JACKSON v. Hendrick

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Robebts,

Appellants, on behalf of themselves and all others confined in Philadelphia prisons, commenced this action seeking equitable relief from the allegedly unconstitutional conditions existing in the Philadelphia prison system. After taking extensive testimony, a special three-judge court found that confinement in Philadelphia prisons constituted cruel and unusual punishment. The court made findings of fact, conclusions of law, and entered a decree nisi. After appellees’ exceptions were overruled, the decree was made final.

Appeal to the Commonwealth Court 1 resulted…