Gov. Tommy G. Thompson recently defended the treatment of inmates in the new Supermax prison, saying the prisoners are not being abused and have not had their civil rights violated.
Thompson's comments came three weeks after U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that a federal lawsuit filed by two Supermax inmates over conditions at the prison could proceed. The inmates alleged they have suffered mentally and physically from being confined all day to cells that are constantly monitored and illuminated.
Thompson, who recently took a tour of the ultra-secure prison in southwestern Wisconsin and talked to several prisoners, downplayed the inmates' allegations.
'One thing that's constant in prisoners and institutions - you're going to have lawsuits,' the governor said, describing the litigation as 'nothing new.'
In addition to the lawsuit, a national Quaker organization in August raised concerns about reports of inmate abuse at the Supermax prison, including allegations that prisoners were subjected to racial taunts and threats and to degrading rituals to get food or medicine.
'They don't like being here,' Thompson said of the inmates. 'But they're not being abused, and their civil rights are not being adversely impacted.'
One of the complaints in the lawsuit is that the fluorescent light continually kept on in the inmates' cells has caused them excruciating eye pain, headaches and sleeplessness.
'It's seven watts,' Thompson said. 'It's a night light, like the one at your own house.'
The $47.5 million prison, which opened in November, is designed to hold inmates who are so violent they are kept in solitary confinement 23 hours a day.
Thompson said the inmates were at Supermax for a reason. 'They're here because of their behavior.  They can get out of here because of their behavior,' he said.
The governor said he is visiting prisons throughout the state as part of his effort to come up with some changes in the state corrections system. Thompson said the budget he plans to present to the Legislature early next year will include some 'exciting initiatives' for the prison system.