Scott Walker plans to close troubled Lincoln Hills youth prison, open six small facilities

"One lawsuit filed since the investigation began is a class-action suit from former and current inmates represented by the American Civil Liberties Union-Wisconsin and the Juvenile Law Center. It alleges the use of pepper spray, restraints and solitary confinement had violated the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

Jessica Feierman, associate director of Juvenile Law Center, said Thursday that the plan “is a huge step forward for Wisconsin.”

“We are relieved that the state is moving away from a model that just doesn’t work — large youth prisons that violate the Constitution and are dangerous to youth,” she said."