The Honorable William J. Janklow Governor of South Dakota 500 East Capitol Avenue Pierre, SD 57501-5070 Re: CRIPA Investigation of Custer Youth Correctional Center, Custer, South Dakota Dear Governor Janklow: We are writing to report the findings of our investigation of conditions at the Custer Youth Corrections Center. On December 29, 1999, we notified you of our intent to investigate certain South Dakota juvenile corrections facilities pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 1997, and the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 ("Section 14141"). Those facilities were the State Training School, the Juvenile Prison, and the Girls Intensive Program ("the Plankinton facilities"), and the Patrick Henry Brady Boot Camp, the Custer Youth Correctional Center, the Living Centers, and the Quest Program (hereinafter referred to as "Custer" or "the facility"). On February 14, 2000, the State informed us that it would not permit us access to tour either the Plankinton or Custer facilities. At about the same time, private litigation was instituted concerning the Plankinton facilities. We awaited the outcome of that private litigation before taking further action. That litigation produced a settlement concerning conditions at the Plankinton facilities in December 2000. The State closed the Plankinton facilities in January 2002. On March 4, 2002, we renewed our request for access to the Custer facilities in order to confirm or deny the allegations we had received about the conditions. On March 18, 2002, the State denied our renewed request to tour the Custer facilities. | |
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