State reaches full compliance with court-ordered reforms at Lincoln Hills

IRMA – Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) this week announced that the State of Wisconsin has reached full compliance with all 50 court-ordered reforms at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools in Irma.

A release from Evers’ office said the reforms mark a “crucial step toward closing the two juvenile corrections facilities and moving youth to new facilities to receive treatment closer to their home communities.”

Federal investigators raided the embattled Irma facility in 2015 amid claims that staff had used excessive force. The raid preceded several lawsuits brought by youth who had been housed at the facility, and over the next four years, millions of dollars in legal settlements against the State of Wisconsin were reached.

Following the lawsuits, the state was placed under court order requiring 50 reforms at the schools and regular visits by a court-approved monitor to review and assess DOC’s progress toward complying with court-ordered requirements.

The reforms included addressing staff shortages and staffing ratios, eliminating punitive solitary confinement, eliminating the use of pepper spray, limiting use of mechanical restraints, providing enhanced staff training and support, ensuring confined youth have consistent access to basic services and necessities, making and codifying several administrative rule changes and improving incident review and response efforts, among other reforms, according to the release.

The state was in substantial compliance with one of the 50 court-ordered requirements in Jan. 2019, according to the release. As of Thursday, Oct. 2, the state was in compliance with all 50 reforms.

During the monitor’s most recent visit to Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools, the team conducted 66 interviews with staff and youth.

“The report notes that youth attitudes were positive, and staff continued to provide an exceptionally clean and safe environment,” the release stated. “Staff vacancies for youth counselors (4%) and youth counselors-advanced (8%) remained low. In addition to praising staff engagement, quality assurance and improved programming and wellness, the monitor also noted upgrades to the facilities, including extra Wi-Fi in all living units to accommodate the new youth tablets.”

“Leadership and staff have demonstrated sustained commitment to improving the conditions and daily experiences of youth and employees,” the monitor wrote. “Over the years, (DOC has) faced significant challenges, yet they have successfully navigated them while achieving meaningful reforms.”

Evers’ office said the DOC must continue to maintain substantial compliance over the course of several consecutive monitor reports in order to eventually petition the court to no longer require regular monitoring and supervision. The monitor’s next visit to Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools will occur later this fall.

A Type 1 facility designated to replace Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake was constructed in Milwaukee and is expected to open next year. The release said the state will then be able to begin moving youth housed in Irma to the Milwaukee facility.

“However, completely removing youth from Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake and converting the schools to adult correctional institutions will require more juvenile Type 1 facilities to be online, in addition to other programming designed to improve youth treatment, rehabilitation and successful reentry,” the release stated.

“We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and hard work from all of the staff at LHS/CLS and our Division of Juvenile Corrections leadership,” said DOC Secretary Jared Hoy. “This is a great achievement in a long journey, during which we’ve made tremendous strides in creating a better atmosphere for staff and youth. We are excited to carry this momentum forward as we implement a new model for juvenile corrections in Wisconsin to more effectively rehabilitate the youth in our care.”

“Closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake and building new youth facilities so we can move kids closer to home safely and responsibly has been a top priority for me and my administration even before I took office as governor,” Evers said. “And today is a milestone accomplishment in our work toward turning the page on the troubled history of these institutions and closing them for good. This is the culmination of years’ worth of hard work, a consistent commitment to treatment and rehabilitation and earnest dedication to repairing relationships and rebuilding trust, most especially by the staff at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake and DOC leadership. These folks have been doing extraordinary work to implement reforms and improve safety, treatment and care, and I’m incredibly proud of and grateful for their efforts that led us to today, which must continue in the months ahead.”