The U.S. Justice Department seeks "meaningful negotiations" in 60 days to end what it calls constitutional violations at the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Facility in Meridian, Mississippi, or else a federal lawsuit will be filed. The Justice Department says officials have operated "a school-to-prison pipeline" that violates the constitutional rights of juveniles by incarcerating them for alleged school disciplinary infractions, some as minor as defiance.
Lauderdale County juvenile facility —
The U.S. Justice Department seeks "meaningful negotiations" in 60 days to end what it calls constitutional violations at the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Facility in Meridian, Mississippi, or else a federal lawsuit will be filed. The Justice Department says officials have operated "a school-to-prison pipeline" that violates the constitutional rights of juveniles by incarcerating them for alleged school disciplinary infractions, some as minor as defiance.
In 2009, the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Facility was the target of a federal class-action lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center alleged mistreatment at the facility, including youngsters being "crammed into small, filthy cells and tormented with the arbitrary use of Mace as a punishment for even the most minor infractions." The yellow substance on these sheets is alleged to be Mace.
Lauderdale County juvenile facility —
In 2009, the Lauderdale County Juvenile Detention Facility was the target of a federal class-action lawsuit by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The center alleged mistreatment at the facility, including youngsters being "crammed into small, filthy cells and tormented with the arbitrary use of Mace as a punishment for even the most minor infractions." The yellow substance on these sheets is alleged to be Mace.
The police department command staff and officers characterized their agency as a "taxi service" for the schools and juvenile detention facility, without assessing the circumstances of the alleged charges against students, the Justice Department said.
Lauderdale County juvenile facility —
The police department command staff and officers characterized their agency as a "taxi service" for the schools and juvenile detention facility, without assessing the circumstances of the alleged charges against students, the Justice Department said.
"The Youth Court places children on probation, and the terms of the probation set by the Youth Court and DYS require children on probation to serve any suspensions from school incarcerated in the juvenile detention center," the Justice Department letter said.
Lauderdale County juvenile facility —
"The Youth Court places children on probation, and the terms of the probation set by the Youth Court and DYS require children on probation to serve any suspensions from school incarcerated in the juvenile detention center," the Justice Department letter said.