Judge: Public can see videos of inmates being pepper-sprayed

A federal judge branded Wisconsin’s juvenile prison for boys as a “troubled institution” on Thursday, saying it puts too many inmates in isolation and over-relies on pepper spray and shackles when other less intrusive alternatives to control behavior could be used.

But U.S. District Judge James Peterson said he didn’t know if the solution was to immediately bar those practices as the American Civil Liberties Union and Juvenile Law Center are seeking in a lawsuit filed on behalf of current and former inmates. The lawsuit argues the practices are unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment.