ACLU Settles with Montana Over Inmate’s Treatment

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union says Montana has agreed to change its procedures to settle a complaint over a juvenile inmate placed in solitary confinement.

In 2009, the ACLU sued over the treatment of a 17-year-old boy they argued had spent more than a year in solitary confinement at the Montana State Prison. Raistlen (RACE'-len) Katka (KAT'-ka) had been sent to the adult facility after assaulting a guard at a youth facility.

The ACLU says its settlement limits the amount of time juveniles can be placed in isolation, and sets up new rules for treatment of mentally ill inmates in solitary confinement.

An attorney for the Montana Department of Corrections said Monday the settlement only makes "minor" changes to current practices at the prison.