Current:Home > reviewsJudge rejects GOP call to give Wisconsin youth prison counselors more freedom to punish inmates -DollarDynamic
Judge rejects GOP call to give Wisconsin youth prison counselors more freedom to punish inmates
View
Date:2025-04-18 10:38:50
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected Republican legislators’ calls to give counselors at Wisconsin’s troubled youth prison more leeway in controlling and punishing inmates after a counselor was killed during a fight at the facility this summer.
U.S. District Judge James Peterson sent a letter Tuesday to state Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Van Wanggaard and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers telling them if they want changes at Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake Schools they should file a formal legal motion and need to show current restrictions on counselors are endgangering staff and inmates.
The youth prison in northern Wisconsin has been plagued by allegations of staff-on-inmate abuse, including excessive use of pepper spray, restraints and strip searches.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit in 2017 demanding improvements at the prison. Then-Gov. Scott Walker’s administration settled the case in 2018 by agreeing to a consent decree that prohibits punitive confinement, restricts confinement to 12 hours, limits the use of mechanical restraints to handcuffs and prohibits the use of pepper spray.
A group of GOP lawmakers led by Wanggaard have been pushing to relax the consent decree since counselor Corey Proulx was killed in June. According to a criminal complaint, Proulx fell and hit his head on concrete pavement after a 16-year-old male inmate punched him in the face. He was pronounced brain-dead two days later.
Wanggaard and other Republicans sent a letter on Aug. 16 to Evers, Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy and U.S. District Judge James Peterson complaining that the consent decree’s restrictions have made the youth prison more dangerous for staff and inmates. The Republicans asked Hoy to ask Peterson to reconsider the prohibitions.
Evers responded with his own letter to Peterson on Friday urging the judge to leave the consent decree alone. He reminded Peterson that brutal staff-on-youth punishments led to the restrictions in the first place and said conditions at the prison have been slowly improving since Proulx’s death. Wanggaard responded with another letter to Peterson saying the governor’s letter was political rhetoric.
Peterson wrote in his letter Tuesday that the consent decree has been in place for six years and it’s unfortunate that Proulx had to die to get state officials’ attention.
He went on to say that the way to demand change is through a legal motion, which would give all parties involved in the case a chance to weigh in.
The judge warned anyone who might consider filing such a motion that the U.S. Constitution sets minimum standards for treating inmates “beyond which lie cruelty and barbarism.” He noted that the consent decree does allow the use of handcuffs and confinement to protect anyone from harm and he’d like to see evidence that the restrictions pose a risk to youth or staff.
Wanggaard said in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday morning that he’ll continue to push for “responsible training and tools” at the youth prison and criticized Evers for not authorizing Hoy to demand Peterson revisit the consent decree.
Asked if GOP legislators might file a motion themselves, Wanggaard aide Scott Kelly said that the Legislature isn’t a party in the case and Wanggaard hadn’t discussed with him or other lawmakers joining it. Kelly threw the problem back at Evers, saying the governor could direct Hoy to seek revisions to the consent decree and improve policies at the youth prison.
Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback and Department of Corrections spokesperson Beth Hardtke didn’t immediately respond to messages Wednesday morning.
veryGood! (3278)
Related
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- HCA Healthcare says hackers stole data on 11 million patients
- Tesla's profits soared to a record – but challenges are mounting
- Microsoft slashes 10,000 jobs, the latest in a wave of layoffs
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- How to deal with your insurance company if a hurricane damages your home
- Trump’s Interior Department Pressures Employees to Approve Seismic Testing in ANWR
- Bridgerton Unveils First Look at Penelope and Colin’s Glow Up in “Scandalous” Season 3
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- A big bank's big mistake, explained
Ranking
- Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump
- Elizabeth Holmes could serve less time behind bars than her 11-year sentence
- At COP26, a Consensus That Developing Nations Need Far More Help Countering Climate Change
- Too Much Sun Degrades Coatings That Keep Pipes From Corroding, Risking Leaks, Spills and Explosions
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- Check Out the Most Surprising Celeb Transformations of the Week
- Scientists Join Swiss Hunger Strike to Raise Climate Alarm
- Tom Cruise's stunts in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One presented new challenges, director says
Recommendation
Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
Norovirus outbreaks surging on cruise ships this year
The $16 Million Was Supposed to Clean Up Old Oil Wells; Instead, It’s Going to Frack New Ones
On California’s Coast, Black Abalone, Already Vulnerable to Climate Change, are Increasingly Threatened by Wildfire
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
The number of journalist deaths worldwide rose nearly 50% in 2022 from previous year
Is a New Below Deck Sailing Yacht Boatmance Brewing? See Chase Make His First Move on Ileisha
Inside Clean Energy: Coronavirus May Mean Halt to Global Solar Gains—For Now