Correctional

Stateville Correctional Center to Relocate Inmates by September, Orders Judge

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Joliet, Illinois — A recent judicial order has mandated the relocation of all inmates from Stateville Correctional Center by the end of September. This decision follows a series of mounting concerns regarding the facility’s living conditions, which have been described as substandard and detrimental to inmate health and welfare. Located near Joliet, Stateville Correctional Center has long been at the center of debate over prison reform in Illinois. Built in 1925, the facility currently houses over 2,500 inmates. However, issues such as overcrowding, inadequate healthcare, and deteriorating infrastructure have cast a shadow over the institution’s … Read more

Juvenile Inmate Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Over Alleged Sexual Abuse at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility

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SALEM, Ore. – A man who was incarcerated as a juvenile in Oregon has filed a civil rights lawsuit alleging sexual abuse at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn. The lawsuit specifically names former Oregon Youth Authority drug counselor Emily Echtenkamp, who is already facing charges of sexual misconduct related to the alleged abuse. The lawsuit also accuses five other employees of turning a blind eye to the abuse. According to the man’s lawyer, Norah Van Dusen, the allegations assert that Echtenkamp engaged in sexual abuse while the man was in custody, and that … Read more

Former Correctional Officer Files Lawsuit Over Masking Policy at Centralia Correctional Center, Claiming Religious Exemption

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Centralia, Illinois – A former officer at the Centralia Correctional Center has filed a federal lawsuit after being fired for his alleged failure to comply with the mandatory masking policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Garrett Rose, a resident of Salem, claimed that his religious beliefs prevented him from wearing a mask from March to May 2022, resulting in his denial of entry to the prison each day. According to Rose’s lawsuit, he initially followed the mask mandate but later came to believe that wearing a mask contradicted his duty to obey God, based on his … Read more

New Jersey State Ordered to Pay $10 Million for Forcing Correctional Officer with Multiple Sclerosis to Resign

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Hamilton, New Jersey – A state appeals court has upheld a lower court’s order for the state of New Jersey to pay $10 million in punitive damages to a former Juvenile Justice Commission correctional officer. The officer, Shelley Pritchett, was forced to resign in 2011 due to her multiple sclerosis. The three-judge panel agreed with the Mercer County jury’s decision in a 2017 trial, stating that the supervisors who pushed Pritchett into early retirement acted reprehensibly. Pritchett had sued the state for discrimination, accusing her bosses of violating the state Law Against Discrimination by failing … Read more