farmer brennan argued january decided june petitioner preoperative transsexual projects feminine characteristics incarcerated males federal prison system sometimes general prison population often segregation petitioner claims beaten raped another inmate transferred respondent federal prison officials correctional institute penitentiary typically higher security facility troublesome prisoners placed general population filing action bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents petitioner sought damages injunction barring future confinement penitentiary alleged respondents acted deliberate indifference petitioner safety violation eighth amendment knew penitentiary violent environment history inmate assaults petitioner particularly vulnerable sexual attack district granted summary judgment respondents denying petitioner motion federal rule civil procedure delay ruling respondents complied discovery request concluded failure prevent inmate assaults violates eighth amendment prison officials reckless criminal sense actual knowledge potential danger respondents lacked knowledge petitioner never expressed safety concerns appeals affirmed held prison official may held liable eighth amendment acting deliberate indifference inmate health safety knows inmates face substantial risk page ii serious harm disregards risk failing take reasonable measures abate pp prison officials duty eighth amendment provide humane conditions confinement must ensure inmates receive adequate food clothing shelter medical care must protect prisoners violence hands prisoners however constitutional violation occurs deprivation alleged objectively sufficiently serious wilson seiter official acted deliberate indifference inmate health safety pp deliberate indifference entails something negligence satisfied something less acts omissions purpose causing harm knowledge harm result thus equivalent acting recklessly however establish level culpability deliberate indifference entails term recklessness take subjective objective forms pp subjective recklessness used criminal law appropriate test deliberate indifference permitting finding recklessness person disregarded risk harm aware familiar workable standard consistent cruel unusual punishments clause interpreted cases amendment outlaws cruel unusual punishments conditions failure alleviate significant risk official perceived cause commendation condemned infliction punishment cases petitioner invitation adopt purely objective test determining liability whether risk known known rejected cases mandate inquiry prison official state mind accident repeatedly said eighth amendment subjective component pp subjective test permit liability premised obviousness constructive notice canton harris distinguished however mean prison officials free ignore obvious dangers inmates whether official requisite knowledge question fact subject demonstration usual ways factfinder may conclude official knew substantial risk fact obvious may official escape liability showing knew risk think complainant especially likely assaulted prisoner committed act matter whether risk came page iii particular source whether prisoner faced risk reasons personal prisoners situation faced risk prison officials may held liable prove unaware even obvious risk responded reasonably known risk even harm ultimately averted pp use subjective test foreclose prospective injunctive relief require prisoner suffer physical injury obtaining prospective relief subjective test adopted today consistent principle ne await consummation threatened injury obtain preventive relief pennsylvania west virginia suit prospective relief subjective factor deliberate indifference determined light prison authorities current attitudes conduct helling mckinney attitudes conduct time suit brought persisting thereafter making requisite showing subjective culpability prisoner may rely developments postdate pleadings pretrial motions prison officials may rely developments show prisoner entitled injunction finds eighth amendment objective subjective requirements satisfied may grant appropriate injunctive relief though approach issuance injunctions usual caution need ignore prisoner failure take advantage adequate prison procedures resolve inmate grievances may compel prisoner pursue pp remand district must reconsider denial petitioner rule discovery motion apply eighth amendment principles explained herein may erred placing decisive weight petitioner failure notify respondents danger error may affected ruling discovery motion additional evidence may available petitioner neither two respondents contentions officials knowledge confinement conditions thus alleged liable transfer present threat petitioner placed penitentiary clearly correct justify affirmance pp souter delivered opinion rehnquist blackmun stevens scalia kennedy ginsburg joined blackmun stevens filed concurring opinions thomas filed opinion concurring judgment farmer brennan justice souter delivered opinion prison official deliberate indifference substantial risk serious harm inmate violates eighth amendment see helling mckinney wilson seiter estelle gamble case requires us define term deliberate indifference requiring showing official subjectively aware risk dispute us stems civil suit brought petitioner dee farmer alleging respondents federal prison officials violated eighth amendment deliberate indifference petitioner safety petitioner serving federal sentence credit card fraud diagnosed medical personnel bureau prisons transsexual one rare psychiatric disorder person feels persistently uncomfortable anatomical sex typically seeks medical treatment including hormonal therapy surgery bring permanent sex change american medical association encyclopedia medicine see also american psychiatric association diagnostic statistical farmer brennan manual mental disorders rev ed several years convicted sentenced age petitioner biologically male wore women clothing petitioner trial underwent estrogen therapy received silicone breast implants submitted unsuccessful black market surgery see farmer haas petitioner precise appearance prison unclear record us petitioner claims continued hormonal treatment incarcerated using drugs smuggled prison apparently wears clothing feminine manner displaying shirt one shoulder app parties agree petitioner projects feminine characteristics practice federal prison authorities incarcerate preoperative transsexuals prisoners like biological sex see farmer haas supra time authorities housed petitioner several federal facilities sometimes general male prison population often segregation dispute petitioner segregated least several times violations prison rules neither disputed least one penitentiary petitioner segregated safety concerns see farmer carlson md march petitioner transferred disciplinary reasons federal correctional institute oxford wisconsin penitentiary terre haute indiana haute though record us unclear security designations two prisons penitentiaries typically higher security facilities house troublesome prisoners federal correctional institutes see generally federal bureau prisons facilities initial stay administrative segregation petitioner farmer brennan placed haute general population petitioner voiced objection prison official transfer penitentiary placement general population within two weeks according petitioner allegations petitioner beaten raped another inmate petitioner cell several days later petitioner claims reported incident officials returned petitioner segregation await according respondents hearing petitioner status acting without counsel petitioner filed bivens complaint alleging violation eighth amendment see bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents carlson green defendants petitioner named respondents warden haute director bureau prisons sued official capacities warden case manager director bureau prisons north central region office official office sued official personal capacities later amended complaint alleged respondents either transferred petitioner haute placed petitioner general population despite knowledge penitentiary violent environment history inmate assaults despite knowledge petitioner transsexual projects feminine characteristics particularly vulnerable sexual attack haute inmates allegedly amounted deliberately indifferent failure protect petitioner safety thus violation petitioner eighth amendment rights petitioner sought compensatory punitive damages injunction farmer brennan barring future confinement penitentiary including haute respondents filed motion summary judgment supported several affidavits petitioner responded opposing affidavit summary judgment petitioner also invoked federal rule civil procedure asking delay ruling respondents complied petitioner pending request production documents respondents moved protective order staying discovery resolution issue qualified immunity raised respondents summary judgment motion without ruling respondents request stay discovery district denied petitioner rule motion granted summary judgment respondents concluding deliberate indifference petitioner safety failure prison officials prevent inmate assaults violates eighth amendment stated prison officials reckless criminal sense meaning actual knowledge potential danger app respondents however lacked requisite knowledge found petitioner never expressed concern safety respondents since respondents knowledge potential danger petitioner deliberately indifferent safety ibid appeals seventh circuit summarily affirmed without opinion granted certiorari courts farmer brennan appeals adopted inconsistent tests deliberate indifference compare example mcgill duckworth holding deliberate indifference requires subjective standard recklessness cert denied young quinlan prison official deliberately indifferent knows known sufficiently serious danger inmate ii constitution mandate comfortable prisons rhodes chapman neither permit inhumane ones settled treatment prisoner receives prison conditions confined subject scrutiny eighth amendment helling slip prohibition cruel unusual punishments eighth amendment places restraints prison officials may example use excessive physical force prisoners see hudson mcmillian amendment also imposes duties officials must provide humane conditions confinement prison officials must ensure inmates receive adequate food clothing shelter medical care must take reasonable measures guarantee safety inmates hudson palmer see helling supra slip washington harper estelle cf deshaney winnebago county dept social services particular lower courts uniformly held assumed rison officials duty protect prisoners violence hands farmer brennan prisoners internal quotation marks citation omitted cert denied see also wilson seiter describing protection inmate afforded inmates conditio confinement subject strictures eighth amendment incarcerated persons demonstrated proclivit ies antisocial criminal often violent conduct hudson palmer supra stripped virtually every means foreclosed access outside aid government officials free let state nature take course cf deshaney supra estelle supra prison conditions may restrictive even harsh rhodes supra gratuitously allowing beating rape one prisoner another serves legitimate penological objectiv hudson palmer supra stevens concurring part dissenting part squares evolving standards decency estelle supra quoting trop dulles plurality opinion violently assaulted prison simply part penalty criminal offenders pay offenses society rhodes supra farmer brennan however every injury suffered one prisoner hands another translates constitutional liability prison officials responsible victim safety cases held prison official violates eighth amendment two requirements met first deprivation alleged must objectively sufficiently serious wilson supra see also hudson mcmillian supra slip prison official act omission must result denial minimal civilized measure life necessities rhodes supra claim like one based failure prevent harm inmate must show incarcerated conditions posing substantial risk serious harm see helling supra slip second requirement follows principle unnecessary wanton infliction pain implicates eighth amendment wilson internal quotation marks emphasis citations omitted violate cruel unusual punishments clause prison official must sufficiently culpable state mind ibid see also hudson mcmillian supra slip prison conditions cases state mind one deliberate indifference inmate health safety wilson supra see also helling supra slip hudson mcmillian supra slip estelle supra standard parties agree governs claim case parties disagree however proper test deliberate indifference must therefore undertake define farmer brennan although never paused explain meaning term deliberate indifference case law instructive term first appeared reports estelle gamble use shows deliberate indifference describes state mind blameworthy negligence considering inmate claim estelle inadequate prison medical care violated cruel unusual punishments clause distinguished deliberate indifference serious medical needs prisoners negligen ce diagnosing treating medical condition holding former violates clause since read estelle proposition eighth amendment liability requires ordinary lack due care prisoner interests safety whitley albers estelle establishes deliberate indifference entails something mere negligence cases also clear satisfied something less acts omissions purpose causing harm knowledge harm result point underlies ruling application deliberate indifference standard inappropriate one class prison cases officials stand accused using excessive physical force hudson mcmillian slip see also whitley supra situations decisions prison officials typically made haste pressure frequently without luxury second chance hudson mcmillian supra slip quoting whitley supra eighth amendment claimant must show indifference deliberate otherwise claimant must show officials farmer brennan applied force maliciously sadistically purpose causing harm internal quotation marks citations omitted also put officials used force knowing willingness harm occur slip internal quotation marks citation omitted standard purposeful knowing conduct however necessary satisfy mens rea requirement deliberate indifference claims challenging conditions confinement high state mind prescribed whitley apply prison conditions cases wilson supra deliberate indifference lying somewhere poles negligence one end purpose knowledge courts appeals routinely equated deliberate indifference recklessness see lamarca turner manarite springfield redman county san diego mcgill duckworth miltier beorn martin white see also springfield kibbe dissenting indeed fair say acting failing act deliberate indifference substantial risk serious harm prisoner equivalent recklessly disregarding risk however fully answer pending question level culpability deliberate indifference entails term recklessness farmer brennan civil law generally calls person reckless acts person duty act fails act face unjustifiably high risk harm either known obvious known see prosser keeton pp restatement second torts criminal law however generally permits finding recklessness person disregards risk harm aware see perkins boyce criminal law ed hall general principles criminal law ed hereinafter hall american law institute model penal code comment see commonwealth pierce mass holmes adopting objective approach criminal recklessness standards proposed parties case track two approaches though parties put way petitioner asks us define deliberate indifference called recklessness respondents urge us adopt approach consistent recklessness criminal law reject petitioner invitation adopt objective test deliberate indifference hold instead prison official found liable eighth amendment denying inmate humane conditions confinement unless official knows disregards excessive risk inmate health safety official must aware facts inference farmer brennan drawn substantial risk serious harm exists must also draw inference approach comports best text amendment cases interpreted eighth amendment outlaw cruel unusual conditions outlaws cruel unusual punishments act omission unaccompanied knowledge significant risk harm might well something society wishes discourage harm result society might well wish assure compensation common law reflects concerns imposes tort liability purely objective basis see prosser keeton pp see also federal tort claims act muniz official failure alleviate significant risk perceived cause commendation cases condemned infliction punishment wilson seiter rejected reading eighth amendment allow liability imposed prison officials solely presence objectively inhumane prison conditions see explained cases mandate inquiry prison official state mind claimed official inflicted cruel unusual punishment although state mind like intent ambiguous term encompass objectively defined levels blameworthiness see lafave scott substantive criminal law pp hereinafter lafave scott bailey accident said wilson repeated later cases eighth amendment suits prison officials must satisfy subjective requirement see wilson supra see also helling slip hudson mcmillian slip true farmer brennan petitioner points wilson cited approval appeals decisions applying objective test deliberate indifference claims based prison officials failure prevent inmate assaults see citing morgan district columbia cadc wilson cited cases proposition deliberate indifference standard applies prison conditions claims undo holding eighth amendment subjective component petitioner purely objective test deliberate indifference simply incompatible wilson holding sure reasons focussing defendant mental attitude actually rather differ eighth amendment context criminal law subjective approach isolates inflict punishment isolates punishment inflicted result act recklessly either setting person must consciously disregar substantial risk serious harm model penal code supra oral argument deputy solicitor general advised frank adoption criminal law mens rea requirement contending encourage triers fact find eighth amendment liability concluded prison officials acted like criminals see tr oral arg think concern misdirected bivens actions federal prison officials counterparts state officials civil character allude criminal law enforcing cruel unusual punishments clause applying free speech press clauses also adopted subjective approach recklessness see communications connaughton farmer brennan holding standard reckless disregard truth defamation action public figure subjective one requiring defendant fact entertained serious doubts truth publication defendant actually high degree awareness probable falsity internal quotation marks citations omitted said subjective recklessness used criminal law familiar workable standard consistent cruel unusual punishments clause interpreted cases adopt test deliberate indifference eighth amendment decision eighth amendment liability requires consciousness risk thus based constitution cases merely parsing phrase deliberate indifference reject petitioner arguments thoroughly objective approach deliberate indifference without recognizing crucial point whether prison official must know risk whether suffices know term speak certainty use deliberate example arguably requires nothing act omission indifference serious risk voluntary accidental cf estelle distinguishing deliberate indifference accident inadverten ce even deliberate better read implying knowledge risk concept constructive knowledge familiar enough term deliberate indifference force farmer brennan preclude scheme conclusively presumed awareness risk obviousness deliberate indifference judicial gloss appearing neither constitution statute accept petitioner argument test deliberate indifference described canton harris must necessarily govern canton interpreting held municipality liable failure train employees municipality failure shows deliberate indifference rights inhabitants internal quotation marks omitted speaking meaning term said may happen light duties assigned specific officers employees need different training obvious inadequacy likely result violation constitutional rights policymakers city reasonably said deliberately indifferent need see also elaborating justice separate opinion three justices agreed obvious ness test observed liability appropriate policymakers actual constructive notice need train opinion concurring part dissenting part hard describe canton understanding deliberate indifference permitting liability premised obviousness constructive notice anything objective canton objective standard however appropriate test determining liability prison officials eighth amendment interpreted cases section merely provides cause action contains state mind requirement independent necessary state violation underlying constitutional right daniels williams deliberate farmer brennan indifference serves eighth amendment ensure inflictions punishment carry liability see wilson term used canton case quite different purpose identifying threshold holding city responsible constitutional torts committed inadequately trained agents collins harker heights purpose canton found satisfied test permitting liability municipality disregards obvious needs needless say moreover considerable conceptual difficulty attend search subjective state mind governmental entity distinct governmental official reasons accept petitioner argument canton compels conclusion prison official unaware substantial risk harm inmate may nevertheless held liable eighth amendment risk obvious reasonable prison official noticed persuaded petitioner argument without objective test deliberate indifference prison officials free ignore obvious dangers inmates test adopt today eighth amendment claimant need show prison official acted failed act believing harm actually befall inmate enough official acted failed act despite knowledge substantial risk serious harm cf torcia wharton criminal law ed hall doubt subjective approach present prison officials serious motivation take refuge zone ignorance obvious risks actual knowledge risks brief petitioner whether prison official requisite knowledge substantial risk question fact subject demonstration usual ways including inference circumstantial evidence cf hall farmer brennan cautioning confusing mental state proof existence factfinder may conclude prison official knew substantial risk fact risk obvious cf lafave scott risk obvious reasonable man realize might well infer defendant fact realize inference conclusive know people always conscious reasonable people conscious example eighth amendment plaintiff presents evidence showing substantial risk inmate attacks longstanding pervasive expressly noted prison officials past circumstances suggest defendant official sued exposed information concerning risk thus must known evidence sufficient permit trier fact find defendant official actual knowledge risk brief respondents may prison official escape liability deliberate indifference showing aware farmer brennan obvious substantial risk inmate safety know complainant especially likely assaulted specific prisoner eventually committed assault question eighth amendment whether prison officials acting deliberate indifference exposed prisoner sufficiently substantial risk serious damage future health helling matter whether risk comes single source multiple sources matters whether prisoner faces excessive risk attack reasons personal prisoners situation face risk see brief respondents stating prisoner establish exposure sufficiently serious risk harm showing belongs identifiable group prisoners frequently singled violent attack inmates example prison officials aware inmate rape common uncontrolled potential victims dared sleep instead leave beds spend night clinging bars nearest guards station hutto finney obviously irrelevant liability officials guess beforehand precisely attack cf helling supra observing eighth amendment requires remedy exposure inmates infectious maladies hepatitis venereal disease even though possible infection might affect exposed commonwealth welansky mass affirming conviction manslaughter law requiring reckless wanton conduct nightclub owner failed protect patrons fire even though owner know advance light match ignited fire patrons lose lives state julius farmer brennan holding defendant may held criminally liable injury unanticipated victim however prison officials lacked knowledge risk said inflicted punishment remains open officials prove unaware even obvious risk inmate health safety trier fact may infer knowledge obvious words mean must prison officials charged deliberate indifference might show example know underlying facts indicating sufficiently substantial danger therefore unaware danger knew underlying facts believed albeit unsoundly risk facts gave rise insubstantial nonexistent addition prison officials actually knew substantial risk inmate health safety may found free liability responded reasonably risk even harm ultimately averted prison official duty eighth amendment ensure reasonable safety helling supra see also washington harper hudson palmer standard incorporates due regard prison officials unenviable task keeping dangerous men safe custody humane conditions spain procunier kennedy see also bell wolfish whether one puts terms duty deliberate indifference prison officials act reasonably found liable cruel unusual punishments clause address finally petitioner argument subjective deliberate indifference test unjustly require prisoners suffer physical injury obtaining correction objectively inhumane farmer brennan prison conditions indeed odd deny injunction inmates plainly proved unsafe condition prison ground nothing yet happened helling nothing test adopt today clashes common sense petitioner argument flawed simple reason ne await consummation threatened injury obtain preventive relief pennsylvania west virginia consistently principle subjective approach deliberate indifference require prisoner seeking remedy unsafe conditions await tragic event actua assaul obtaining relief helling supra slip suit petitioner insofar seeks injunctive relief prevent substantial risk serious injury ripening actual harm subjective factor deliberate indifference determined light prison authorities current attitudes conduct helling supra slip attitudes conduct time suit brought persisting thereafter inmate seeking injunction ground contemporary violation nature likely continue oregon medical society must adequately plead violation survive summary judgment must come forward evidence inferred defendant officials time suit filed time summary judgment knowingly unreasonably disregarding objectively intolerable risk harm continue finally establish eligibility injunction inmate must demonstrate continuance disregard remainder litigation future inmate may rely district discretion farmer brennan developments postdate pleadings pretrial motions defendants may rely developments establish inmate entitled injunction see wright miller kane federal practice procedure pp ed finds eighth amendment subjective objective requirements satisfied may grant appropriate injunctive relief see hutto finney upholding order designed halt ongoing violation prison conditions included extreme overcrowding rampant violence insufficient food unsanitary conditions course district approach issuance injunctive orders usual caution see bell wolfish supra warning courts becoming enmeshed minutiae prison conditions may example exercise discretion appropriate giving prison officials time rectify situation issuing injunction prison officials current attitudes conduct helling supra must assessed action injunctive relief mean farmer brennan course inmates free bypass adequate internal prison procedures bring health safety concerns directly appeal equity jurisdiction conferred federal district courts appeal sound discretion guides determinations courts equity meredith winter litigant making appeal must show intervention equity required prison inmate seeks injunctive relief need ignore inmate failure take advantage adequate prison procedures inmate needlessly bypasses procedures may properly compelled pursue cf authorizing district courts actions require inmates exhaust plain speedy effective administrative remedies available even apart demands equity inmate well advised take advantage internal prison procedures resolving inmate grievances procedures produce results typically faster judicial processes even bring constitutionally required changes inmate task obviously much easier accordingly reject petitioner arguments hold prison official may held liable eighth amendment denying humane conditions confinement knows inmates face substantial risk serious harm disregards risk failing take reasonable measures abate iii backdrop consider whether district disposition petitioner complaint summarily affirmed without briefing appeals seventh circuit comports eighth farmer brennan amendment principles conclude appropriate course remand granting summary judgment respondents ground petitioner failed satisfy eighth amendment subjective requirement district may placed decisive weight petitioner failure notify respondents risk harm petitioner never expressed concern safety respondents app evidence district cited conclusion genuine dispute respondents assertion knowledge potential danger petitioner ibid respect petitioner claims damages injunctive relief failure give advance notice dispositive petitioner may establish respondents awareness reliance relevant evidence see supra summary judgment record clearly establish respondent entitlement judgment matter law issue subjective knowledge simply assume absence error example papers filed opposition respondents summary judgment motion petitioner pointed respondents admission petitioner nonviolent transsexual petitioner youth feminine appearance likely experience great deal sexual pressure prison app petitioner recounted statement one respondents warden penitentiary lewisburg pennsylvania told petitioner high probability petitioner safely function incident confirmed published district opinion see farmer carlson see also ibid clearly placing plaintiff year old transsexual general population lewisburg security institution pose significant farmer brennan threat internal security general plaintiff particular moreover certain additional evidence unavailable petitioner denying petitioner rule motion additional discovery district may acted mistaken belief petitioner failure notify dispositive petitioner asserted papers accompanying rule motion requested documents show defendant knowledge haute violent institution history sexual assault stabbings defendant showed reckless disregard safety designating said institution knowing sexually assaulted app denying rule motion district stated requested documents shown plaintiff necessary oppose defendants motion summary judgment app statement consistent erroneous view failure notify fatal petitioner complaint district may mistakenly thought advance notification necessary element eighth amendment claim think proper remand reconsideration petitioner rule motion whether additional discovery permitted application eighth amendment principles explained farmer brennan respondents urge us affirm reasons relied neither contentions clearly correct justify affirmance respect petitioner damages claim respondents argue officials sued individual capacities officials bureau prisons north central region office alleged liable transfer petitioner haute whereas petitioner nowhere alleges reason believing officials direct responsibility administering terre haute institution knowledge conditions within institution regarding danger transsexual inmates brief respondents petitioner rule motion alleged though respondents suggest petitioner offered factual basis assertion ground chose oppose petitioner rule motion event matter exercise district judgment finally extent respondents seek affirmance ground officials bureau prisons regional office power control prisoner placement terre haute record gives least suggestion contrary affidavit one respondent warden haute haute month petitioner placed administrative segregation pursuant directive north central regional office request staff app accordingly though reject respondents arguments petitioner claim damages record permit us accept basis affirmance relied upon respondents free develop line argument remand farmer brennan respect petitioner claim injunctive relief respondents argued merits brief claim foreclosed petitioner assignment administrative detention status condition well absence allegation administrative detention status poses continuing threat physical injury brief respondents oral argument however deputy solicitor general informed us petitioner longer administrative detention placed general prison population medium security prison tr oral arg suggested affirmance nevertheless proper present threat petitioner placed setting face continuing threat physical injury argument turns facts likelihood transfer district far better placed evaluate leave respondents present point remand iv judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes appeals decisions effect include villante department corrections young quinlan pressly hutto alberti klevenhagen roland johnson goka bobbitt martin white berg kincheloe ramos lamm lamarca turner morgan district columbia cadc point risk inmate assault becomes sufficiently substantial eighth amendment purposes question case present address poles lies gross negligence term nebulous one practice typically meaning little different recklessness generally understood civil law discuss later text see keeton dobbs keeton owen prosser keeton law torts ed hereinafter prosser keeton see reply brief petitioner suggesting prison official deliberately indifferent knew facts rendered unreasonable risk obvious circumstances defendant known risk charged knowledge matter law see also brief petitioner see brief respondents asserting deliberate indifference requires prison official must know risk harm inmate exposed appropriate allusions criminal law course proper criminal prosecutions example sets criminal penalties deprivations rights color law obviousness risk conclusive prison official may show obvious escaped see infra escape liability evidence showed merely refused verify underlying facts strongly suspected true declined confirm inferences risk strongly suspected exist prison official aware high probability facts indicating one prisoner planned attack another resists opportunities obtain final confirmation prison official knows diseases communicable single needle used administer flu shots prisoners refuses listen subordinate strongly suspects attempt explain associated risk transmitting disease instructing juries deliberate indifference cases issues proof courts careful ensure requirement subjective culpability lost enough merely find reasonable person known defendant known juries instructed accordingly example evidence district establishes inmate faces objectively intolerable risk serious injury defendants plausibly persist claiming lack awareness prison officials state litigation take reasonable measures abate intolerable risk aware claim subjectively blameless purposes eighth amendment deciding whether inmate established continuing constitutional violation district may take developments account time even prison officials subjectively culpable state mind lawsuit filed prevent issuance injunction proving litigation longer unreasonably disregarding objectively intolerable risk harm revert obduracy upon cessation litigation district opinion open reading required advance notification substantial risk assault also advance notification substantial risk assault posed particular fellow prisoner see app referring specific threat prisoner safety eighth amendment however imposes requirement see supra farmer brennan justice blackmun concurring agree justice stevens inhumane prison conditions violate eighth amendment even prison official improper subjective state mind holding wilson seiter effect barbaric prison conditions may beyond reach eighth amendment prison official deemed individually culpable view insupportable principle inconsistent precedents interpreting cruel unusual punishments clause whether constitution violated turn character punishment rather motivation individual inflicted estelle gamble stevens dissenting wilson seiter overruled although go along reliance wilson defining deliberate indifference standard join opinion creates new obstacles prison inmates overcome sends clear message prison officials affirmative duty constitution provide safety inmates taken lightly decision today prison officials may held liable failure remedy risk obvious farmer brennan substantial officials must known see ante prisoners need await tragic event actua assaul obtaining relief ante petitioner transsexual currently serving sentence federal prison credit card fraud although biological male petitioner undergone treatment silicone breast implants unsuccessful surgery testicles removed despite overtly feminine characteristics previous segregation different federal prison safety concerns see farmer carlson md prison officials penitentiary terre haute indiana housed general population prison less two weeks later petitioner brutally beaten raped another inmate petitioner cell homosexual rape violence among prison inmates serves absolutely penological purpose see rhodes chapman citing gregg georgia joint opinion eighth amendment prohibits punishment physical mental totally without penological justification brutality equivalent torture offensive modern standard human dignity bailey blackmun dissenting horrors experienced many young inmates particularly like petitioner convicted nonviolent offenses border unimaginable prison rape threatens lives fall prey aggressors potentially devastating human spirit shame depression shattering loss accompany perpetual terror victim farmer brennan thereafter must endure see note rape prison aids challenge eighth amendment framework wilson seiter unable fend without protection prison officials victim finds mercy larger stronger ruthless inmates although formally sentenced term incarceration many inmates discover punishment even nonviolent offenses like credit card fraud tax evasion degenerates reign terror unmitigated protection supposedly afforded prison officials fact prisons badly overcrowded understaffed may well explain many shortcomings penal systems constitution sets minimal standards governing administration punishment country see rhodes thus answer complaints brutalized inmate resources unavailable protect reality nothing less torture stated dissent bailey society responsibility protect life health prisoners hen sheriff marshall sic takes man courthouse farmer brennan prison van transports confinement two three ten years act tolled bell whether like made collective responsibility free something emphasis original address chief justice record assn bar city new york mar analysis fundamentally misguided indeed defies common sense punishment necessarily imply culpable state mind part identifiable punisher prisoner may experience punishment suffers severe rough disastrous treatment see webster third new international dictionary regardless whether state actor intended cruel treatment chastise deter see also webster new international dictionary english language defining punishment ny pain suffering loss inflicted farmer brennan suffered person crime emphasis supplied cf wilson quoting duckworth franzen cert denied infliction punishment deliberate act intended chastise deter unduly narrow definition punishment blinds reality prison life consider example situation one individual sentenced period confinement relatively safe prison complete tennis courts cable television another sentenced prison characterized rampant violence terror circumstances natural say latter individual subjected extreme punishment matters little sentencing judge specify prison individuals sent relevant prison officials intend either individual suffer attack conditions confinement whatever reason resulted differing punishment two convicts wilson myopic focus intentions prison officials also mistaken legislature refuses fund prison adequately resulting barbaric conditions immune constitutional scrutiny simply prison official acted culpably wilson failed recognize punishment consists much specific acts attributable individual state officials cumulative agglomeration action inaction institutional level cases harv rev responsibility subminimal conditions prison inevitably diffuse often borne least part legislature yet regardless state actor institution caused harm intent experience inmate punishment simply less farmer brennan cruel unusual harm unintended view obvious fact reason believe adopting eighth amendment framers intended prohibit cruel unusual punishments inflicted intentionally judge noonan observed framers familiar wartime experience british prisons kind cruel punishment administered warden mentality captain bligh also familiar cruelty came bureaucratic indifference conditions confinement framers understood cruel unusual punishment administered failure charge give heed impact actions within care jordan gardner concurring opinion citations omitted emphasis supplied farmer brennan ii though believe wilson seiter overruled disagree reliance upon case defining deliberate indifference standard nonetheless join opinion petitioner never challenged holding wilson sought reconsideration theory upon decision based importantly opinion extend wilson beyond boundaries erect new obstacles prison inmates overcome seeking remedy cruel unusual conditions confinement specifically recognizes aving incarcerated people demonstrated proclivities criminally antisocial many cases violent conduct stripped virtually every means foreclosed access outside aid government officials free let state nature take course ante acknowledges prison rape constitutionally tolerable see ibid eing violently farmer brennan assaulted prison simply part penalty criminal offenders pay offenses society clearly prisoners obtain relief victimized see ante subjective approach deliberate indifference require prisoner seeking remedy unsafe conditions await tragic event actua assaul obtaining relief finally holding prison officials may held liable failure remedy risk harm obvious substantial prison officials must known see ante opinion clear message prison officials must fulfill affirmative duty constitution prevent inmate assault including prison rape otherwise face serious risk held liable damages see ante required rectify hazardous conditions see ante much possible within constraints wilson seiter seeks ensure conditions nation prisons fact comport contemporary standard decency required eighth amendment see deshaney winnebago cty dept social services short overruling wilson seiter better numerous opinions document pervasive violence among inmates state federal prisons see bailey blackmun dissenting mcgill duckworth cert denied redman county san diego en banc cert denied hassine jeffes alberti klevenhagen clarified jones diamond overruled grounds withers levine cert denied little walker cert denied holt sarver later proceeding sub nom hutto finney farmer brennan justice stevens concurring continue believe state official may inflict cruel unusual punishment without improper subjective motivation see estelle gamble dissenting opinion wilson seiter white concurring judgment join justice souter thoughtful opinion faithful precedents farmer brennan justice thomas concurring judgment prisons necessarily dangerous places house society antisocial violent people close proximity one another regrettably ome level brutality sexual aggression among prisoners inevitable matter guards unless prisoners locked cells hours day sedated mcgill duckworth today attempt rectify unfortunate conditions refines national code prison regulation otherwise known cruel unusual punishments clause hudson mcmillian slip thomas dissenting adhere belief expressed hudson helling mckinney thomas dissenting judges juries jailers impose punishment slip punishment time founding present day always meant fine penalty confinement inflicted upon person authority law judgment sentence crime offense committed slip quoting black law dictionary ed see also sheridan general dictionary farmer brennan english language defining punishment ny infliction imposed vengeance crime conditions confinement punishment recognized sense term unless imposed part sentence see helling supra slip thomas dissenting original matter therefore case easy one unfortunate attack befell petitioner part sentence constitute punishment eighth amendment approaching case however write clean slate beginning estelle gamble prison condition jurisprudence guided text constitution rather evolving standards decency mark progress maturing society internal quotation marks omitted see also ante helling supra hudson supra continue doubt legitimacy mode constitutional decisionmaking logical result context transform federal judges superintendents prison conditions nationwide see helling supra slip thomas dissenting although estelle loosed eighth amendment historical moorings unwilling accept full consequences decision therefore resorts subjective state mind component eighth amendment analysis attempt contain might otherwise unbounded liability prison officials cruel unusual punishments clause cf mcgill supra although disagree constitutional predicate analysis share view petitioner theory liability prison official held liable risks prisoner safety ignorant known fails even straightforward application estelle helling farmer brennan supra slip thomas dissenting adopting deliberate indifference standard challenges prison conditions estelle held mere inadverten ce negligen ce violate eighth amendment outset thus specified eighth amendment apply every deprivation even every unnecessary deprivation suffered prisoner narrow class deprivations involving serious injury inflicted prison officials acting culpable state mind hudson supra slip thomas dissenting reiterated understanding wilson seiter holding mere negligence constitute deliberate indifference estelle see also whitley albers petitioner suggested known standard nothing negligence standard discussion implicitly assumes ante thus even estelle petitioner theory liability necessarily fails question remains however state mind sufficient constitute deliberate indifference estelle given serious doubts concerning correctness estelle extending eighth amendment cover challenges conditions confinement believe scope estelle right confined narrowly possible cf helling supra slip thomas dissenting wilson already held highest subjective standard known eighth amendment jurisprudence maliciou sadisti action purpose causing harm whitley supra internal quotation marks omitted apply prison conditions cases wilson supra today adopts next highest level subjective intent actual knowledge type sufficient constitute recklessness criminal law ante noting farmer brennan due regard appropriate prison officials unenviable task keeping dangerous men safe custody humane conditions ante quoting spain procunier kennedy even though takes step right direction adopting restrictive definition deliberate indifference join opinion reasons expressed fully dissenting opinions hudson helling remain unwilling subscribe view adopted ipse dixit estelle eighth amendment regulates prison conditions imposed part sentence indeed ere issue squarely presented might vote overrule estelle helling supra slip thomas dissenting nonetheless issue squarely presented case respondents asked us revisit estelle one briefed argued question addition prudential concerns stare decisis counsels hesitation overruling dubious precedents see ibid reasons concur judgment however remain farmer brennan hopeful proper case reconsider estelle light constitutional text history facts case demonstrate difficult task petitioner taken general prison population security reasons asserted id need extra security precautions filed suit alleging placing solitary confinement unconstitutional see farmer carlson md petitioner present claim oddly enough essentially leaving general prison population unconstitutional subjected risk sexual assault read remand portion opinion intimate courts reached wrong result especially seventh circuit long followed rule law lays today see mcgill duckworth duckworth franzen rather regard cautionary measure undertaken merely give appeals opportunity decide first farmer brennan instance whether district erroneously gave dispositive weight petitioner failure complain prison officials believed risk sexual assault general prison population ante remand seventh circuit concludes district nothing opinion precludes seventh circuit summarily affirming entry summary judgment respondents favor page