Chron.com – Mark Niesse – Associated Press Writer
HONOLULU ? The state will pay $625,000 and change policies at its only youth prison to settle a lawsuit over alleged abuse of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender inmates, according to a proposed settlement.
The lawsuit involves three inmates at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility who are lesbian, transgender and gay, the attorney general’s office said.
They claimed they were physically and emotionally abused by guards because of their sexual orientation. They also said correctional officers didn’t intervene when they were harassed by other youths in the prison.
The state attorney general’s office and the American Civil Liberties Union have agreed to the dollar figure of the settlement, but they’re still trying to decide how to divide the money, said Deputy Attorney General John Molay.
The settlement would give $600,000 to the three inmates and the ACLU. The other $25,000 would be spent on a contract with a juvenile justice expert to help the state develop new sexual orientation policies at the youth prison, Molay said.