Summary
In United States ex rel. Jackson v. Petrilli, 63 F.R.D. 152 (N.D.Ill.1974), the court denied a motion of plaintiff to compel production of certain statements when a criminal investigation was ongoing.
Summary of this case from United States v. O'NeillOpinion
Proceeding on discovery motion of civil rights plaintiff. The District Court, McLaren, J., held that statements which were taken by Illinois State Police of five inmates subsequent to disturbance in Illinois State Penitentiary which led to plaintiffs' commitment to segregation were not discoverable in civil rights action by plaintiff against warden, where investigation was not completed, but was ongoing, and there was a need to maintain confidentiality of prison witness' statements.
Motion denied.
Bruce A. Hubbard, and Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, Ill., for plaintiff.
Charles H. Levad, Asst. Atty. Gen. of Ill., Chicago, Ill., for defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
McLAREN, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on the motion of the plaintiff to compel the production, pursuant to F.R.Civ.P. 37, of certain statements. For the reasons set forth below, the motion is denied.
This action is brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and is based upon plaintiff's commitment to segregation following an incident which occurred at the Pontiac Branch of the Illinois State Penitentiary on December 14, 1972. Subsequent to that disturbance, statements were taken by the Illinois State Police of five inmates. These statements were obtained prior to March 8, 1973. Copies of these statements were given to the Department of Corrections. Plaintiff seeks production of the statements.
There is no real dispute that the statements are relevant. The defendant asserts, however, that a criminal investigation is pending thereby rendering the statements privileged. In determining whether or not discovery should be granted, several factors must be balanced. An on-going investigation does not create an absolute privilege. See Frankenhauser v. Rizzo, 59 F.R.D. 339, 343-344 (E.D.Pa.1973); Wood v. Breier, 54 F.R.D. 7 (E.D.Wis.1972).
In Frankenhauser and Wood, both courts were faced with requests for police reports and summaries from completed investigations. The courts there balanced the theoretical notion of executive privilege and the need for confidentiality against the real need of the plaintiffs to obtain the material to prepare their cases. The instant case presents a much more difficult problem since the investigation is not completed but is on-going and there is a need to maintain the confidentiality of the prison witnesses' statements. This need arises from their role as inmates and as witnesses and the possible jeopardy in which this role may place them.
The danger of reprisals from implicated inmates is present.
There also appears to be an active investigation going on which may lead to indictment for murder. Compare Gaison v. Scott, 59 F.R.D. 347, 352 (D.Haw.1973); cf. 18 U.S.C. § 3500; Swanner v. United States, 406 F.2d 716 (5th Cir. 1969). Nor has an unreasonable period of time passed. Gaison v. Scott, supra, at 352. In Gaison, the Court refused discovery as to reports which related to an on-going internal police investigation. Id. at 353.
The Court is aware of the need plaintiff has for the materials. They are statements which may have led to the plaintiff's confinement, are relevant and ordinarily might be discoverable. Further, the Court recognizes that the right of plaintiff to be treated fairly and not to have been unlawfully segregated from the prison community is important. See Wood v. Breier, supra, at 10-11. But a murder investigation also involves important rights of society. The Court believes, on balance, that at least for the present it is necessary to protect the informants and maintain the confidentiality of the investigation. The motion is therefore denied; however should circumstances change or an unreasonable time pass, the motion may be renewed.
It is so ordered.