prison.
Case number 80-C-321 is an
individual macing suit brought by
Carlos S. Soto, a former inmate at
Waupun. Soto's individual claim for
damages was consolidated and tried
with the class action claims in
80-C-146.
Trial to the court was held in
November, 1982. The first day of the
trial took place at the prison.
During the first day, I heard
_testimony from inmates and visited the
Adjustment Center. The balance of the
trial took place in Milwaukee. The
-58-
following discussion precedes my
formal fincings of fact and
conclusions of law.
I have been to the prison at
Waupun on many occasions. I have also
had a number of opportunities to visit
the prison's Adjustment Center. While
the prison, and particularly the
Adjustment Center, has never been what
one would call a pleasant place, I
have never seen it as dangerously
overcrowded as it was when I was there
during this trial. The prison is, of
course, holding over 300 inmates
beyond its approved capacity. Inmates
in the Adjustment Center are
dangerously doubled up in cells that
are small even for one person. In
short, the situation is an accident
waiting to happen. I believe that the
severe overcrowding at the prison,
-59-
especially in the Adjustment Center,
has contributed significantly to the
tensions that precipitated many of the
incidents about which I have heard
testimony or reviewed reports.
The issues here have not changed
from what they were on February 22,
1982, when I issued a decision denying
a motion for summary judgment in the
Class action. In addition to the
prison documents describing macing
incidents and affidavits of inmates
and guards considered in connection
with the motion, I have now heard
testimony from both sides regarding
several macing incidents.
Robert Mallory testified that he
was maced on February 4, 1981, while
locked in his cell. Mallory refused
to return his plastic meal tray. He
placed the tray on his bed, went to
-60-
the back of his cell and sat down. He
was not violent, did not make threats,
and had no weapons. He was ordered to
return the tray. When he refused, he
was maced. The next day, Mallory
again refused to return a meal tray.
This time, guards, dressed in riot
gear, entered his cell and retrieved
the tray without incident.
Laron McKinley was maced on
November 24, 1980, for refusing to
move a book which was preventing the
closing of an outer wooden cell door.
McKinley was locked behind metal doors
at the time. McKinley was also maced
on September 26, 1980, while he was
locked, naked, in a small strip cage.
He had refused to spread his buttocks
for a search.
Soto, the individual plaintiff in
80-C-321 and a member of the class in
-6l-
80-C-146, was maced on December 13,
1979, while he was locked in a cell
and handcuffed. Soto had refused to
be double-celled with another inmate
whom Soto considered dangerous.
William McAdoo was maced on
October 1l, 1980, for throwing milk on
a correctional officer.
All in all, according to prison
incident reports, about 130 macing
incidents occurred between January 19,
1979 and November 16, 1982. The
incidents differ, of course, in the
degree of disruptive conduct exhibited
by the inmates and in the amount of
mace used by the officers. The
defendants do not seriously dispute
the facts; rather, they state that in
each case direct orders were given the
inmates--for instance, to return a
tray, remove a book, submit to a strip
o62-
search or come to the front of the
cell to be cuffed. When the orders
were disobeyed, according to the
defendants, “mace was applied" to
force compliance.
Plaintiffs argue that the use of
mace under the circumstances described
in this record are in violation of
their Eighth Amendment right to be
free from cruel and unusual
punishment. They also claim that the
macings are in violation of the
reguiations of the State of Wisconsin
under which the prison operates and
that, therefore, the use of mace
violates the inmates' rights under the
Fourteenth Amendment. Defendants
argue that their use of mace is proper
under the Eighth Amendment; that the
plaintiffs have no liberty interest in
the defendants' observation of their
-6§63-
own administrative regulations, so
that no due process claim exists;
and that even if such a claim existed,
defendants are acting within the
regulations.
Cases involving the use of
chemical agents in prisons reveal the
reluctance of the federal judiciary to
get involved with the administration
of state prisons. They show a
recognition on the part of judges that
prison officials are in a difficult
and dangerous business. See, for
instance, Hendrix v. Faulkner, 525
F.Supp. 435 (E.D. Ind. 1981), and
cases cited therein.
The decision of February 22, 1982,
reflects my reluctance to be involved
with the administration of the prison
at Waupun and a recognition of the
Gifficulty of running a prison. At
-64-
that time I stated that it was a short
step from the case law regarding
macing to the “conclusion that the
Incident Reports in the record may, in
some instances, reveal that mace is
employed in a manner not sanctioned by
the Eighth Amendment to the
Constitution." p. 10. I also stated
that defendants’ conduct was likely to
be found in violation of their own
regulations. A preliminary injunction
was denied, however, on the basis that
to grant it would disserve the public
interest:
Because of the serious
and difficult tasks
faced by defendants to
this action, I am
convinced that the
public interest is
served by allowing them
time to reevaluate their
interpretation of their
regulations before being
faced with a federal
court order. p. ll.
o63-
So far as I can tell, the decision
of February 22, 1982, has had no
effect on defendants’ views.
Consequently, I must set aside my
reluctance to become involved in the
administration of the prison and my
hope that the defendants would
recognize that regardless of their
personal views, the law, while not
entirely clear, requires curbs on the
use of chemical agents. The point has
come to be certain that the
constitutional rights of the inmates
are not being violated.
The Eighth Amendment prohibits
punishment which is incompatible with
"evolving standards of decency that
mark the progress of a maturing
society." Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S.
97 (1978). The use of chemical agents
in prisons has required courts to
-66-
consider whether its use is compatible
with contemporary attitudes toward
what constitutes cruel and unusual
punishment. Some courts have
Sanctioned the use of tear gas and
other chemicals. See Bethea v.
Crouse, 417 F.2d 504 (10th Cir. 1969);
Washington v. Anderson, 387 F.Supp.
412 (E.D. Okla. 1974). Other courts
in later cases have taken a close look
at the physical effects of chemical
agents and have determined that under
some conditions their use violates the
Eighth Amendment. See Spain v.
Procunier, 600 F.2d 189 (9th Cir.
1979).
Two fairly recent decisions from
the Court of Appeals for this Circuit
have recognized the trend toward
restricting the use of chemical
agents. In Stringer v. Rowe, 616 F.2d
993, 999 (7th Cir. 1980), the court
-67?-
pointed out that while courts in the
past have sanctioned the use of
chemical agents when reasonably
necessary, recent decisions have
“emphasized that use of chemical
agents such as tear gas and mace by
prison officials to subdue individual
prisoners, rather than to quell large
disturbances, should be more
restricted."
In Lock v. Jenkins, 641 F.2d 488
(7th Cir. 1981), the court considered
the use of tear gas and other chemical
disabling agents on pretrial
detainees. The analysis proceeded
under the Fourteenth, not the Eighth
Amendment. However, the court implied
that the issues posed were the same.
Relying on Stringer, supra and Spain,
Supra, the court concluded that only
in “rare occasions" would it be
appropriate to use chemical agents to
control inmates already confined in
their cells. In Lock, supra, the
record shows that the inmates were
engaged in “inciting to riot at a time
of tremendous tension in the prison
following an attempted escape and the
taking hostage of the prison Warden
and several others." The court
concluded:
We believe that the
facts shown regarding
this institute
constitute one of the
rare occasions when the
use of tear gas against
persons locked in cells
was not unjustified.
At 496.
However, as to other incidents
~revealed in the record, the conclusion
was contrary. The use of gas to
retrieve a metal food tray was found
to be constitutionally impermissible.
Also impermissible was the use of a
-6§69-
chemical agent to stop inmates from
shouting and uttering threats:
We have also found
unconstitutional the use
of a chemical agent to
stop unpleasant but not
threatening behavior by
safekeepers locked in
their cells. At 500.
These cases do not offer clear
guidance in all situations as to when
the use of mace is justified and when
it is not. They do, however, indicate
that some of the incidents in the
record before me describe conduct
which violates the Eighth Amendment.
The incidents involve macing of
inmates locked either in a cell or a
Strip cage. There appears to be no
recognition on the part of the
defendants that such macing is highly
questionable. For the most part,
there appears to be no indication that
the capacity of an individual inmate
°70~
for violence is considered in
determining whether mace is used. A
blanket statement that the individuals
in the Adjustment Center are the most
troublesome in the prison system is
not an adequate substitute for looking
at the individual case. Prisoners who
one day may be walking free in the
yard can commit an infraction of
prison rules and the next day be
locked in cells in the Adjustment
Center. In addition, the fact that
one day inmate Mallory was maced for
not returning his food tray and the
next day he was not maced for the same
action shows the apparent arbitrary
nature of the decisions.
In many cases the conduct on the
part of the inmates is passive.
Stopping the inmates' conduct could in
no way be characterized as urgent.
aFi«
me doivent bss albecaatiaaal
Also, some of the reports involved
macing for yelling and shouting,
macings prohibited by Lock. Thus,
even though the requirements of the
Eighth Amendment are not entirely
Clear under the case law, some of the
macings revealed in this record are
violations of the constitutional
rights of the inmates involved.
The Wisconsin Administrative Code
provides somewhat more specific
guidelines for Wisconsn prison
officials. H.S.S. § 306.08 provides
that chemical agents can be used only
in two situations: (1) to subdue an
inmate who poses an immediate threat
of injury or death to another, and (2)
to regain control of an institution or
part of an institution. The
regulations also provide that the use
of chemical agents “shail be
authorized only by the
o72-
Superintendent.” Plaintiffs argue
that defendants have violated these
reguations and therefore have also
violated the inmates‘ due process
rights under the Fourteenth
Amendment. Defendants argue that
"there is no basis in the record that
the plaintiffs had an expectation of a
liberty interest in defendants'
observation of their own
administrative regulations. ..."
Brief, p. 22. In support of this
proposition, defendants cite Shango v.
Gurich, 681 F.2d 1091 (7th Cir. 1982).
Defendants’ argument must be
rejected. A state can create a4
liberty interest “by statute, by rule
Or regulation." Meachum v. Fano, 427
U.S. 215, 229 (1976). The Court of
Appeals for this Circuit has stated
that "a prisoner may have due process
rights as result of entitlements
=73-
> E idiot Sell Uobandindt ee dieah ee, anh a
created by prison regulations ... ."
Arsberry v. Sielaff, 586 F.2d 37 (7th
Cir. 1978); Stringer, supra. The
court again recognized this principle
in Shango, supra. There the court
stated, however, that not every
official pronouncement spawns a
protectible right; specifically, state
granted procedural rights may not in
themselves create a liberty interest.
Shango involved interprison
transfers. The state retained total
discretion to transfer inmates between
institutions for any reason
whatsoever. The state-created right
to have a hearing regarding a transfer
did not alter the state's discretion.
Therefore, there was no “parent
substantive right” underlying the
procedural right. The analysis is
different if the state provides a
substantive right.
-74-
In Olim v. Wakinekona,
U.S. (April 26, 1983), the court
. stated:
+» « A State creates a
protected liberty
interest by placing
substantive limitations
on official discretion.
An inmate must show
"that particularized
Standards of criteria
guide the state's
discretion” ...
In Olim, the court cited with approval
the distinctions drawn in Shango.
In Hewitt v. Helms, 103 S.Ct. 864
(1983), the court recognized the fact
that a state may create a liberty
interest through enactment of
statutory or regulatory measures.
Even though the court cautioned that
not every regulation governing the
administration of a prison must be
treated as creating a liberty
interest, the regulation at issue in
that case was found to provide a
-75-
protectible interest. Similarly, the
Court of Appeals for this Circuit in a
decision post-dating Shango, supra,
discussed an Illinois law requiring
that persons receiving treatment under
its Mental Health Code be treated "in
the least restrictive environment."
The court stated that "This is a
State-created liberty interest...
csohnson by Johnson v. Brelje, 701 F.2d
1201, 1205 (7th Cir. 1983)." Thus it
is clear that if a state places
limitations on official discretion, it
in all likelihood has created a
liberty interest.
The nature of the interest
involved rather than its weight is the
determining factor in a decision as to
whether a liberty interest is
involved. In Meacham v. Fano, 427
U.S. 215 (1976), the court determined
that in the absence of a state law,
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interprison transfers did not
implicate a liberty interest because a
prisoner's expectancy of remaining at
a particular institution is “too
ephemeral and insubstantial." The
Same approach may be appropriate in
determining which regulations or laws
create liberty interest. See Hewitt,
Supra. In the present case the
interest is substantial. The state
has limited the discretion of prison
officials in the use of agents, the
abuse of which can constitute cruel
and unusual punishment. These
regulations create a liberty
interest. The inmates in the
Wisconsin prison system have a liberty
interest in not being subjected to the
use of chemical agents except as set
forth in the Wisconsin Administrative
Code.
aT}=
The question then becomes whether
defendants are in fact violating their
regulations. They ciaim that they are
not. They draw fine distinctions,
stating that no inmate is maced
because, for instance, he refuses to
return a meal tray; rather he is maced
because he disobeys a direct order to
return a tray which could result in
"his having to be physically
restrained or which could result in a
physical confrontation between the
inmate and correctional officers to
seek compliance with orders and to
coerce cooperation prior to the
necessity of using actual force."
They argue that if officers must enter
a cell to obtain compliance with an
order to return a tray, for example,
there is an immediate threat of bodily
injury which, under the regulations,
-7@-
justifies the use of a chemical
agent. The argument turns on the
possibility that a seemingly passive
inmate may attack officers who enter
the cell and that someone may be
hurt. Thus, in defendants view, the
requirement is met that mace can be
used only to "subdue an inmate or
inmates who pose an immediate threat
of bodily injury or death to
another." Additionally defendants
argue that because an inmate in a cell
is refusing a lawful order, control
over that cell is lost and mace is
appropriately used “to regain control
of an institution or part of an
institution."
It is highly questionable whether
the fact that something happen that
May result in injury equals an
immediate threat. It is questionable
oFG~
whether when defendants act first,
they can be said to be subduing an
inmate. Furthermore, although the
defendants state “chemical agents are
a type of force," they seem,
consciously or unconsciously, to
consider the use of mace an
alternative to “actual force."
Several times in their brief this
contrast becomes explicit. At page
23, defendants argue that “chemical
agents, which are a substitution for
force, are permitted to subdue an
inmate or inmates ...." At page
24, reference is made to the use of
mace “prior to the necessity of using
actual force." This attitude, which
is evident in the testimony of prison
officials, is contrary to the
Wisconsin prison regulations.
It might seem that in some
respects a factual question exists as
-80-
to what sort of force mace is. The
inmates see it as a very serious form
of force. The defendants see it as a
substitute for “actual force."
Defendants state that “chemical agents
are generally the most humane and
least harmful method of dealing with
obstinate and dangerous inmates
+ « « «" However, the decision as to
what chemical agents actually are is
not an open one. Wisconsin
Administrative Regulation HSS
306.06(a) defines force as follows:
"Force" is the exercise
of strength or power to
overcome resistance or
to compel another to act
or to refrain from
acting in a particular
way. It includes the
use of chemical,
mechanical, and physical
power or strength. Only
so much force may be
used as is reasonably
necessary to achieve the
objective for which it
is used. The use of
exceasive force is
forbidden.
ele
As it should be, the use of
chemical agents is included in the
definition of force. The appendix to
the rules further states:
Because chemical agents
pose a risk of injury to
others, resort to their
use is made in limited
Situations.
Later it is pointed out in the
appendix that there is a limitation on
the use of chemical agents similar to
the limitation on the use of firearms:
As with firearms, only
the Superintendent may
authorize its use.
Defendants’ apparent attitude that
chemical agents are not “actual force”
is simply incorrect under either the
regulations or the Eighth Amendment.
‘Despite this, defendants in fact use
mace in many cases as the first type
of force used. That is, aa
prisoner refuses to return a tray or
to be moved, even before he makes any
-82-
a
physicaliy threatening gesture or
statement, he may be maced. In other
words, mace is used as a “first
strike" weapon.
The clear implication of the
regulations is that mace is a serious
use of force. For purposes of
illustration, if the use of mace were
analogized to hitting an inmate with a
baton, the excesses in its use as
revealed in this record would be
apparent. No one would argue that the
prison officials could tell an inmate
to return a tray and then tell him
that if he refused, they would hit him
once with a baton; if he continued to
refuse that they would continue to hit
him. The flavor of corporal
punishment in that scene is clear, and
the regulations prohibit corporal
punishment. HSS 306.06(2). Yet when
mace is used, defendants seem to feel
=§3-
that they are not using force at all
or at least that they are being humane.
To say that they are incorrect is
not to argue with them that the use of
Mace prevents danger to the
correctional officers and is
expedient. It is not to say that mace
can never be used. It is not to
disregard the interests of the |
officers in being unharmed on the
job. But the regulations and the
Eighth Amendment must be recognized as
providing limits on the use of
chemical agents. The almost routine
use of chemical agents that I have
observed in this case violates the
inmates’ rights under both the Eighth
and the Fourteenth Amendments.
The order which will be issued in
this case will follow in all respects
the prison regulations. I will order
-84-
9/
that in a non emergency situation—
the regulations be strictly complied
with. Prior to the use of mace,
approval of the Superintendent must be
obtained. The Superintendent may
Gelegate that authority to Mr.
Heeringa, the Assistant Superintendent
of Security. However, the delegation
of authority must go no lower into the
ranks than Mr. Heeringa. I am
personally impressed with Mr.
Heeringa, and I am confident that he
will properly exercise his authority
and good judgment. I do not have that
same confidence in lower ranking
9/Nothing in this record reveals
anything about what would be done in
an emergency, for no true emergencies
are involved here. My order is not
intended to apply to a situation in
which, for instance, inmates are out
of their cells, rioting, destroying
property, or physically threatening
correctional officers.
-85-
officers, especially those pulling
long duty in the Adjustment Center.
Secondly, “to subdue an inmate who
poses an immediate threat of injury"
means that the inmate is at the
minimum making physically threatening
gestures. In some cases the throwing
of items from the cells equals
physically threatening gestures. Even
if physically threatening gestures are
made, however, if an inmate is locked
in his cell, and certainly if he is
locked in a strip cage, a careful
judgment must be made as to whether
less serious alternatives are
available. Finally, “to regain
control of a cell" does not mean to
require an inmate to return a tray or
to relinquish cigarettes or to spread
his buttocks. Nor, under the case
law, does it mean to force an inmate
-86-
to stop shouting. In addition, the
prison officials are required to
comply with the regulations to allow
the medical staff to treat inmates
following macing incidents.
Lastly, I come to the question of
damages in Mr. Soto's individual
case. While I find that his rights
have been violated, I also find that
the individual defendants, although
acting improperly, did not do so
recklessly but rather acted in good
faith, believing that their actions
did not run afoul of the
Constitution. Accordingly, individual
damages will not be awarded. The
relief here will be limited to the
injunction to be granted. It goes
without saying, however, that a good
faith immunity defense will no longer
be avaliable to state agents after
this decision is issued.
-87-
Findings of Fact
l. Plaintiffs are now, or at the
commencement of this action were,
inmates in the Adjustment Center of
the Waupun Correctional Institution,
Waupun, Wisconsin.
2. Defendant Elmer 0. Cady was,
at all times material, the
Administrator of the Division of
Corrections, Department of Health and
Social Services, State of Wisconsin.
Defendant Cady had the ultimate
responsibility within the Division of
Corrections for all policies,
procedures, and correctional staff
employed within the correctional
institutions in Wisconsin, including
the Waupun Correctional Institution.
In May of 1983, Mr. Walter Dickey,
Professor of Law of the University of
Wisconsin Law School and a witness in
this case, assumed the position held
by Mr. Cady.
3. Defendant Thomas R. Israel is
the Superintendent of the Waupun
Correctional Institution. He is
responsible for all policies,
procedures, and correctional staff
within the institution.
4. Defendant Gerald Heeringa is
Assistant Superintendent of Security
of the Waupun Correctional
Institution. He is responsible for
all security policies and procedures
within the institution.
5. The Waupun Correctional
Institution is a maximum security
prison in the State of Wisconsin, and
at the time of trial had a population
of approximately 1,154 inmates. The
approved designated capacity for the
Waupun Correctional Institution is 810
inmates.
6. The Adjustment Center, the
Major segregation center within the
institution, is a concrete and steel
building containing 67 cells. 59
cells are arranged in 2 tiers on the
main floor. The remaining 8 cells are
in the basement. Each of the cells is
approximately 7 feet wide by 10 feet
long by 8 feet high. Three of the
sides of each cell are solid
concrete. The fourth side consists of
a metal barred door. The ceiling and
floor are concrete. 15 of the cells
have a wooden outer door in addition
to the metal barred doors and are
commonly referred to as double door or
wooden door cells.
7. The strip cage is a thick
wire mesh cage in the Adjustment
Center, which is approximately 4 feet
wide by 4 feet long by 8 feet high.
-90-
Strip searches of inmates are
conducted in this cage.
8. The cells in the Adjustment
Center do not have windows.
9. Inmates are sent to the
Adjustment Center from the general
population for disciplinary purposes
and punishment resulting from
violations of prison rules. The
reasons an inmate may be sent to the
Adjustment Center range from
possession of contraband, theft,
refusing to go to work, up to fighting
with prisoners or staff.
10. Inmates are normally allowed
to have cigarettes and matches in the
Adjustment Center. Inmates are fed in
the Adjustment Center 3 times a day.
The meals are delivered by
correctional officers on plastic trays
and are served to the inmates while
ye
they are locked in their cells.
Plastic eating utensils and paper cups
are provided.
ll. The average daily population
in the 59 cells of the justment Center
since approximately the summer of
1982, is 80 inmates. Inmates are
frequently double-celled in the
Adjustment Center and, in fact, more
than two inmates have been placed in
an Adjustment Center cell ona
frequent basis during the last three
years. At times, over 100 inmates
have been held in the Adjustment
Center.
12. The chemical agents presently
used in the Adjustment Center are
Chloroacetenophenone (CN) and
Chliorobenzylmalononitrite (CS).
13. The CN used in the Adjustment
Center is in a liquid form, and is a
-92-
by-product of a kerosene-type
substance which makes the CN stick to
surfaces and persist. CN is sprayed
from a canister. The canisters used
in the Adjustment Center are
pproximately 2 inches in diameter, and
about 5-1/2 inches high. They contain
approximately 4-1/2 ounces of CN,
which is equivalent to approximately
35 1l-second bursts of CN. CN
vaporizes upon contact with the human
body and other surfaces.
14. Mace is a brand name used by
one of the manufacturer of the CN
which is available in the Adjustment
Center.
15. CS is a stronger chemical
agent than CN. CS is used in a powder
or dust form and is often referred to
as Federal Duster. CS dust is also
disbursed from a canister.
-93-
16. A liquid form of CS was also
used in the Adjustment Center during
the period relevant to the lawsuit.
The liquid form of CS, often called
Federal Streamer, is no longer used in
the Adjustment Center.
17. CN and CS are intended to
have the immeciate effect of disabling
and incapacitating persons on whom
they are discharged by causing pain
and an intense and pervasive burning
and tearing action.
18. The application and use of CN
and CS may result in serious and
permanent physical injury, especially
to the eyes and skin, in the absence
of immediate and competent medical
attention.
19. The effects of CN and CS may
be moderated by thoroughly cleansing
and bathing the body, changing
clothing and bedding, and ventilating
the affected area.
-94-
20. The use of chemical agents in
the Adjustment Center has increased
dramatically in the past 4-1/2 years.
21. From January 1, 1979 to
November 4, 1982, approximately 130
macing incidents occurred in the
Adjustment Center.
22. Most of the macing incidents
involve situations where inmates were
maced while locked in their cells or
in the strip cage. Some incidents
involved inmates who suffered the
effects of mace used on another inmate.
23. “Macing Incident Reports” are
written by correctional officers and
are intended to contain most of the
relevant information regarding the use
of chemical agents on a particular
occasion.
24. The defendants' policy
concerning the use of mace in the
Adjustment Center hasn't changed since
-95-
the filing of the lawsuit or the
rendering of the summary judgment
Gecision in February of 1982.
25. Many states operate their
prisons without the use of mace or
chemical agents, except in extreme
riotous situations.
26. The policy concerning the use
of mace in the Adjustment Center was
set by defendant Heeringa, and
approved by defendants Israel and Cady.
27. The possibility of serious
injury as a result of the use of
chemical agents is greater when
chemical agents are used in enclosed,
poorly-ventilated areas such as a
prison cell.
28. The first document issued by
the Division of Corrections,
Department of Health and Social
Services, on the use of chemical
agents was placed into effect on
January 15, 1978, and stated that,
Chemical agents for
purposes of security and
control shall be used
only in extra-ordinary
circumstances when a
Situation arises in
which physical force
would be otherwise
necessary and
unavoidable to protect
residents or staff from
great bodily harm.
(Emphasis added.)
Ex. 136.
29. Most of the inmates who are
placed in the Adjustment Center are
respectful to officers, do their
adjustment time and are returned to
the general population.
30. Correctional officers have
discretion to ignore some of the
conduct of inmates in the Adjustment
Center without taking disciplinary
action.
31. Some methods of dealing with
inmate misconduct are to take a
oS7<
portion of the inmate's property away
or to increase his adjustment time.
32. The most frequent kind of
major conduct violations in the
Adjustment Center are disrespect and
disobeying orders.
33. The authority to approve the
use of chemical agents in -he
Adjustment Center has been delegated
by defendants to the lowest
Supervisory level.
34. Defendants’ procedures for
the use of chemical agents in the
Adjustment Center do not require that
the officer in charge create a show of
force by gathering other correctional
officers an suiting them up in
Emergency Response Unit (E.R.U.) gear
before chemical agents are used.
35. The E.R.U. gear includes a
helmet with faceguard, a 4-1/2 foot
high, 2-man plastic shield, leg
-98-
guards, supporter, jump suit and a
wooden baton. This equipment is
available for several of the guards in
the Adjustment Center.
36. Defendants’ policy in the
Adjustment Center requires that
chemical agents be used first against
an inmate for refusing to obey an
order. After the use of chemical
agents, officers enter the cell
dressed in E.R.U. gear.
37. The cells in the Adjustment
Center are not cleaned after mace is
used against the inmate while he was
in that cell, except in the discretion
of the supervisor present. In the
Ajustment Center, decisions whether to
allow inmates to shower or to change
clothing and bedding after the use of
chemical agents are also left to the
discretion of the supervisor.
-99-
38. Chemical agents have been
used to create and preserve an
atmosphere of discipline in the
Adjustment Center.
39. Chemical agents have been
used in the Adjustment Center to gain
compliance with non-emergency orders
when the inmates against whom the
agents are used are locked in their
cells, handcuffed, or otherwise
restrained.
40. Chemical agents have been
used to seek compliance with an order
to stop yelling obscenities.
41. Chemical agents have been
used in the Adjustment Center against
inmates who refuse orders to take
medication.
42. Chemical agents have been
used in the Adjustment Center against
inmates who refuse an order to stop
throwing liquids from their cells.
-100-
43. Chemical agents have been
used in the Adjustment Center against
an inmate for refusing to remove a
book from the outer wooden door of an
adjustment cell.
44. Inmate Robert Mallory was
directly maced, in the eyes, on
February 4, 1981, while he was passive
and locked in his cell, for refusing
to return his plastic meal tray.
Instead of returning the tray, he
placed it on his bed, went to the back
of the cell and sat on the toilet or
Sink. He was not violent, made no
threats against any of the guards, had
no weapons and was not barricaded in
his cell.
45. On February 5, 1981, Mallory
followed the same pattern of conduct
as on February 4, 1981. However,
instead of macing Mallory on that
-101-
date, several of the guards entered
his cell dressed in E.R.U. equipment
and retrieved the tray from the cell.
46. Inmate Mallory suffered the
effects of mace as a result of the use
of chemical agents against other
inmates in the Adjustment Center,
including April 16, 1980, when another
inmate was sprayed with 4 cans of mace.
47. Inmate William McAdoo was
directly maced on October ll, 1980,
while he was passive and locked in his
cell, for throwing some milk from a
paper cup on a correctional officer.
Inmate McAdoo was not violent, did not
issue any threats against any
correctional officers, had no weapons
and was not barricaded in his cell.
48. Inmate McAdoo was not given a
shower and the water in his cell was
turned off for a period of time after
the macing incident, preventing him
-102-
from ridding himself of the effects of
mace.
49. On other occasions while
inmate McAdoo was in the Adjustment
Center, he suffered the effects of
mace and chemical agents when they
were used against other inmates.
50. Inmate Gregory Johnson is an
asthmatic. He was never directly
maced while in the Adjustment Center.
However, on several occasions he
suffered the effects of mace when it
was sprayed against other inmates,
including inmate Warren Washington on
March 8, 1981.
51. Inmate Laron McKinley was
maced on November 24, 1980, while he
was passive and locked in one of the
Gouble-doored adjustment cells. On
that date, he was maced for refusing
to remove a book from the outer wooden
door of the cell. The inner metal
barred door was locked at all times.
-103-
Inmate McKinley did not issue any
threats against any correctional
officers, did not possess any weapons
in his cell, and was not barricaded in
his cell.
52. Inmate McKinley was also
maced on September 26, 1980, while
locked in the strip cage. On that
date, he was maced for refusing to
spread his buttocks to complete a
Strip search procedure. At the time
he was maced, McKinley was naked and
had no weapons.
53. On other occasions, inmate
McKinley suffered the effects of mace
while he was in the Adjustment Center
when mace wasS sprayed on other inmates.
54. Inmate Carlos Soto was maced
on December 13, 1979, while locked in
his cell and handcuffed. Inmate Soto
was maced for refusing to double-cell
with another inmate.
-104-
55. On other occasions while in
the Adjustment Center, Soto suffered
the effects of mace when it was
sprayed against other inmates.
56. On various occasions, members
of the plaintiffs' class suffered the
effect of chemical agents but were
denied medical treatment, an
opportunity to shower or bathe, an
opportunity to have the cell cleaned
and ventilated, and to have their
clothes, bedding, and mattress changed.
57. As a direct result of the
conduct, policies and procedures of
defendants and their agents and
subordinates, inmates have suffered
and wi’ . continue to suffer
irreparable harm. Plaintiffs have
been without and will continue to be
without an adequate remedy at law.
The balance of harms favors
plaintiffs, and public policy requires
that relief be granted to them.
-105-
Conclusions of Law
1. This action arises under the
United States Constitution,
particularly under the provisions of
the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments
to the United States Constitution, and
under federal law, particularly the
Civil Rights Act, Title 42 of the
United States Code, §1983.
2. This court has jurisdiction
pursuant to Title 28 of the United
\States Code, §1343(3).
3. This action is certified as a
class action on behalf of ail past,
present and future residents of the
Adjustment Center at the Waupun
Correctional Institution.
4. The Waupun Correctional
Institution, including the Adjustment
Center, is being operated and
-106-
maintained by defendants pursuant to
state law.
5. At all times relevant to this
action, the defendants were acting
under the color and pretense of the
Statutes, ordinances, regulations,
customs and usages of the State of
Wisconsin, and under the authority of
their offices.
6. All of the defendants and
their subordinates and agents are
bound by the Wisconsin Administrative
regulations, including HSS §306.08.
Ve During the times relevant to
this action, defendants and their
subordinates and agents have used
chemical agents in the Adjustment
Center against the plaintiffs in
violation of plaintiffs'
constitutional rights under the Eighth
Amendment.
-107-
8. During the times relevant to
thas action, defendants and their
subordinates and agents have used
chemical agents in the Adjustment
Center against plaintiffs in violation
of plaintiffs‘ constitutional rights
under the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution by using chemical agents
in violation of the Wisconsin
Administrative regulations - HSS
$306.08.
-108-
INJUNCTIVE ORDER
The court finds that defendants,
their agents, employees and
subordinates have used or permitted
the use of and are continuing to use
Or permit the use of chemical agents,
including CN and CS, in the Adjustment
Center of the Waupun Correctional
Institution under circumstances which
constitute cruel and unusual
punishment to the plaintiffs in
violation of the Eighth Amendment to
the United States Constitution; that
such use also has been and continues
to be in violation of the
administrative regulations of the
State of Wisconsin, Department of
Health and Social Services,
specifically HSS 306.08, and that such
use has been and continues to be in
-109-
violation of the Due Process Clause of
the Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution; that plaintiffs
have been and are continuing to be
harmed, and the public interest and
the equities of the situation require
that the court now take action to
permanently enjoin the defendants’
wrongful conduct;
-110-
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED WITH
RESPECT TO THE USE OF CHEMICAL AGENTS
IN THE ADJUSTMENT CENTER OF THE WAUPUN
CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION:
l. Unless actual physical
control of all or a portion of the
institution has been lost, chemical
agents, including CN and CS, may not
be used except to subdue an inmate or
inmates who pose a clear, immediate,
actual anda direct threat of bodily
injury or death to another. Chemical
agents may not be used:
(a) aS an ordinary procedure
or other than in extreme and
exceptional cases;
(b) to control an inmate who
is not violent unless the threat
of violence is clear, immediate,
actual and direct;
-lll-
(c) to control an inmate who
is locked in his cell, unless
there is a clear, immediate,
direct and actual threat of bodily
injury or death to another;
(d) to control an inmate who
is handcuffed or otherwise
restrained unless there is a
clear, immediate, direct and
actual threat of great bodily
injury or death to another.
2. The use of chemical agents is
not appropriate to force an inmate's
compliance with a non-emergency order
where the inmate's refusal to obey the
order is passive and non-violent. The
mere possibility of a physical
confrontation and the potential of
resulting bodily injury, absent a
clear, immediate, direct and actual
threat of bodily injury is
insufficient to justify the use of
-112-
chemical agents. It will ordinarily
not be proper to use chemical agents
in the following circumstances:
(a) when an inmate refuses
to return a meal tray, cup, dishes
or other eating articles; a
refusal to return such an item,
however, justifies the withholding
of future food services to the
inmate;
(b) when an inmate refuses
to return contraband, such as
cigarettes, unless it is
contraband which may reasonably be
considered, in its present form,
to be a weapon;
(c) when an inmate throws an
object, such as food, water, urine
or feces, out of his cell;
(d) to quiet a prisoner;
(e) when an inmate refuses
non-emergency medical treatment;
-113-
(f) when an inmate refuses
to leave his cell to have it
cleaned; and
‘g) when an inmate refuses
to spread his buttocks for a
search in the strip cage where
such refusal is passive and
non-violent.
3. Chemical agents may never be
used against an inmate if he is
passive and non-violent.
4. Chemical agents may never be
used to punish an inmate.
5. Whenever circumstances are
such that the use of chemical agents
is proper, the person authorizing
their use shall give full
consideration to the alternative use
of other means of non-deadly force.
6. The use of chemical agents in
non-emergency circumstances shall be
-114-
authorized only by Mr. Israel or Mr.
Heeringa.
7. Chemical agents shall not be
used in amounts greater than necesaary.
8. Chemical agents are to be
used in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions.
9. Following each use of a
chemical agent, all exposed inmates
shall be examined by a competently
trained member of the medical staff.
10. This ORDER regarding the use
of chemical agents in the Adjustment
Center of the Waupun Correctional
Institution is to be in addition to
those restrictions already set forth
in HSS 306.08. Nothing herein should
be construed to relieve any person of
an obligation to fully, completely and
in good faith comply with and
implement all administrative
procedures promulgated by the Division
-115-
of Corrections, Department of Health
and Social Services, State of
Wisconsin, regarding the use of
chemical agents to the extent they are
not inconsistent with this ORDER.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
this 29th day of June, 1983.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Terence Evans
TERENCE T. EVANS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT
JUDGE
3985p/02-03-85
-116-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
CARLOS S. SOTO, et al.,
{June 29, 1983)
Plaintiffs,
vs. Docket No.
80-C-146
ELMER O. CADY, et al., Judge
Terence T.
Defendants. Evans
DECISION BY COURT
This action came to trial before
the Court with the judge named above
presiding. The issues have been tried
and a decision has been rendered.
IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED
That in non-emergency situations,
chemical agents in the adjustment
center of Waupun Correctional
Institution be used only in accordance
with the procedures outlined on pages
31 through 34 of the decision and
order dated June 29, 1983.
-117-
Dated: 6/29/83
SOFRON B. NEDILSKY, Clerk
By /s/ Regina Torcura
Deputy Clerk
-118-
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
CARLOS S. SOTO and
ROBERT DE MALLORY, on
behalf of themselves and
all others similarly
Situated,
Plaintiffs,
vs. Civil Action
No. 80-C-146
ELMER O. CADY
THOMAS R. ISRAEL and
GERALD HEERINGA,
Defendants.
[February 22, 1982]
DECISION AND ORDER
This is an action under 42 U.S.C.
§1983, filed pro se by plaintiffs
Carlos S. Soto and Robert DeMallory,
alleging that defendants violated
their constitutional rights under the
Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments
through the arbitrary, capricious, and
excessive use of mace, tear gas, and
-119-
other chemical disabling agents in the
Adjustment Center at the Wisconsin
State Prison at Waupun. On July 7,
1980, Attorney Peter Stone was
appointed to represent the plaintiffs,
and on September 1l, 1981, an amended
complaint was filed. On February 12,
1981, the case was certified as a
Class action. Plaintiffs have now
moved for summary judgment granting a
permanent injunction or,
alternatively, a preliminary
injunction.
Plaintiffs seek an injunction (1l)
prohibiting prison authorities from
using any chemical disabling agents,
other than mace and canister-type
dust, in the Adjustment Center, (2)
restricting the use of mace and other
chemical agents, and (3) requiring
that any resident exposed to a
disabling agent be allowed to cleanse
-120-
his eyes and body and air his cell
after exposure.
In support of the motion,
plaintiffs have submitted numerous
affidavits from prisoners alleging
various macing incidents. In
addition, the affidavit of Mr. Stone
sets forth actual prison documents --
Incident Reports of macing incidents.
The Incident Reports were prepared by
various prison officers after macings
had occurred. Taken together,
plaintiffs argue, the documents reveal
that the practices of the prison
officers are in violation of the
constitution and of Wisconsin prison
regulations governing the use of
chemical substances. In response,
defendants present numerous affidavits
from officers as weil as higher level
officials regarding both the need, as
they see it, for the use of mace in
-121-
general and further statements about
the specific incidents reflected in
the plaintiffs' affidavits.
The affidavits of the prisoners
paint a picture of the use of mace at
the Adjustment Center that differs
substantially from the situation as
portrayed by the defendants.
DeMallory, for example, states that
because his request for the return of
some personal property, including his
radio and typewriter, was denied, he
placed his meal tray on his bed rather
than at the front of his cell. For
this, claims DeMallory, he was maced.
The affidavit of Robert Lee Barnes
states that he was maced without
provocation merely because he was
about to be transferred to another
correctional institution. The
affidavit of Laron McKinley states
that he was maced for refusing to
-122-
remove a book from the outer wooden
door of his cell. The affidavit of
Filemon Amaro states that
approximately 5 or 6 cans of mace were
used against him while he was locked
in his cell. The affidavit of Paul
Chapman states that mace was blown
over the entire cell block in the
Adjustment Center by a fan in order to
test its effects. The affidavit of
Warren Washington states that he was
maced for refusing to give up his
plastic evening meal tray and that he
was maced in the face while he was
naked and handcuffed ina “strip
cage." The affidavit of plaintiff
Soto states that after he placed his
hands through the bars to be
handcuffed he was maced.
All of the prisoner affidavits
state that injuries were received as a
result of the macings, including, most
-123-
significantly, burning of the eyes,
temporary loss of sight and difficulty
with breathing.
In sum, the affidavits of the
prisoners attempt to show that mace
was used against them by the
defendants without adequate
provocation in circumstances under
which the inmates presented no threat
to human life or to the destruction of
prison property. The affidavits,
plaintiffs argue, also support their
contention that excessive amounts of
mace were used as a means of summary
punishment.
The defendants argue that their
affidavits raise genuine issues of
fact, thus precluding a grant of
summary judgment against them. They
also contend that their affidavits
demonstrate that the use of mace in
the Adjustment Center is within
-124-
constitutionally permissible
limitations.
Summary judgment is inappropriate
if material facts are in dispute. All
inferences and doubts drawn from the
facts in the record must be viewed in
the light most favorable to the party
opposing the motion. Staren v.
American National Bank & Trust Co. of
Chicago, 529 F.2d 1257 (7th Cir.
1976). The extent, provocations and
justifications for the macing
incidents, as disclosed in the
affidavits, are in dispute. Thus, the
request for summary judgment
permanently enjoining the defendants
from using mace and other chemical
disabling agents cannot be granted.
The plaintiffs' remaining request
is for a preliminary injunction
enjoining, within certain limitations,
the use of mace and other chemically
-125-
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disabling agents during the pendency
of this suit. Included in this
request are the plaintiffs' objections
to what they see as inadequate medical
attention following macing incidents.
In this circuit, a preliminary
injunction will be granted where the
following requirements have been
satisfied:
"(1) the plaintiffs have
no adequate remedy at
law and will be
irreparably harmed if
the injunction does not
issue; (2) the
threatened injury to the
plaintiffs outweighs the
threatened harm the
injunction may inflict
on the defendant; (3)
the plaintiffs have at
least a reasonably
likelihood of success on
the merits; and (4) the
granting of a
preliminary injunction
will not disserve the
public interest."
Fox Valley Harvestore,
Inc. v. A. O. Smith
Harvestore Products
Inc., 545 F.2d 1096,
1097 (7th Cir. 1976).
-126-
oe
All four requirements must be met.
In reviewing the request for
preliminary injunctive relief, I am
again confronted with the
contradictory affidavits. I can, in
part, resolve that concern by relying
only on the official “Incident
Reports" -- which come from the
defendants’ own records and are
written by prison employees -- and the
affidavits presented by the defendants.
Relying solely on this material, I
find that plaintiffs have shown that
they are likely to succeed on their
claim that at least some of the macing
incidents are unconstitutional.
However, in my view, the granting of a
preliminary injunction may more
seriously harm defendants than
plaintiffs and, in this circumstance,
granting an injunction would not serve
the public interest.
-127-
The state has regulations
governing the use of mace in its
prisons. As written, the regulations
are constitutional. If properly
interpreted and followed, the
regulations would protect prisoners
from unconstitutional macings as
effectively as an injunction. In my
view, plaintiffs' proof at trial is
likely to show that defendants do not
follow those regulations. However, if
I were to issue a preliminary
injunction, I would be doing no more
that enjoining defendants to follow
their own regulations.
That sort of order would be both
somewhat absurd and possibly harmful
to the administration of the prison.
Federal courts have followed a strong,
well-established policy of avoiding
unnecessary interference with internal
prison administration. For that
-128-
reason and because the state
administrative regulations exhibit a
sensitivity to constitutional
requirements, I will not preliminarily
enjoin defendants, but will admonish
them to look more closely at their
regulations and the case law discussed
below. In addition, I will expedite a
final determination in this case.
The Incident Reports and the
affidavits of the defendants show that
macing incidents generally fall into
four somewhat overlapping categories:
refusals of inmates to come to the
front of their cells to be handcuffed;
refusal to submit to strip searches;
refusal to relinquish items from
cells; and incidents of yelling and
throwing food, liquids, etc.
Thirty-nine Incident Reports
written by prison officers are
attached to Mr. Stone's affidavit. Of
-129-
those, approximately 17 involve
macings primarily in response to an
inmate's refusal to come to the front
of his cell to be handcuffed. Because
inmates in the Adjustment Center are
considered dangerous, they are
handcuffed before their cells are
opened. The usual procedure is that
an officer tells an inmate to come to
the bars to be handcuffed. If the
inmate refuses, what is referred to as
a “direct order” is given to the
inmate. If that order is disobeyed,
the inmate is maced. Ordinarily,
following the macing, the inmate
complies with the request. For
example, Exhibit ll, attached tc the
Stone affidavit, states:
"On the above date and
time, Inmate Cone
#60840-A was ordered to
be placed in full
Observation in the
Health Services Unit by
Dr. Arneson. Inmate
-130-
Cone refused to leave
his cell, AC Cell #5. I
then ordered him to come
to the bars to be moved
to HSU and he refused.
I then discharged a one
second burst of mace at
Inmate Cone striking him
in the chest area. ...
From time to time, one burst of
mace does not induce compliance with
an order. Exhibit 1 includes the
following statement:
"On above date and time
I was called to the A.C.
after Sgt. Strelow
notified me that Johnson
#544857 had refused
several direct orders to
come up to his bars to
be cuffed so that his
cell could be cleaned.
When I arrived at the
A.C. I proceeded to
Johnson's cell and again
issued him a direct
order to come up to his
bars which he still
refused. I then
informed Johnson that if
he did not comply with
the order we would use
Mace, still r-c7#iving no
response from »hnson.
At this time tne proper
procedure was followed
and Mace was
administered. After
-13l1-
several minutes had
passed Johnson still
would not come up to his
bars. CS Dust was then
used with two one-second
bursts being sprayed
into the air. After
waiting several minutes
with Johnson's cell door
closed it was reopened
but Johnson still
refused to come up to
the bars. The above
named Officers who were
already suited up in
full Crowd Control Gear
were instructed to enter
the cell. A struggle
occurred at this time
with Johnson finally
being cuffed and removed
to the shower... ."
Approximately eight reports show
that a similar pattern occurs when
inmates refuse to submit to strip
searches. Exhibit 2 reveals the
following:
"On above date and
approximate time, Inmate
Broadie #7621-A was
transferred from Program
Status to Adjustment
Status and refused to
comply with a direct
order of being strip
shook (sic). I
explained to Broadie
-132-
that if he did not
comply with the direct
order, I would spray him
with mace. Broadie
still refused the
order. I instructed
four officers to suit up
into Crowd Control
equipment and proceeded
to Cell #4. I did use a
small amount of mace on
Broadie. After
approximately five
minutes, Broadie came to
the bars and was cuffed
and taken to Cell 14
where he complied to a
strip search ...."
The incidents involving the
inmates' failure to relinguish items
from their cells show the same
pattern. On February 17, 1981, Inmate
John Schwartz was maced for refusal to
relinquish a ring. Exhibit 7. On
April 29, 1980, Inmate Roger Tubbs was
maced for failure to give up his
Cigarettes. Exhibit 20. Three
incidents are reported in which
inmates were maced for failure to give
back the plastic tray on which their
-133-
food is served. Exhibits 5, 9, 10.
For example, Exhibit 5 contains the
following statement:
"Off. Kluza was picking
up noon meal trays and
Inmate Washington
refused to give out his
tray. I went down and
talked with Washington
but he still refused to
give out the tray. I
gave Washington a direct
order to hand out his
tray, this he also
refused. I notified the
Security Officer and Lt.
Steckbauer entered the
block at 12:10 P.M. to
supervise. Off. Kluza,
Hoekstra and V. Nelson
suited up in riot gear;
Lt. Steckbauer issued me
(Sgt. Strelow) a
canister of mace, and
supervised the
application of it.
"Inmate Washington was
again given a direct
order to come to the
front of his cell to be
cuffed or to hand out
his food tray.
Washington refused all
direct orders. I
informed Washington that
mace would be used if he
refused these orders.
Washington still
refused, mace was then
applied... ."
-134-
Finally, a smaller number of
incidents are reported in which the
inmates were thiowing food or liquids
at the officers or in which they were
causing disruption by shouting. For
instance, Exhibit 21 reveals:
"On the above time and
date, I was informed
there was a problem at
the Adjustment Center.
Upon arrival there was a
great deal of noise and
bar rattling by
inmates. Sgt. Hills
informed me inmate
Amaro, #59227-A, for no
reason, started yelling
and threatening staff.
I went over to Amaro's
cell and tried talking
to him but with no
avail, and all the while
Amaro kept on pacing,
with hands above his
head yelling kill-kill.
I gave Amaro several
direct orders to come to
the front of the cell,
without any response
from him except his
repeated yelling of
kill. Chemical mace was
then applied with no
change. Amaro still
kept yelling and
disrupting the
Adjustment Center.
-135-
Permission was obtained
from Capt. H. McLaughlin
to use the Silent
Partner, Federal
Streamer, which also had
no effect on Amaro.
Three officers were then
informed to dress in
Riot Gear, and inmate
was physically taken
from his cell to
Control, Full
Restraints. Amaro
continually struggled
and kept on yelling,
kill, kill everyone."
The incident reported which
involves the most disruptive behavior
is revealed in Exhibit 23. Several
inmates were yelling "We want to go to
the hole, we want to go to the hole."
An officer on the cell block reported
that five inmates had thrown liquid at
him. It was determined that some of
the inmates would have to be removed:
". . » Residents Bell,
Jordan and Killebrew
caused no problems in
the transfer, however,
Bowie threw a pail of
liquid at me as I passed
his cell and then began
-136-
yelling disrespectful
and threatening
statements at me.
“Wiggins refused several
direct orders to come to
the bars of his cell to
be handcuffed. It then
became necessary to use
chemical mace on him.
The effects of the mace
were immediate in that
he came up to the bars
very quickly, was
cuffed and transferred
to Cell il, Controlled
Status ... .”*
The record also contains the
affidavits of Elmer 0. Cady,
Administrator of the Division of
Corrections of the State of Wisconsin,
and Gerald Heerings, Assistant
Superintendent of Security at Waupun
Correctional Institution. Mr. Cady
points out that the inmates at the
Adjustment Center are the “most
aggresive, assaultive, and disruptive
types in the institution." In his
view, control of the Adjustment Center
is “absolutely vital to the overall
-137-
operation of Waupun Correctional
Institution."
He also states that
repeated failure of inmates to obey
ligitimate orders would result in a
critical breakdown of order and
discipline.
If an inmate repeatedly
refuses an order,
"and the officers and
supervisors believe
there is reasonable
concern that the use of
physical force would
result in
injury, a
decision may be made to
use mace to reduce the
inmate's resistance so
that restraints may be
placed on him. Without
the use of chemical
agents, it would be
necessary
for officers
to enter the cell and
forcibly cuff the
inmate."
On this point
» Mr. Heeringa states:
“Failure to comply with
an order which requires
physical force to secure
compliance, under
supervision by security
supervisory staff
members is considered a
legitimate justification
for the use of chemical
-136-
agents to avoid injury
to both inmates and
staff."
Both Cady and Heeringa claim that
the use of mace at the Adjustment
Center complies with the regulations
pertaining to the use of chemical
agents found in 4 Wisconsin
Administrative Code, HSS § 306.08.
The court of appeals for this
circuit has addressed the questions
posed by the use of chemical agents in
correctional facilities in two recent
cases. In Stringer v. Rowe, 616 F.2d
993 (7th Cir. 1980), the court pointed
out that while courts in the past have
Sanctioned the use of chemical agents
when reasonably necessary, recent
decisions have “emphasized that use of
chemical agents such as tear gas and
mace by prison officials to subdue
individual prisoners, rather than to
-139-
quell large distrubances, should be
more restricted." At 999.
In Lock v. Jenkins, 641 F.2d 488
(7th Cir. 1981), the court considered
the use of tear gas and other chemical
disabling agents on pretrial
detainees. Thus, the analysis
proceeded under the Fourteenth, not
the Eighth, Amendment. However, the
court implied that the issues posed
were the same. Relying on Stringer
and Spain v. Procunier, 600 F.2d 189
(9th Cir. 1979), the court concluded
that only in “rare occasions" would it
be appropriate to use chemical agents
to control inmates already confined in
their cells. In Lock, the records
show that the inmates were engaged in
"inciting to riot at a time of
tremendous tension in the prison
following an attempted escape and the
taking hostage of the prison Warden
-140-
and several others." The court
concluded:
"We believe that the
facts shown regarding
this incident constitute
one of the rare
occasions when use of
tear gas against persons
locked in cells was not
unjustified." At 496.
However, as to other incidents
revealed in the court record, the
conclusion was contrary. The use of
gas to retrieve a metal food tray was
found to be constitutionally
impermissible. Also impermissible was
the use of a chemical agent to stop
inmates from shouting and uttering
threats. The court stated, at page
500:
“We have also found
unconstitutional the use
of chemical agents to
stop unpleasant but not
threatening behavior by
safekeepers locked in
their cells."
-141-
It is a short step from these
cases to the conclusion that the
Incident Reports in the record may, in
some instances, reveal that mace is
employed in a manner not sanctioned by
the Eighth Amendment to the
Constitution. As I stated above,
those same Incident Reports tend to
show violations of the state
regulations found in 4 Wisconsin
Administrative Code, HSS § 306.08.
The regulations provide for the use of
chemical agents in only two
situations: to subdue an inmate who
poses an immediate threat of injury or
death to another, and to regain
control of an institution or part of
an institution. Defendants seem to
interpret the regulations to authorize
the use of mace on an inmate who is
locked in a single cell and refuses to
obey a routine non-emergency order.
-142-
On its face, that interpretation of
the regulation may be too broad. A
proper interpretation of the
regulation would seem to limit the use
of mace unless prison authorities can
demonstrate that immediate compliance
with a direct order is necessary, and
that compliance with the order can
only be secured by entering the cell
and engaging in physically violent
contact with the inmate where, in all
likelihood, a prison official or the
inmate himself will be injured.
The regulations, to be
constitutional, must be interpreted to
limit the use of mace to extreme
Situations. They must recognize that
the use of mace to subdue individual
prisoners in single cells (as opposed
to quelling larger disturbances), must
be “more restricted." Stringer, supra
at 999.
-143-
Furthermore, the regulations
contain a built-in safe-guard to
prevent abuses: any use of chemical
agents must be authorized by the
Superintendent, a requirement I
interpret to apply to each macing
incident. By using the term
"superintendent" in the regulations,
the intent appears to be to vest the
power to authorize macings in one
high-ranking official. In this case,
I would interpret the term to include
both Mr. Thomas Israel and, perhaps
more appropriately, Mr. Heerings, the
"Assistant Superintendent - Security"
at the Waupun Correctional
Institution. I also interpret the
regulations to mean that if Mr.
Heeringa is unavailable, use of
chemical agents must be authorized by
someone of relatively responsible rank
outside the Adjustment Center who is
-144-
specificaliy designated by Mr.
Heeringa or Mr. Israel.
As I stated, however, I find that
the issuance of an injunction may
seriously harm the defendants‘
interest and duty in maintaining order
in the institution and may, as a
result, disserve the public interest.
The affidavits of Cady and Heeringa
state that without the use of chemical
agents it would be much more dangerous
to force compliance with legitimate
orders, with the result being a
breakdown of order and discipline in
the entire prison. I believe these
concerns to be legitimate.
The Adjustment Center at the
Wisconsin State prison is reserved for
inmates who pose disciplinary problems
while among the general population.
Unfortunately, placement in the Center
does not deter some inmates from
-145-
engaging in prohibited conduct. In
some instances, guards in the Center
become the object of an inmate's
frustrations both real and imagined.
A prison cannot be run by stubborn,
defiant inmates, but rather it must be
run by state officials lawfully
entrusted with the responsibility for
administering a reasonably safe and
orderly institution. Because of the
serious and difficult tasks faced by
defendants to this action, I am
convinced that the public interest is
served by allowing them time to
reevaluate their interpretation of
their regulations before being faced
with a federal court order.
Plaintiffs also seek an order
requiring defendants to provide
immediate medical attention to inmates
exposed to chemical agents and to
allow them to bathe or shower, change
-146-
their clothing, and ventilate their
cells. On this point, a direct
dispute appears in the facts presented
to the court. Plaintiffs all claim,
in almost identical language, that
they were denied medical treatment,
showers or baths, changes of clothing,
and ventilation. Defendants all state
that medical attention is always
given, and that water is available for
cleansing.
Again a regulation speaks to the
issue. Regulation HSS 306.08(5)
provides:
"After chemical agents
have been used, all
exposed inmates are to
be examined by the
medical staff. These
inmates shall have their
eyes cleaned with water
and be provided with a
change of clothing as
soon as possible.
Exposed living quarters
shall have bedding and
mattress changes and a
thorough cleansing."
-147-
The regulation is clear. If followed,
it provides protection to the inmates.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that
plaintiffs' motion for summary
judgment permanently Or temporarily
enjoining the defendants is denied.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that counsel
for each side appear for a conference
with the court on April 22, 1982, at
9:30 a.m. to consider further
proceedings in this case.
SO ORDERED.
Dated at Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
this 22nd day of February, 1982.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Terence Evans
TERENCE T. EVANS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
-148-
Opinion by Judge Kellam
JUDGMENT-ORAL ARGUMENT
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
September 20, 1984
Before
Hon. Joel M. Flaum, Circuit Judge
Hon. Wilber F. Pell, Jr., Senior
Circuit Judge
Hon. Richard B. Kellam, Senior
District Judge*
No. 83-2380
CARLOS S. SOTO and Appeals from
ROBERT DE MALLORY, the United
individually and on States District
behalf of all others Court for the
Similarly situated, Eastern
Plaintiffs-Appellees District of
Wisconsin
vs.
No. 80-C-146
ELMER CADY, Admini- Terence T.
Sstrator of Corrections Evans, Judge.
Thomas Israel, Superin-
tendent, State Prison
GERALD HEERINGA,
Security Superintendent,
State Prison, Defendants-
Appellants.
-149-
No. 83-2381
CARLOS S. SOTO, No. 80-C-321
Plaintiff-Appellee,
vs.
ELMER ©. CADY, et al.,
Defendants-Appellants.
This cause was heard on the record
from the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Wisconsin,
Division, and was
argued by counsel.
On consideration whereof, IT IS
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED by this Court
that the judgment of the said District
Court in this cause appealed from be,
and the same is hereby, REVERSED AND
REMANDED, in accordance with the
opinion of this Court filed this date.
*The Honorable Richard B. Kellam,
Senior District Judge for the Eastern
District of Virginia, sitting by
designation.
-150-
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPE) LS
For the Seventh Circuit
Chicago, Illinois 60604
November 2, 1984
Before
Hon. Joel M. Flaum, Circuit Judge
Hon. Wilber F. Pell, Jr., Senior
Circuit Judge
Hon. Richard B. Kellam, Senior
District Judge*
No. 83-2380, 83-2381
CARLOS S. SOTO and Appeal from
ROBERT DE MALLORY, the United
on behalf of them- States District
selves and others Court for the
Similarly situated, Eastern
Plaintiffs-Appellees District of
Wisconsin
vs.
No. 80-C-146,
WALTER J. DICKEY, 80-C-321
DONALD CLUSEN and Terence T.
GERALD HEERINGA, Evans, Judge
Defendants-Appellants.
CARLOS S. SOTO and ROBERT
DE MALLORY, on behalf of
themselves and all others
Similarly situated,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
vs.
WALTER J. DICKEY,
DONALD CLUSEN, and
GERALD HEERINGS,
Defendants-Appellants.
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The slip opinion in the
above-entitled cause decided
September 20, 1984, is amended as
follows:
Footnote 4 on page 10 is deleted.
Footnotes 5 and 6 on page ll thus
become footnotes 4 and 5,
respectively, footnote 7 on page 15
becomes footnote 6, and footnote 8 on
page 20 becomes footnote 7.
Nos. 83-2380, 83-2381
On consideration of the petition
for rehearing and suggestion for
rehearing en banc filed by plaintiffs-
appellees, no judge in active service
has requested a vote thereon, and all
of the judges of the original panel
have voted to deny a rehearing.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that the aforesaid .
petition for rehearing be, and the
same is hereby, DENIED.
*The Honorable Richard J. Kellam,
Senior District Judge for the Eastern
District of Virginia, sitting by
Gesignation.
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taint
4 Wis. Admin. Code HSS 306.01
HSS 306.01 Applicability and
purpose. (1) Pursuant to authority
vested in the department of health and
social services by s. 227.014 (2),
Stats., the department adopts this
chapter which applies to the
Cepartment, division to participate in
activities within a secure surrounding
that may assist them in a successful
reintegration into the community.
4 Wis. Admin. Code HSS 306.03
HSS 306.03 Security policy.
Primary security objectives of the
division of corrections are to protect
the public, staff, and inmates and to
afford inmates the opportunity to
participate in a safe setting in
activities that equip them to be
successfully reintegrated into the
community.
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4 Wis. Admin. Code HSS 306.06
HSS 306.06 Use of force. (1) In
this chapter, the following
definitions apply:
(a) "Force" is the exercise of
strength or power to overcome
resistance or to compel another to act
or to refrain from acting ina
particular way. It includes the use
of chemical, mechanical, and physical
power or strength. Only so much force
may be used as is reasonably necessary
to achieve the objective for which it
is used. The use of excessive force
is forbidden.
(b) “Non-deadly force" is force
which the vu er reasonably believes
will not create a substantial risk of
causing death or great bodily injury
to another.
(c) "Deadly force" is force which
the user reasonably believes will
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create a substantial risk of causing
death or great bodily injury to
another.
(d) "Bodily injury" means physical
pain or injury, illness, or any
impairment of physical condition.
(e) “Great bodily injury” is
bodily injury which creates a high
probability of death, or which causes
serious permanent disfigurement, or
which causes a permanent or protracted
loss or impairment of the function of
any bodily member or organ or other
serious bodily injury.
(f) “Reasonably believes" means
that the actor believes that a certain
fact situation exists and such belief
under the circumstances is reasonable
even though erroneous.
(2) Corporal punishment of inmates
is forbidden.
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(3) Non-deadly force may be used
by correctional staff against inmates
only if the user of force reasonably
believes it is immediately necessary
to realize one of the following
purposes:
(a) To prevent death or bodily
injury to oneself or another;
(b) To prevent unlawful damage to
property that may result in death or
bodily injury to oneself or another;
(c) To regain control of an
institution or part of an institution
after an inmate takeover;
(d) To prevent the escape of an
inmate from an instituticn;
(e) To apprehend an inmate who has
excaped from an institution;
(f) To change the location of an
inmate; or
(£) (sic) To prevent unlawful
damage to property.
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(4) Deadly force may be used:
(a) For the purposes stated in
sub. (3) (a)-(c);
(b) To prevent escape anc
apprehend an escapee from a maximum or
medium security institution; or
(c) To prevent escape from a
minimum security institution if the
user reasonably believes that there is
a substantial risk that a person
escaping will cause death or bodily
hari to another unless immediately
apprehended.
(5) Deadly force may not be used
if its use creates a substantial
danger of harm to innocent third
parties, unless the danger created by
not using such force is greater than
the danger created by using it.
4 Wis. Admin. Code 306.08 [effective
through November l, 1984)
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HSS 306.08 Use of chemical agents.
(1) Chemical agents may be used only
as follows:
(a) To subdue an inmate or inmates
who pose an immediate threat of bodily
injury or death to another; or
(b) To regain control of an
institution or part of an institution.
(2) In confined or close areas,
only CN and CS chemical agents and
cannister dust chemical agents may be
used. In all respects, the
manufacturer's safety instructions
shall be followed.
(3) Tear gas grenades,
projectiles, pepper foggers, and riot
shells may only be used in outside
areas and large enclosed areas in
which the danger due to a reduction in
oxygen is minimal.
(4) The use of chemical agents
shall be authorized only by the
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superintendent. It may only be
discharged by a correctional officer
supervisor or by a trained staff
member under the immediate supervision
of such a supervisor. Each
institution shall insure that every
staff member authorized to use
chemical agents is properly trained in
its use.
(5) After chemical agents have
been used, all exposed inmates are to
be examined by the medical staff.
These inmates shall have their eyes
cleaned with water and be provided
with a change of clothing as soon as
possible. Exposed living quarters
Shall have bedding and mattress
changes and a thorough cleaning.
(6) Whenever a chemical agent has
been used, an incident report shall be
submitted to the director of the
bureau of institutions.
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4 Wis. Admin. Code 306.08 [as amended
effective November l, 1984]
HSS 306.08 Use of chemical agents.
(1) Definitions. In this section: (a)
"Chemical agent" means CN or CS or a
comparable incapacitating agent in a
form which includes, but is not
limited to, a tear gas grenade,
projectile, pepper fogger, riot shell,
Or cannister.
(b) "CN" means chloroacetophenone.
(c) "CS" means O-chlorobenzyl
malononitrile.
(2) Regulation. The use of a
chemical agent is a form of non-deadly
force and is regulated by this section.
(3) Emergency Situations.
Chemical agents may be used when
necessary in the following emergency
situations:
(a) To prevent imminent escape;
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(b) To subdue an inmate who poses
an immediate threat of bodily injury
or death to self or someone else; or
(c) To regain control of all or
part of an institution during a
disturbance as defined in s. HSS
306.22(1), or an emergency as defined
in s. HSS 306.23(1).
(4) Nonemergency situations. (a)
To deal with situations other than
those described in sub. (3), chemical
agents may only be used where s. HSS
306.06(3) permits the use of force and
the inmate physically threatens to use
immediate physical force, which may
involve a threat to use a weapon,
against the staff member. An inmate':
verbal threats do not justify using
chemical agents.
(b) In order to ensure that
chemical agents are used only as a
last resort in these situations, the
-16l1-
staff member shall take the following
steps, if feasible, before actually
employing a chemical agent:
1. Communicate with the inmate;
2. Ask one or more other
available people to communicate with
the inmate, such as another security
officer, a social worker, a crisis
intervention worker, a member of the
clergy, or a psychologist or
psychiatrist;
3. Wait for a reasonable period
of time, unless waiting would likely
result in an immediate risk of harm to
the inmate or to another person;
4. Make a show of force to the
inmate;
S. Use physical power and
strength; and
6. Use any other reasonable
means short of applying a chemical
agent to enforce an order.
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REID ALR GN REA AL OO EOP FOB LOE IER TY Or
(c) When s. HSS 306.06(3) permits
the use of force and a staff member
knows of an inmate's history of
violent behavior in similar situations
and reasonably believes that the
inmate will become violent in this
Situation, a chemical agent may be
used after the procedures in par. (b)l
to 4 have been followed but before the
inmate physically threatens to use
actual physical force.
(5) Prohibited Use. Chemical
agents shall not be used when:
(a) It is clear thac the chemical
agents would have no physical effect
on the inmate; or
(b) An inmate refuses to follow an
order and exhibits no other behavior
that would justify application of a
chemical agent under sub. (3).
(6) Order of Use. When use of CN
or CS is indicated, CN shall be used
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first. If CN is ineffective, CS may
be used.
(7) Use in Confined or Close
Areas. In confined or close areas,
only CN or CS may be used. In all
respects, the manufacturer's safety
instructions shall be followed.
(8) Use Outside and in Large
Enclosed Areas. Tear gas grenades,
projectiles, pepper foggers and riot
shells may only be used in outside
areas or in large enclosed areas in
which the danger due to a reduction in
oxygen is minimal.
(9) Authorization. Use of
chemical agents may only be authorized
by the following persons:
(a) In situations under sub.
(3) (b) or (c), by the superintendent
or his or her designee;
(b) In situations under sub.
(3) (a), by the senior staff member
present at the time and place; and
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(c) In all situations under sub.
(4), by the superintendent or deputy
Superintendent, or, if neither is
present at the institution, the
security director or, if that person
is not available, the assistant
superintendent on call or in charge of
the institution.
(10) Application. Chemical agents
may be employed only by a trained
supervisor or staff member. When a
chemical agent is used in a situation
under sub. (4), the use shall be under
the immediate supervision of a
supervisor. Each institution shall
ensure that every staff member
authorized to use chemical agents is
properly trained in their use.
(11) Medical Attention and
Clean-Up. As soon as possible after a
chemical agent has been used, all
inmates who have been exposed to the
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chemical #11 be examined by the
medical staff. These inmates shall
have their eyes cleaned with water and
be provided with a change of
clothing. Exposed living quarters
shall have bedding and mattresses
changed and shall be thoroughly
Cleaned. Whenever CS is used, exposed
inmates shall be offered an
opportunity to shower.
(12) Incident Report. AS scOon as
possible following the use of a
chemical agent, an incident report
shall be submitted to the director of
the division's bureau of adult
institutions. The incident report
shall be as thorough as possible,
describing:
(a) The problem leading to the use
of the chemical agent;
(b) The steps taken prior to the
use of the chemical agent;
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(c) Why those steps were
inadequate; and
(d) Measures taken following the
use of the chemical agent.
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This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.