Allegations of Abuse at Wyoming State-Run Juvenile Home Surface in Federal Lawsuit

Three individuals who spent their teenage years at the Wyoming Boys’ School, a state-run juvenile home, have brought forward allegations of abuse in a federal lawsuit. According to their claims, they were subjected to solitary confinement for periods extending up to 45 days and restrained in high-backed chairs for hours, raising significant concerns about the treatment of juveniles in custody. The lawsuit, filed in the Wyoming District Court, targets the Wyoming Department of Family Services, which oversees the school, along with the institution itself and several of its employees. This case has cast a spotlight on the practices of juvenile detention facilities and the punitive measures employed within.

The former residents assert that the punitive measures they endured, which included being deprived of food, were unwarranted and excessive. The specific use of restraint chairs, designed to hold combative or destructive detainees securely, is particularly contentious, with the plaintiffs arguing that their behavior did not justify such harsh treatment. Denver-based attorney Ciara Anderson, representing the plaintiffs and their families, emphasized the severity of the abuse and the need for public awareness and accountability.

Former Residents Detail Their Experiences

Among the plaintiffs, Blaise Chivers-King, now 19, recounts his time at the Wyoming Boys’ School, detailing the frequent and prolonged periods of solitary confinement he faced. The psychological impact of his experiences has significantly hindered his adjustment to life outside the institution, affecting his ability to maintain employment. His mother, Rose Chivers-King, expressed her distress over the misinformation provided by the school regarding her son’s well-being, underscoring the personal toll of the alleged abuse.

Charles Rees Karn and Dylan Tolar, the other two plaintiffs, shared similarly distressing accounts. Karn’s allegations of excessive force resulting in a broken wrist and subsequent lack of medical care highlight concerns over the use of physical restraint and the wellbeing of detainees. Tolar’s experience, marked by mockery and neglect due to his physical disabilities, adds another layer of severity to the allegations, suggesting a pattern of mistreatment and disregard for the health and dignity of the juveniles in the facility’s care.

These lawsuits bring to light the broader issues surrounding solitary confinement and physical restraint in juvenile detention settings. Human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have long criticized these practices for their detrimental effects on young individuals’ psychological and physical health. As the legal process unfolds, the case against the Wyoming Boys’ School and the Department of Family Services may prompt a reevaluation of disciplinary practices in juvenile detention centers nationwide.