Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle's administration is getting harsh criticism over the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility from the federal government.
A federal judge said the officials in charge knew about mistreatment of gay and lesbian detainees but did nothing to correct them while the federal government has filed a lawsuit saying the poor conditions violate the constitutional rights of youth detainees.
The state announced an agreement last week with the federal government promising to reform the system, hire enough staff, provide better training and better medical care and education. The agreement was attached to the lawsuit.
The agreement also requires the state to pay for a monitor, who is already at the facility.
"I think this will begin the turnaround of a very troubled facility for decades," Lingle said.
The governor said she did not know if disciplinary action would be taken against the facility administrator or Youth Services director Sharon Agnew. Judge Michael Seabright ruled they acted with deliberate indifference in allowing pervasive abuse and harassment of gay and lesbian youth.