The Nation - News from July 16, 1985

Agreement between inmates and officials of violence-plagued Texas prisons calling for larger two-man cells was backed by U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice. The judge had ordered reforms of the prisons after inmate David Ruiz charged in 1972 that he and others suffered from brutality by guards and inadequate medical care. Justice’s order for single cells was overturned on appeal and a compromise was reached. The state agreed to reduce inmate population from 38,000 to 32,500.