U.S. Appeals Court: PRETRIAL DETENTION SEPARATION.

• Position: Brief Article

Janes v. Hernandez. 215 F.3d 541 (5th Cir. 2000). A traffic offender sued a county to recover for alleged violation of his civil rights based upon a sheriffs policy of confining all manner of arrestees, including those with prior felony records, in one large cell. The district court entered judgment in favor of the offender and awarded attorney fees. The appeals court affirmed, finding that the sheriff, as the county policymaker, did not have to know that specific felons and other inmates with whom the traffic offender was confined posed a risk of harm to...