Prisoners v. Prisons: A History of Correctional Mental Health Rights.

This article reviews the history of prisoners' rights with a focus on mental health treatment. The most common method of lawsuit, "1983 claims," will be explained, along with legislation designed to counter the flood of prisoner claims that started in the 1960s. Relevant landmark cases will be reviewed, including Cooper v. Pate, Vitek v. Jones, and Harper v. Washington. Finally, current class-action lawsuits against the state of California will be highlighted.