The state of Michigan has agreed to pay a total of 80 million dollars to former juvenile inmates who say they were victims of sexual abuse in prison. The deal also includes making changes to how the state houses juveniles in prison.
The agreement would cover 13 hundred former juvenile inmates. The deal also calls for juveniles to be housed in separate facilities than adult felons.
Michigan Corrections Director Heidi Washington says the department has moved the remaining 29 juveniles in the state system to a separate unit at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer. Washington says it’s also time to change sentencing laws.
“We call on the Legislature to re-visit this issue and end the practice of sending youthful offenders to adult prisons.”
The next step is for the settlement to be approved by state and federal judges. There’s a hearing in early April in Washtenaw County.