Simpson v. Gallant.

• Position: Violation of civil rights - Brief Article

U.S. District Court

PRETRIAL DETAINEE

SEGREGATION

Simpson v. Gallant, 231 F.Supp.2d 341 (D.Me. 2002). A pretrial detainee brought an action against county officials, alleging violations of his right of access to telephone and mail services as the result of disciplinary actions taken against him. The district court held that the detainee's claim was properly characterized as a claim that jail disciplinary sanctions violated his constitutional right to make bail and to prepare his defense while he was a pretrial detainee. The court declined to determine, at the motion to dismiss phase of the case, if sanctions restricting access to mail and telephone were imposed to enforce reasonable disciplinary requirements. The...