• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Federal lawsuit targets treatment of Wisconsin juvenile offenders

Federal lawsuit targets treatment of Wisconsin juvenile offenders

January 24, 2017 By Andrew Beckett

Lincoln Hills School (Photo: WI DOC)

A federal class action lawsuit has been filed over the treatment of juvenile offenders housed at state facilities, which alleges staff make excessive use of solitary confinement and pepper spray to control the population.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Juvenile Law Center of Philadelphia filed the lawsuit on behalf of four Milwaukee County youth, although the suit seeks remedies for all past, present, and future offenders at the state’s Lincoln Hills Boys School and Copper Lake Girls School in Lincoln County. It calls for the state to cease the use of solitary confinement, chemical sprays, and mechanical restraints against offenders housed at the facilities.

“These practices are really inhumane and quite harmful to the children they are imposed on,” argues JLC chief counsel Marsha Levick. “In hearing each of the things that are happening to these kids, if we place our own children in those pictures, I think it’s very easy to see why we believe these are constitutional violations.”

The two facilities have been the focus of intense scrutiny for more than a year, following numerous reports about abuse that prompted a federal investigation. No charges have been filed, but the controversy resulted in a change of leadership at the Department of Corrections and the removal of several staff members from the facilities.

The state Department of Justice said it is currently reviewing the lawsuit.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News, Top Story





compeer financial celebrates beef month

Featured Stories

Republicans propose American Family Field funding plan

Kaul files lawsuit following Senate vote to oust WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe

Inconclusive Senate committee hearing on status of WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe

NWS offers tips to beat the heat this week

Renowned Menominee leader Ada Deer dies at 88

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Republicans propose American Family Field funding plan

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC

 

Loading Comments...