The ACLU of Alaska is asking a decide to strike down as unconstitutional a state Division of Corrections coverage on involuntary treatment of people who find themselves incarcerated, saying the coverage doesn’t adequately shield due course of rights.
The group mentioned it filed a lawsuit towards state corrections officers Wednesday on behalf of a person serving a 99-year sentence at a jail in Seward. The lawsuit says the person, who has been in division custody since 2001 and has had psychological well being points whereas incarcerated, had been taking antipsychotic treatment voluntarily however starting in 2018 felt he now not wanted the treatment.
The lawsuit alleges the person has been “forcibly injected” with treatment over the previous 5 years. It asks that he be given a judicial listening to at which proof will be heard and he can have an lawyer current earlier than being administered any psychiatric treatment “towards his will.”
Melody Vidmar, an lawyer with ACLU of Alaska, mentioned the group is looking for the identical course of for others who could also be in the same scenario.
The criticism seeks to switch a previous declare with the court docket that was initiated by the person earlier than the ACLU of Alaska represented him, mentioned Megan Edge, a spokesperson for the group.
Patty Sullivan, a state Division of Legislation spokesperson, mentioned the assigned lawyer in that matter had not but acquired the paperwork filed Wednesday and would reply within the time supplied by court docket guidelines.