Hawaii Settles Gay Youth Lawsuit

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051106hawaii.htm

The state of Hawaii will pay $625,000 and change policies a youth prison to settle a lawsuit brought by three LGBT former inmates who suffered prolonged abuse at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility.

The agreement, between the state and the ACLU, which represented the former inmates, must be approved by U-S District Judge Michael Seabright. Under the agreement the state does not admit wrongdoing.

Last month Seabright ordered the state to establish specific policies to protect LGBT inmates from discrimination, harassment and abuse. He also told the state to hire a private consultant to oversee changes at the facility in Kailua. (story)

A separate agreement reached in February with the Justice Department also forces the state to improve conditions for gay inmates at the prison.

[xchrom]

1. jails and prisons are very often horrifying experiences

lgt folk -- from abuse to murder.

i'm glad this is settled -- though the amount seems paltry if you ask me.