In a dramatic legal filing, a former employee has accused the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and several of its officials of racial discrimination and retaliation. Kenya Smith, through her attorneys Sabreena El-Amin and Paul Ryan of CTM Legal Group, filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on June 17, 2024.
Smith's lawsuit details her long tenure with IDOC, beginning in March 1999 and spanning over two decades without any disciplinary actions until 2022. She alleges that after raising concerns about discriminatory treatment based on her race, color, and sex, she faced retaliatory actions culminating in her suspension and eventual termination in December 2023. The defendants named in the case include James Garrett, Harry Pyle, Jason Garnett, and Kevin Verble—all sued in their individual capacities.
According to the complaint, Smith began experiencing discrimination when Senior Correctional Parole Agent James Garrett joined her unit in February 2022. Despite holding the same title as Smith, Garrett was treated as a supervisor by their managers and was eventually given the title of Intelligence Coordinator. Garrett allegedly made derogatory comments about Black women at work and excluded Smith from parole compliance checks—a key part of her job—resulting in significant lost overtime pay. "She thinks she knows every fucking thing," Garrett reportedly said about Black women who offered input on work matters.
Smith's complaints to IDOC’s Chief of Affirmative Action led to an investigation that concluded without substantiating her claims. However, shortly after this investigation closed in August 2023, Smith learned from a coworker that there were plans to remove her from the unit because she had filed a discrimination complaint. This sequence of events escalated when Deputy Chief Verble called an FBI Special Agent regarding potential discipline for Smith related to an extradition incident—a charge for which she had not been formally notified or given a chance to respond.
Smith asserts that these actions were part of a broader pattern of discriminatory practices within IDOC aimed at sidelining Black employees who voiced concerns about unfair treatment. Her lawsuit claims violations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for unlawful discrimination and retaliation.
In seeking relief from the court, Smith demands several remedies including reinstatement to her position with appropriate adjustments to wages and benefits, compensation for lost earnings and emotional distress, punitive damages for willful conduct by IDOC officials, and an injunction against further discriminatory practices within IDOC.
The case is being overseen by Judge [Judge's Name] under Case No. 24-cv-5022 with representation provided by attorneys Sabreena El-Amin (ARDC No. 6318445) and Paul W. Ryan (ARDC No. 6283906) from CTM Legal Group.