OVERTON, DIRECTOR, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, et al. v. BAZZETTA et al.: certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the sixth circuit.

OVERTON v. Bazzetta (Supreme Court case); ACTION & defense cases; UNITED States. Supreme Court; PRISON visits; JUDICIAL opinions; KENNEDY, Anthony M., 1936-

The article presents information on U.S. Supreme Court case Overton, Director, Michigan Department of Corrections, et al. v. Bazzetta et al., case number 02-94, argued on March 26, 2003 and decided on June 16, 2003. The department has promulgated new regulations limiting prison visitation in response to concerns about prison security problems caused by the increasing number of visitors to prisons and about substance abuse among inmates. Prisoners, along with their friends and family members, filed a legal action alleging that the regulations violate the First, Eight and Fourteenth Amendments. According to the opinion of the court delivered by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the regulations bear a rational relation to the department's valid interests in maintaining internal security and protecting child visitors from exposure to sexual or other misconduct or from accidental injury.