A Federal Lawsuit is Filed Against a Vermont Detention Center

Joe: 106.7 WIZN. That’s Ratt with “Round and Round.” Heard Led Zeppelin and “All My Love” before that. I’m Joe Vega taking you through your Wednesday rock and ride home. Earlier, I was talking about this federal lawsuit against the juvenile detention center in Colchester. And I brought my friend, Ben Barry, on from Martin, Harding & Mazzotti to talk about it. You can call them at 1-800-LAW-1010 or go online to 1800law1010.com. Ben, how are you doing?

Attorney Barry: Doing well, Joe. How are you?

Joe: Cool. Thanks for coming back on the program. So, I wanted to talk to you about this story that came out yesterday. It’s in regard to a federal lawsuit that’s been filed in regards to the Vermont juvenile detention center which is in Colchester. The Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center is what it’s called. And they are being sued saying that some of these kids are being held in dangerous restraints and long-term isolation and don’t receive adequate mental health treatment. And I was just curious, what kind of lawsuit do these guys have?

Attorney Barry: Well, it’s hard to say. It’s certainly a case against the facility and the Department for Children and Families out of Vermont who run the facility. It would be hard to say what kind of damages or what kind of financial compensation a family would be able to receive if one of their children was, say, harmed by the facility or an employee at the facility. I don’t know much about the case. I haven’t had an opportunity to read the complaint which was filed in federal court. And what I believe is that this lawsuit is part of a larger, more national broad-based look at the juvenile detention centers, in whole and in part, and kind of the practices.

Joe: Right. Because you’re seeing more and more of these, huh?

Attorney Barry: You are. You’re seeing a lot more of these types of lawsuits. And you’re seeing a closer look at some of the practices that have been utilized for the last 20 years in these facilities. So it will be interesting to see what happens. I certainly would like to read the complaint and see what kind of allegations are being made. But I believe that the allegations, in part, are the type of restraints that are being used and some of the techniques to subdue some of the clientele, which are, obviously, kids.

Joe: All right. Well, either way, it’s a sad story. All right, Ben, thanks for coming on the program. Appreciate it.

Attorney Barry: Happy to be on, Joe, anytime. Thank you.

Joe: Ben Barry from Martin, Harding & Mazzotti. Again, you can call them at 1-800-LAW-1010 or go online to 1800law1010.com. Mel Allen taking over from here. He’s got music from the Eagles and Boston next.