Sarah Ford | May 6, 2014
Federal judge orders extension of settlement agreement addressing abusive conditions at Mississippi youth facility
A federal judge has held Hinds County, Miss., officials in contempt of court for failing to comply with a 2012 settlement agreement addressing abusive conditions at the Henley-Young Juvenile Justice Center, the SPLC announced today.
The judge extended the agreement Friday by two years to allow more time for officials to comply with it. The SPLC requested the extension, which will now run through March 28, 2016.
“The court’s decision is an important step to ensure the safety and well-being of the more than 300 children who pass through Henley-Young each year,” said SPLC Staff Attorney Corrie Cockrell. “We will continue to work with Hinds County officials to improve conditions in the facility for these children.”
The SPLC filed a federal class action lawsuit against Hinds County in June 2011 after finding children were being denied mental health services and subjected to verbal abuse and threats of physical harm by staff members at the facility in Jackson. The children were forced to stay in small cells for 20 to 23 hours every day with little human contact, exercise or access to education and rehabilitation programs.
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month
Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, disabilities, restricted access to participation in the democratic process. These are…
Read Article
How to Take Your Business’s Employee Volunteer Program to the Next Level
Click Here to Tweet This Message! Whether your program was started 10 months or 10 years ago, periodically stepping back to take stock of your #EmployeeVolunteer…
Read Article
Open Position: Customer Service Coordinator (Remote-Part Time)
Position Title: Customer Service Coordinator (Remote – Part Time) Department: Charitable Funds Management Solutions We are a non-profit charitable organization looking for skilled individuals who…
Read ArticleGet Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
