Brown v. Plata

Brown v. Plata (2011) is a Supreme Court case addressing prison overcrowding and inmate healthcare. The court recognized that California's prison conditions violated inmates' Eighth Amendment rights, which prohibit cruel and unusual punishment. Due to severe overcrowding, prisoners faced inadequate medical and mental health care, risking serious harm. The Court ordered California to reduce its prison population by implementing measures such as releasing certain inmates or transferring them to other facilities. The ruling aimed to ensure humane treatment and improve health services, emphasizing that overcrowded prisons cannot compromise basic human rights.