Hampton v. Illinois Department of Corrections

Case Developments

• Summary Judgement — 

  We defeated summary judgement in a case on behalf of Ms. Hampton involving damages claims against officers at two different men’s prisons who sexually and physically abused and harassed her.

  June 23, 2021
• Strawberry Hampton Released from Custody — 

  Ms. Hampton continued to fight for her justice and IDOC approved the request for good time restoration. She was released from custody on July 8, 2019.

  July 8, 2019
• Petition for Clemency Filed After IDOC Extends Sentence in Retaliation — 

  Ms. Hampton is seeking immediate commutation of her sentence, which was unfairly extended by the discriminatory policies and retaliatory discipline of the IDOC. Ms. Hampton was originally scheduled for release in February 2019.
  April 24, 2019
• Strawberry Hampton Moved to Women's Prison — 

  After a year of legal fights and placement in four male prisons, throughout which she was subjected to abuse and sexual assault, Ms. Hampton has finally been transferred to Logan Correctional Center, a women’s prison.

  December 27, 2018
• Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction and Orders Re-evaluation of Request for Transfer — 

  Federal judge in southern Illinois ordered state prison officials to re-evaluate Hampton’s previously denied request for transfer. The judge also mandated Ms. Hampton be allowed to attend a transgender support group and ordered IDOC to develop training on transgender issues for all staff.

  November 9, 2018
• Preliminary Injunction Hearing — 

  The preliminary injunction hearing was held from September 12 to September 14.

  September 12, 2018
• Filed Amended Complaint to Include More Recent Harassment and Abuse to Date — 

  Following the court granting the motion to amend, a new complaint was filed that includes more recent abuse, harassment and neglect that has occurred and continues to occur while Ms. Hampton is detained at Dixon Correctional Center.

  August 14, 2018
• Filed Renewed Motion for Preliminary Injunction Due to Return to Segregation; Crisis — 

  For the third time, Ms. Hampton files for emergency relief from the courts. After each filing, IDOC transferred her and the emergency motions were withdrawn by her counsel. After each transfer, Ms. Hampton’s circumstances improved for a few days or weeks, but then deteriorated in violation of her constitutional rights.

  July 17, 2018
• Ms. Hampton is Transferred to Dixon Correctional Center — 

  At Dixon, prison officials continued their abuse and harassment of Ms. Hampton. In one instance, officers gave her a ticket and pepper sprayed her in the face while she rolled up into a ball on the floor and cried, then gave her another ticket for failing to cooperate with the officers.

  March 16, 2018
• Filed Third Lawsuit and Second Motion for Preliminary Injunction Requesting Transfer and Release from Segregation — 

  After being transferred to Lawrence Correctional Center, guards continued to award Ms. Hampton false disciplinary tickets resulting in extended stay in extreme segregation. At the time of the filing, Ms. Hampton has spent over nine months in solitary confinement, being kept alone in her cell 24 hours a day, with only occasional permission to leave her cell to take a shower. She was denied mental health treatment and as a result attempted suicide multiple times while in segregation.

  March 8, 2018
• Emergency Hearing Conducted; IDOC Agrees to Immediate Transfer & Gender ID Committee Hearing — 

  A settlement was reached with the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to immediately remove Ms. Hampton from her dangerous environment and transfer her to Lawrence Correctional Center, a medium security men’s prison, while awaiting a hearing of IDOC’s Gender ID Committee to evaluate her permanent placement. Plaintiff retains right to pursue future legal action if necessary.

  January 9, 2018
• Second lawsuit Filed Against Pickneyville Correctional Center — 

  While in custody at Pinckneyville Correctional Center, Ms. Hampton was the victim of a series of sexual assaults in which a group of officers came to her cell, ordered her to strip to her underwear and forced her to perform sexual acts with her cellmate for the officers’ entertainment.

  These same officers continued to sexually harass and physically abuse her.  Officers withheld support services, basic privileges and even a regular shower. She was denied food and she lost 35 pounds. She continued to file multiple grievance reports detailing her abuse, but none were acted upon. Instead, she continued to be punished for speaking out, accumulating so many false disciplinary tickets that she was transferred to Menard Correctional Center, a high security men’s prison.

  December 22, 2017
• First Motion for Preliminary Injunction Requesting Transfer and Release from Segregation — 

  After being transferred to Menard, Ms. Hampton’s abused by guards continued, her complaints to mental health staff was ignored, and she was immediately sent to solitary confinement. Due to the amount of retaliatory disciplinary tickets she had accumulated, she was sentenced to an extended stay in segregation.

  December 7, 2017
• First Lawsuit Filed Seeking Transfer & Release from Menard Correctional Center — 

  Ms. Hampton was transferred to Menard Correctional Center, a high security men’s prison, because she reported the guards who routinely sexually harassed and physically abused her at Pinckneyville. Menard officials began abusing Ms. Hampton in retaliation before she even set foot on the premises, beating and choking her on the bus ride to the prison. While housed at Menard, officers continued to harass and abuse her, including making her perform sexually in her cell for their entertainment.

   

  November 27, 2017