Children at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Youth Prisons Spend Long Periods of Time Confined to Their Rooms

Friday, December 9th, 2022 -- 9:01 AM

(By Sarah Lehr, Wisconsin Public Radio) Children at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons are no longer allowed to be locked in their rooms as punishment under the terms of a class-action settlement approved in 2018. 

But, according to Sarah Lehr with Wisconsin Public Radio, kids at the northern Wisconsin facilities are still being confined to their rooms, simply because there aren't enough staff members to supervise them, according to the latest report submitted by a court-appointed monitor.

Prison officials say they use so-called "operational confinement" to ensure the safety of the children and staff on days when not enough employees report to work to keep the facilities running as usual.

American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin attorney Karyn Rotker says the youth confined to their rooms, sometimes for up to 20 hours a day, are left struggling with isolation. She says that's especially difficult for those struggling with preexisting mental health issues and past trauma.

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