A state lawyer says it’s been difficult to obey a federal judge’s order to reduce punishments against teen inmates at Lincoln Hills. Federal Judge James Peterson ordered the state in July to reduce its use of handcuffs, pepper spray, and solitary confinement against juvenile offenders at the Lincoln Hills boys’ school and Copper Lake girls’ institution in Lincoln County. However, court records show that 63 pepper spraying incidents took place in July and August, six times as many as in June before the judge’s order was issued. State attorney Benjamin Sparks wrote in a court filing that officials have made progress in complying with Peterson’s orders – but disruptive behavior by inmates has made it challenging.