Jones v. Blanas.

• Position: PRETRIAL DETENTION - Brief Article

U.S. Appeals Court

CONDITIONS

PUNISHMENT

CIVIL COMMITMENT

Jones v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918 (9th Cir. 2004). A jail detainee brought a civil rights against a sheriff and county for violations of his constitutional rights during the period he was civilly confined awaiting adjudication and eventual commitment under the California Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA). The district court entered summary judgment in favor of the defendants and the detainee appealed. The appeals court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with instructions. The court held that fact issues as to whether the restrictive conditions of confinement were justified by legitimate, non-punitive interests and were not...