Federal judge orders extension of settlement agreement addressing abusive conditions at Mississippi youth facility
A federal judge has held Hinds County, Miss., officials in contempt of court for failing to comply with a settlement addressing the abuse and neglect of children at the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center. The agreement was extended by two years to allow more time for compliance.
A federal judge has held Hinds County, Miss., officials in contempt of court for failing to comply with a 2012 settlement agreement addressing abusive conditions at the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, the 人兽性交 announced today.
The judge extended the agreement Friday by two years to allow more time for officials to comply with it. The 人兽性交 requested the extension, which will now run through March 28, 2016.
鈥淭he court鈥檚 decision is an important step to ensure the safety and well-being of the more than 300 children who pass through Henley-Young each year,鈥� said 人兽性交 Staff Attorney Corrie Cockrell. 鈥淲e will continue to work with Hinds County officials to improve conditions in the facility for these children.鈥�
The 人兽性交 filed a federal class action lawsuit against Hinds County in June 2011 after finding children were being denied mental health services and subjected to verbal abuse and threats of physical harm by staff members at the facility in Jackson. The children were forced to stay in small cells for 20 to 23 hours every day with little human contact, exercise or access to education and rehabilitation programs.
Abusive incidents detailed in the lawsuit include a staff member encouraging one young man to kill himself so that there would be 鈥渙ne less person officers have to worry about.鈥� One staff member threatened to harm a child鈥檚 family because the child took too long to return to his cell after his shower.
The two-year agreement, approved in March 2012, requires Hinds County to provide children with adequate medical and mental health care in a timely manner and to provide daily educational, rehabilitative and recreational programming. It includes provisions to protect them from abuse and to increase staffing levels.
