Atwood v. Vilsack.

• Position: PRETRIAL DETENTION

U.S. District Court

SPEEDY TRIAL

CONDITIONS

DUE PROCESS

Atwood v. Vilsack, 338 F.Supp.2d 985 (S.D.Iowa 2004). Pretrial detainees who were awaiting hearings on their sexually violent predator (SVP) petitions, brought a class action against a state corrections department alleging denial of speedy justice. The district court granted summary judgment for the defendants in part and denied it in part. The court held that the failure of the corrections department to initiate proceedings for civil commitment of sexually violent predators until immediately prior to...