Following the death of a counselor, the Department of Corrections has taken a more aggressive approach to managing youth prisoners who made perceived threats or were violent, according to a new report.
That includes confining those youths to their rooms for longer periods, while limiting socializing, showers, education with teachers, recreation time, telephone calls and visiting.
The report from the federal court-appointed monitor of Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake noted the impact the death of counselor Corey Proulx has had on staff, youth and the overall climate of the facility. The monitor also noted staff “seemed less exhausted” and “did not verbally express a fear for their safety.”
But the monitor noted that due to the changes, Corrections has moved to “partial compliance” from “substantial compliance” on two provisions laid out in a consent decree that was reached following a 2017 lawsuit over conditions at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake.
Corrections noted it remained in substantial compliance with 42 of the 50 provisions laid out in the consent decree in the latest reporting period covering July through September.
Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy said the agency had to “temporarily adjust staffing and programming” after Proulx’s death to ensure the safety of staff and youth.
“It is important, however, to remember that the monitor noted improvements being made throughout the reporting period and that the uses of administrative confinement declined, and we look forward to returning to substantial compliance in those two provisions,” he said.
Proulx died after he was attacked by an offender at Lincoln Hills. Since then, GOP lawmakers have called on the Evers administration to seek changes to the consent decree. The decree places restrictions on things like the use of chemical agents and confinement, arguing they were needed to ensure the safety of staff.
Gov. Tony Evers has rebuffed the calls.
GOP state Sen. Van Wanggaard, chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, was among those who have pushed for changes. His aide, Scott Kelly, said the latest monitor’s report supported the push for changes.
“Reasonable steps to ensure safety apparently got them out of compliance with the consent decree, and that’s been Van’s concern all along,” Kelly said.