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| Illinois prisons slammed for lengthy solitary terms, lack of transparency |
| By america.aljazeera.com- Raven Rakia |
| Published: 08/11/2015 |
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CREST HILL, Illinois — When Jerome Jones was placed in solitary confinement in 2013 at the Lawrence Correctional Center, no one told him why. In fact, he says he wasn’t given a reason until six months after the fact — when officials alleged at an administrative hearing that it was because of his gang associations. But Jones, who is currently still being held in solitary, says he is not a gang member. Douglas Coleman, who is incarcerated at the Stateville Correctional Center, filed 15 grievances after being held in solitary confinement for 8 months last year. He was placed in solitary for having alcohol in his cell, which Coleman said belonged to his cellmate. According to Coleman, his cell was infested with cockroaches and rodents, and he sometimes found insects and mice in his food. He says he was consistently denied basic necessities such as showers, medical treatment and a wheelchair that is imperative for his mobility. These testimonials are from a class-action lawsuit Jones and Coleman, among other current and former inmates, have filed against the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) arguing that the department’s use of solitary confinement violates the Eighth and 14th Amendments — that it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and does not afford them equal protection as citizens. The Uptown People’s Law Center (UPLC) filed the lawsuit on June 25, 2015, along with Winston and Strawn, LLP. Read More. |
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