Judge: Reduce Pepper Spraying, Solitary Confinement At Lincoln Hills

Wisconsin prison officials have until one week from Friday to make big reductions in the use of pepper spray and solitary confinement for juvenile inmates. Federal Judge James Peterson of Madison spelled out the changes Monday, saying they would “drastically reduce” extra punishments and restraints against teen offenders at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake institutions at Irma in Lincoln County. The state and the A-C-L-U followed Peterson’s previous order to submit an action plan by last Friday, after nine current and former inmates filed suit. The judge’s order calls for a maximum of seven days of solitary confinement, eliminating isolation periods of longer than two months — and pepper spray can only be used if inmates pose a threat to others. Peterson says he’ll allow more time to adopt new training and standards and programs for the inmates.