Equip for Equality, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rights of people with disabilities, has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and its Acting Director, Latoya Hughes. The complaint was submitted on February 13, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Equip for Equality accuses IDOC of violating federal disability rights laws by leaving 21 individuals with disabilities stranded in substandard conditions at Stateville Correctional Center after its closure.
The lawsuit details how IDOC closed Stateville due to unsafe living conditions but left behind a group of prisoners with disabilities in the prison's infirmary. This facility lacks basic amenities such as recreation areas, dining halls, and law libraries. As a result, these individuals are confined to their cells for up to 24 hours a day without access to necessary programs and services. Equip for Equality argues that this treatment violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. "They have been left behind to die," states the complaint, highlighting the dire situation faced by these prisoners.
Equip for Equality is seeking injunctive relief from the court to compel IDOC to comply with federal disability rights laws and end discrimination based on disability. They also request that IDOC provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to programs and services for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, they seek compensation for costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees incurred during this legal battle.
The case has been assigned Case No.: 25-1565 in front of Judge Steven P. Blonder. Attorneys representing Equip for Equality include Sophia Lau and Amanda Antholt from Equip for Equality's Chicago office, along with Steven P Blonder and Patrick B. Barnett from Much Shelist P.C., also based in Chicago.