Smith v. Aroostook County - Prisoners' Rights

  • Filed: Sep 6, 2018
  • Status: Victory
  • Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • Latest Update: Apr 30, 2019
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Summary

The ACLU of Maine joined a case on behalf of Brenda Smith, who uses physician-prescribed medication to keep her opioid use disorder in remission. Treatment with MAT enables Ms. Smith to live free from the devastating symptoms of addiction. Most of Maine's jails block incarcerated people from access to MAT. The lawsuit charges this denial of treatment violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

UPDATE: On April 30, a federal appeals court upheld the district court ruling which ordered the Aroostook County Jail to provide Brenda Smith with access to MAT for her opioid use disorder during her 40-day jail sentence. 

Case Number:
U.S. District Court for the District of Maine Docket No. 18-cv-00352-NT, U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Docket No. 19-1340
Pro Bono Firm:
Bernstein Shur
Partner Organizations:
Andrew Schmidt Law PLLC

Documents

U.S. Court of Appeals for the First District
U.S. District Court for the District of Maine
Where it started

Learn More About the Issues in This Case

Criminal Legal Reform View All Issues

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