Judge Rejects Legislation on Youth Prison Restrictions

A federal judge has denied Republican legislators' request to ease restrictions on counselors at Wisconsin's troubled youth prison, Lincoln Hills-Copper Lake Schools, following the death of counselor Corey Proulx during a fight with an inmate. U.S. District Judge James Peterson stated that any changes to the existing consent decree, which limits punitive measures and the use of restraints, must be formally requested with evidence showing that current policies endanger staff and inmates. The prison has faced serious allegations of staff abuse, leading to the consent decree established after a 2017 lawsuit by the ACLU. In response to Proulx's death, GOP lawmakers argued that the restrictions have compromised safety, while Governor Tony Evers has urged the judge to maintain the decree. The controversy highlights the ongoing struggle between maintaining safety in institutions and preventing abuses against vulnerable populations.