(INDIANAPOLIS) - The Indiana Department of Correction has agreed to pay about $1.2 million to settle claims involving conditions at Miami Correctional Facility.
The settlement covers 31 former inmates who alleged they were held in unsafe and abusive conditions, according to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Indiana.
The lawsuit claims inmates were kept in dark cells with covered windows and no working lights. In some cases, live wires were reportedly exposed, creating a risk of electric shock.
Plaintiffs also alleged they were confined for extended periods with limited ability to leave their cells, leading to physical and psychological harm.
The case began in 2021 and expanded as additional inmates joined the lawsuit.
The ACLU of Indiana says the settlement provides some measure of accountability after years of litigation.
State officials have not publicly commented on the agreement.