Plaintiffs: J.A., L.R., R.B., T.D., L.H, on behalf of themselves and all other persons similarly situated, H.D., S.G., M.S., E.S., S.W., and the Mississippi Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc
Defendants: Governor Haley Barbour, in his official capacity; Donald Taylor, in his official capacity as Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services; L. Donald Armagost in his official and individual capacities as the administrator of Columbia Training School; Richard James, in his official and individual capacities as Assistant Administrator of Columbia Training School; Kathy Pittman, in her official capacity as Director of the Division of Youth Services; Mr. Alexander in his official and individual capacities as a Columbia Training School Security Officer.
Date(s) of Disposition:
none.
Amended Complaint
: Second Amended Complaint
The Southern Poverty Law Center filed suit on behalf of mentally ill girls living at the Columbia Training School who were shackled, physically and sexually abused, and provided with inadequate mental health treatment.
The class action lawsuit alleges that the named plaintiffs were shackled for between eight days to one month for twelve hours each day. The girls who were shackled were required to eat, go to school, use the bathroom, and participate in physical exercise while shackled. Additionally, these mentally ill girls were left unsupervised while on suicide watch and were able to slit their wrists and self-mutilate.
Staff members physically and sexually abused the girls in their care: one girl was choked by a guard while another was groped and fondled while in isolation.
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