Lawmakers Want Judge To Reverse Lincoln Hills Changes

Two G-O-P state lawmakers want a federal judge to take back his order to reduce punishments at Lincoln Hills, saying it has “embolded” violent offenders. Senator Tom Tiffany and Representative Mary Felzkowski, whose districts include the state juvenile institution, say Federal Judge James Peterson’s order from July is causing inmates to attack staffers, while hurting non violent offenders. The judge acted on a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union and juvenile inmates, by ordering reductions in the use of pepper spray, handcuffs, and solitary confinements for the violent offenders. Marsha Levick of the Juvenile Law Center says those punishments violate U-S constitutional protections for the treatment of juvenile inmates. After visiting Lincoln Hills this week, state Corrections Secretary Jon Litscher insists it’s safe.