The agency released the internal memo on actions being taken at the Lincoln Hills School for Boys, about 30 miles north of Wausau, and across the corrections department in the wake of revelations that prison staff are being investigating for allegedly assaulting youths and a broad range of other potential crimes, including tampering with records and other misconduct.
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Inmates who are involved in fights or who need to be segregated are sent to buildings called security cottages as punishment, he said, but there are a rising number of inmates assaulting each other and they’re not being placed in the security cottages long enough to stop the behavior.
That meeting happened more than a month after the state Department of Justice began an investigation into allegations that staff at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake schools in Irma were abusing inmates.
Three staff members, who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity because of a department policy that prohibits staff from speaking to reporters without permission, said in separate interviews that policies on discipline have been loosened.
At least 10 staff members at the state’s youth prison campus have been put on leave this year as a result of an investigation into allegations of physical mistreatment of inmates.
Hutton didn’t respond to a request for an interview, but his office provided records showing he received on November 18 an email from Mark Towne, a retired DOC employee from Rhinelander, asking for “assistance and help on a “Serious” safety issue that has spiraled out of control at the Lincoln Hills School correctional facility”.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice began investigating late previous year after being notified by the state Department of Corrections about allegations of staffers mistreating prisoners, and a secret John Doe probe began in October.
“These policies have dramatically increased the risk for staff and inmates alike”, Ron McAllister, the head of the local union and a longtime youth counselor, said in the release.
Corrections spokeswoman Joy Staab had no immediate comment on Hahn’s claims but on Tuesday she said that the agency wants to keep youth and staff safe. “I wish them both the very best in retirement”, Wall said in the memo.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the FBI has joined the criminal investigation.
DOJ spokeswoman Anne Schwartz declined comment.
“They are interviewing every single staff member and every single youth”, Bauch said.
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“Although I remain confident that the vast majority of staff at CL/LHS is caring, trusted and do their jobs as expected, there remains a concern that some people may not perform to the standards we expect”, Wall said in the letter. The Copper Lake School side of the prison houses female offenders.
