MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin’s juvenile prisons were placed on lockdown Tuesday for a system-wide contraband search after a recent spike in violent clashes between inmates and guards fueled concerns about a full-scale riot.
The Wisconsin Department of Corrections confirmed that the search was underway at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake prisons, located in Irma north of Wausau. Department spokesman Tristan Cook tamped down speculation that the search was in response to concerns voiced by prison workers that inmates were planning a larger disturbance.
“There’s no indication that youth are planning any disturbance or riot,” Cook said.
The search comes three weeks after a Lincoln Hills teacher was punched in the face and knocked unconscious by an inmate. On Oct. 22, five prison workers were sent to the hospital after separate violent clashes with inmates. And in August four inmates climbed to the roof of their housing unit, throwing shingles and pieces of metal and guards.
Former Lincoln Hills union steward Doug Curtis said staff have been told the search that began Tuesday will take place over two days. Curtis said the search is overdue, given that prison guards have reported several potentially dangerous items as missing recently, including drill bits and razor blades.
“It’s about time,” Curtis said. “It’s well past time. If they’re finding utility knives in the cottages, it’s well past time.”
The search is being conducted by both adult and juvenile prison guard trainees with support from adult prison staff and the Corrections Department’s Incident Management Team.
The Corrections Department said in a statement that security is its primary focus and “decisive action” will be taken to safeguard staff and youth.
“The Department has made a number of changes over the prior two years to increase security and will continue its efforts to ensure that youth can receive quality education, programming, and treatment services,” the Corrections Department said.
Reports of violent disturbances at the juvenile prisons, which house about 160 boys and girls, have increased since a federal judge’s order in July requiring a drastic reduction in the use of pepper spray, solitary confinement and shackles on the inmates. U.S. District Judge James Peterson ruled that such practices were unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment.
Two Republican state lawmakers whose districts include the prisons have called on Peterson to reverse his ruling, saying it’s put safety at risk, while Democratic lawmakers last week introduced a bill to close the prisons within a year.
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