11/20/09

CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) _ Canyon County commissioners in
southwestern Idaho have agreed to pay $190,000 to the American
Civil Liberties Union for legal fees stemming from a federal
lawsuit the group filed earlier this year.

The lawsuit filed in January in U.S. District Court on behalf of
six inmates claimed conditions at the Canyon County Jail amounted
to cruel and inhumane treatment of inmates.

In August, county officials and the ACLU signed an agreement
that requires officials to closely monitor the jail population to
avoid overcrowding. The county also agreed to maintain and repair
heating, cooling and plumbing systems within two days of a problem
developing.

Commissioner Steve Rule says he's not comfortable paying the
money but the county would likely have faced a larger bill if it
hadn't reached the settlement on Thursday.

___

Information from: Idaho Press-Tribune, http://www.idahopress.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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