Bounds V Smith

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Name and Citation; Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. 817 Court; United States Supreme Court Judicial History; The inmate, in the Department of Correction, in the state of North Carolina, filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the state did not provide them adequate resources and assistance to assist them in preparing their legal documentation. They were denied access to the courts, in violation of their 14th amendment right, by the state's failure to provide them with research facilities. The district court agreed with the prisoners finding that the library in this state prison was “severely inadequate” and that there was no other legal assistance available to the inmates. The district court granted the prisoners motion and ordered the state to develop a plan that would give the prisoners the ability to do their research. Facts; The prison in North Carolina only had one library for the inmates to you. That library was inadequate and there was no assistance given to the prisoners in the department of corrections. The prisoners needed the proper facilities in order to prepare their cases and request appearances before the judge. Issue(s); Is it the state's responsibility to provide law libraries and/or legal assistance to prisoners to prepare their cases? Is this a Federal Constitutional issue and/or a state issue? Holding(s); It is the responsibility of the states to provide legal assistance programs to prisoners. This assistance may consist of law libraries and/or legal assistance. Reasoning; The Constitution dictates the rights of prisoners to have adequate access to legal libraries and or assistance so they can adequately prepare for their cases and to have access to the courts. Decision: Affirmed - MR. JUSTICE MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court. The issue in this case is whether States must protect the right of prisoners to access to the courts by providing

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