Rasho Agreement

The Director of Mental Health at IDOC acknowledged in his testimony that segregated mental prisoners are degrading „on the whole line“ without the treatment and time they need and promised by the transaction contract. Similarly, the former head of psychiatry at IDOC stated that the psychiatric system was in a state of emergency and had indeed caused physical and psychological injuries to mentally ill inmates. CHICAGO, IL – Today, Judge Michael M. Mihm made a statement in the rash v group action. Baldwin ordered that the Illinois Department of Corrections Corrections (IDOC) treat prisoners in „crisis clocks“ and segregation, and provide drugs, psychiatric assessments and mental health personnel throughout the system. The judge found that the IDOC`s inability to provide psychiatric care constituted cruel and unusual punishment, contrary to the U.S. Constitution, and contrary to the department`s settlement agreement. In May 2017, the Bundesgerichtshof found that IDOC was not meeting the transaction guidelines. In his report of 113, he described IDOC`s psychiatric care as „grossly inadequate“ and extremely underperforming. He noted that there were insufficient psychiatric staff, problems with continued medication when cashing out in prison, failure to monitor the effects of effective psychiatric drugs, huge delays in psychiatric assessments, and a significant deterioration in mental health for prisoners in segregation. The IDOC did not address its findings and, a month later, the monitor declared that psychiatric care in Illinois prisons is in a state of emergency.

UPLC, in collaboration with Equip for Equality, and pro bono lawyers from Dentons and Mayer Brown, filed an application for the May 2016 agreement to end the suffering of this critically ill population. After several years of negotiations, both sides agree that they have reached an agreement that, once a judge has concluded it this spring, will improve the provision of these basic services. As part of the agreement, the state will create residences with 700 new employees who would provide appropriate care to mentally ill inmates. The colony also requires the Illinois Department of Correction to check the mental health of all prisoners in solitary confinement, as well as 20 hours per week a-cell-time for mentally ill prisoners who have been sentenced to solitary confinement for more than 60 days. The settlement agreement was the result of important negotiations between the parties over a one-year period. Indeed, in October 2010, the parties announced in an open court that they would endeavour to establish a class comparison. The parties cooperated with a group of experts to support their settlement efforts. (ECF 117, Joint Status Report of May 7, 2012). A large conciliation conference was held between April 16, 2013 and April 18, 2013.

An agreed provision, which provided an additional work structure, was the result of colonization efforts. (see ECF 132). The case was tried on 20 March 2015 following a further unsuccessful conciliation effort by the party. (entry to the minute of 20.03.2015; see also the entry in minutes of 17.09.2015). On December 17, 2015, the parties again announced to the Court that an agreement had been reached. (entry to the minute of 17.12.2015). On May 23, 2016, the last signing of the dispute settlement agreement between the parties was acquired for decades.