Another jail complaint
PRINCETON — Yet another complaint has been filed in federal court dealing with the Bureau County Jail.
On Oct. 9, a group of five county jail inmates, or former inmates, filed a complaint in federal court against Sheriff John Thompson for the conditions in the jail.
However, on Oct. 14, Judge Harold Baker issued an order saying only one of the inmates, Ronald Hotchkiss, signed the complaint. Also, none of the claimed defendants paid the $350 filing fee or filed a motion to proceed in forma pauperis, or with a waiver of court costs.
The judge gave the plaintiffs 14 days to complete the required legal steps in filing their complaint. If any plaintiff fails to take this action, the plaintiff will be dismissed from the complaint.
On Oct. 16, Hotchkiss did file an application to proceed without pre-payment of fees or costs, but no decision on that application request had yet been posted by the court.
In his Oct. 9 complaint, Hotchkiss describes conditions at the county jail as deplorable. According to Hotchkiss, those “deplorable” conditions include massive overcrowding, sleeping on floors, no fire sprinklers, no outside lighting or ventilation, and a denial of medical treatment. Hotchkiss also attacks the professionalism of the deputies.
To satisfy his complaint, Hotchkiss said he wants the county jail closed and $8 million. Hotchkiss also wants class action status for his complaint. Class action designation allows a large number of people with a common interest in a matter to sue or be sued as a group.
Hotchkiss’ complaint is one of three filed in the last six months in the U.S. District Court in Peoria, all dealing with a variety of issues at the Bureau County Jail.
On June 4, the family and estate of the late Austin Wells, 17, of Dover filed a civil rights and wrongful death complaint for the events surrounding Wells’ June 9, 2007, suicide while an inmate in the county jail.
On Sept. 18, Terry D. Wilson, at that time an inmate in the Bureau County Jail, filed a civil rights lawsuit again listing a number of complaints dealing with the jail and staff.
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