Shaw v. San Francisco Complaint

Shaw v. San Francisco challenged various illegal policies, practices and conditions of confinement at the San Francisco Juvenile Hall (Youth Guidance Center), including an antiquated facility in need of substantial repair and maintenance, fire safety, inadequate staffing and training, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and the failure to provide clean clothes, adequate general or special educational services, recreation and programs and activities. These substandard and dangerous conditions were confirmed by U.S. Department of Justice inspections and by independent audits.

This taxpayer lawsuit was filed in 1990 by the Youth Law Center with assistance from Landels, Ripley & Diamond. The lawsuit settled in fall 1993, with the Youth Law Center continuing to monitor this facility for the next six years. In early 1999, we concluded our monitoring activities and dismissed this case.