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MELVIN SHELTON Plaintiff
vs.
DONALD W. GUDMANSON DICK VERHAGEN KRISTINE TIMM JAMES DOYLE JEFF CAMPBELL G. PETERS J. BOYCE and DONALD KLEMMER Defendants.
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Issues:
Corrections, search, policy and procedure, Fourth Amendment.
Case Summary:
Melvin Shelton, an inmate in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, files suit against state prison officials who plan to implement the state's sex offenders registration statute. Shelton contends the new law, which provides for DNA testing, violates the Fourth Amendment. Prison officials respond with a motion for summary judgment.
Decision of lower jurisdiction:
This is the first judicial review of this case.
Outcome:
Shelton loses. The United States District Court for Western District of Wisconsin ruled that the collection of DNA samples is not a violation of the Fourth Amendment. The court granted the corrections department's motion for summary judgment and dismissed Shelton's case.