On the night of Monday, June 24th, there was a violent fight at the Department of Corrections’ Lincoln Hills youth facility. According to reports, a 16 year old attacked two DOC employees. Corey Proulx, a 49 year old youth counselor was one of the victims of the attack. Proulx died of his injuries the next day.
If one were to only go by the recent account offered by the Department of Corrections press release, the death of Corey Proulx was a mere blip in the road and that things at Lincoln Hills are getting much better.
CLS Staff focusing on creating positive environment for youth despite tragedy
MADISON, Wis. – The 20th report from the federal court-appointed monitor for Lincoln Hills School/Copper Lake School (LHS/CLS) was filed Tuesday. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is now in substantial compliance with 44 (or 88%) of the 50 provisions identified in the consent decree, one more than the previous reporting period. The reporting period covered March through June 2024.
“Staff at Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools remain dedicated to serving youth and our communities while at the same time mourning the loss of their colleague,” said Jared Hoy, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC). “DOC is committed to continuing to support staff as they work to improve Wisconsin’s juvenile corrections system and keep youth safe.”
The court-ordered consent decree was issued and agreed upon in response to a 2017 lawsuit over conditions at the facility under the previous administration.
The court-appointed monitor visited LHS/CLS on July 11 and conducted 44 interviews with staff and youth. The monitor visit was less than two weeks after Youth Counselor Corey Proulx died from injuries sustained in an assault at Lincoln Hills School on June 24. A youth who was residing at the school at the time has been charged in Proulx’s death.
“The loss of Mr. Proulx has had a profound impact on staff and youth, which was evident during the July site visit,” the monitor wrote in the report. “The general feel of the facility, staff, and youth was appropriately somber but still generally positive, particularly given the situation.”
The monitor noted that while staff did express fear for their safety and anger over Proulx’s death, LHS/CLS staff were still trying to create a positive environment for the youth there.
“It was also notable that while most staff were more cautious toward youth and seemed to maintain more distance, they were also trying to ensure for a safe and engaging atmosphere, attempting to keep youth meaningfully engaged in various activities,” the monitor wrote. “As Secretary Jared Hoy previously mentioned, the staff and youth were still reeling from the critical incident, and therefore the Monitoring team could feel the increased tension and fear for safety. With that said, it remains humbling to have seen most staff continue to focus on the safety of youth and continue to pursue positive youth development and activities.”
The Lincoln Hills School for Boys, and Copper Lake School for Girls were the subject of a lawsuit, filed seven years ago. The state paid out millions of dollars in settlements and attorney fees and agreed to change disciplinary and corrective action procedures and to have the facilities be overseen by a court-appointed monitor.
That monitor, as a part of their regularly scheduled duties, visited the facilities a few weeks after the murder. Contrary to the rosy scenario painted by the Department of Corrections press release, conditions at Lincoln Hills remain dangerous, and guards at unease.
Here is link to the Monitor’s report. Here are some key exceprts:
Youth complained to Plaintiffs’ Counsel about staff shortages on the units which required youth to remain in their rooms all day. Youth also stated that this resulted in education being on the units instead of the school.
Official report of Teresa Abreu, Court- appointed Monitor
Youth also complained that staff seemed more on edge since the staff assault and staff’s demeanor and mood is much different. Youth complained that the video conferencing system does not work consistently. This is a difficult time for leadership, staff, and youth. The Monitor encourages facility leadership to be more engaged and visible on the units and to engage with staff and youth as much as possible while everyone continues to process the tragic event.
Official report of Teresa Abreu, Court- appointed Monitor
The vacancy levels at LHS/CLS have increased during this reporting period. Employee leaves 7 continue to be relatively high during this reporting period at LHS/CLS and across DOC. Defendants have created significant incentives for new and existing employees to help with attracting new talent and retaining current staff. It is important to note that in the last week of June, there were significant staffing challenges as many staff were calling off. There continued to be significant call-offs on the day of the site visit. This is expected due to the grief/anger felt by staff. Defendants have provided grief counselors and other mental health services for staff. There needs to be continued focus and check in on staff’s mental health as they process the loss of their colleague and friend. The Youth Counselor/Youth Counselor Advance staffing vacancy percentages are higher than the last reporting period.
Official report of Teresa Abreu, Court- appointed Monitor
The Monitoring team spoke to over twenty-four (24) staff. As expected, the climate in general was somber during the site visit. Staff are exhausted and, in some cases, scared. Clearly, staff fear for safety has been heightened. Some staff expressed that they feel there is no accountability for youth behavior and that the BMS does not work. Staff stated that once a youth receives a violation, the youth continue to act out because staff can only give a violation one time even if behavior continues. Staff also stated that there are no programs for adult sentenced youth. During discussions between staff and the Monitoring team, many staff voiced concerns regarding their safety and made suggestions that they be provided additional defensive tactics training in addition to the Mandt physical intervention training they receive. Staff recognized that the Mandt training provides appropriate de-escalation and physical intervention techniques for planned or spontaneous uses of force, but also insisted on the need for additional defensive tactics training for 9 when/if they are attacked or assaulted.
Official report of Teresa Abreu, Court- appointed Monitor
At a legislative hearing held shortly after the murder, Republican State Senator Mary Felzkowski repeatedly said that staff at Lincoln Hills have told her they fear for their safety.
“I’m not going to let that go, until the employees are recognized and somebody starts to take action,” Felzkowski told DOC leadership who addressed the committee. “You need to address the situation with the employees.”
Like the press release noted above, the Department Secretary Jared Hoy and Lincoln Hills Superintendent Klint Trevino assured lawmakers that they hear and meet their staff’s concerns.
The details of the monitor’s report suggest otherwise.
Proulx’s 16-year old assailant, Javarius Hurd, was charged (as an adult.with second-degree reckless homicide, felony murder and two felony counts of battery by a prisoner for the assaults on a female staff member and Proulx
