On Walker's watch, Lincoln Hills is a humanitarian crisis

When it comes to the state-sponsored nightmare that is has been festering Lincoln Hills youth prison, what language suits you?

Humanitarian crisis too harsh?

Given the power differential between the state and underage inmates, I don't think so.

Now there is news of a suicide attempt at the female unit at the Lincoln Hills youth prison that has left a teenage-girl in this state facility in grave condition.

Do you remember this disgusting story about conditions in the state's youth prison which we the taxpayers pay for?

Lincoln Hills youth had toes amputated after run-in with staff

The allegations have been horrendous and are getting worse:

...teenagers sentenced to serve time at the state’s youth prison in Irma face being taken to a cell no larger than about the size of a gas station bathroom, outfitted with a single metal bed and metal toilet. There’s one window in the cell’s door, as wide as the inmate’s face, that looks across a hallway into another cell. 

Food is slid through what could be a mail slot. 

In some cases, inmates at the youth prison have spent weeks at a time in isolation, according to current and former inmates and staff. The official policy limits confinement in isolation to 60 days. 

That practice, along with alleged overuse of pepper spray and mechanical restraints, violates inmates’ constitutional rights, according to a federal lawsuit brought this week by four current and former inmates of the state’s youth prison, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin

And are not new - - with the Governor having been notified about these terrible conditions being inflicted upon juveniles in a state facility, at taxpayers' expense - - in 2012!

Retired Racine County Circuit Court Judge Richard Kreul was caught off guard when he heard a 2012 letter he sent to Gov. Scott Walker about a sexual assault at Lincoln Hills had surfaced. 

That surprise turned to outrage after learning the governor never saw the letter and that years passed until investigations into problems at the Irma youth prison began. 

“I guess the expression would be, ‘They swept it under the rug,’” Kreul said this week in a phone interview from his home in Texas, where he moved after retirement.

Sexual assaults. Injuries leading to amputations. Now a horrifying suicide attempt.

Against or suffered by youngsters.

Does Walker have to be confronted with deaths there - - as have victims, their families and Milwaukee County taxpayers who endured four deaths last year in Sheriff David Clarke's jail - - before some serious remedial action is taken, or ordered?

Enough.
   

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