DOC Reaches $18.9M Settlement With Youth Inmate Injured In Attempted Suicide

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has agreed to give a former youth prison inmate who tried to hang herself $18.9 million.

Sydni Briggs was 16 years old when she tried to hang herself in her cell at the state’s Copper Lake School for Girls outside Irma in November 2015. Guards saved her but she suffered a severe brain injury and will require round-the-clock care for the rest of her life.

Briggs, now 18, filed a federal lawsuit last year alleging staff at the juvenile facility ignored signs she was contemplating suicide and failed to protect her.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the girl’s attorney described it as the largest civil rights settlement the state has ever reached.

DOC officials announced the settlement late Tuesday afternoon.

In the statement, state DOC Secretary Jon Litscher said, “It became clear a proper investigation was not conducted at the time this tragic incident occurred … Further, this review raised questions as to whether employees responding to the incident followed policies, which resulted in our opening internal investigations for possible work rule violations as part of our efforts to maintain accountability.”

Litscher also referred to a lengthy list of changes that have been made at the state’s troubled youth prisons. They include the hiring of a juvenile mental health director, increasing advanced medical access from eight to 40 hours per week and requiring security staff to wear body cameras. In addition, the 2017-19 budget includes several positions to expand mental health services at Copper Lake School, as well as additional nursing and security staff. All youth injuries and staff assaults are now documented through an electronic incident reporting system and reviewed on a regular basis by corrections officials.

Briggs’ attorney, Eric Haag, didn’t immediately reply to an email.

Meanwhile, the state Legislature is in the process of passing a bill that would overhaul the state’s juvenile justice system.

Both plans would close Lincoln Hills and the Copper Lake School. The Assembly’s version of the bill would create smaller state- and county-run institutions to replace Lincoln Hills and set aside money to pay for them. The Senate version would give the Legislature’s budget committee more control over the institutions that replace Lincoln Hills.

The amended plan will head back to the Assembly, where it will likely pass.