Brown v. Plata

California has failed to provide prisoners in its care with constitutionally adequate medical and mental health care. After dozens of remedial orders issued over more than a decade had failed to correct the constitutional problem, a three-judge court ordered California to reduce the size of its prison system, which was operating at more than 200% of its intended capacity. The ACLU argues in its amicus brief that the prison release order in this case was proper under Prison Litigation Reform Act. We further argue that a contrary interpretation of the PLRA would raise serious constitutional questions and also call into doubt our national compliance with international treaty obligations.