Opinion ID: 2998723
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The conduct alleged in Dole’s suit

Text: Joseph Dole was an inmate at Menard Correctional Center on March 15, 2002, when he hit Assistant Warden No. 05-1868 3 Al Frentzel in the prison yard.1 Shortly thereafter, as he was being restrained in the prison yard, he claims that he was beaten by defendants Biggs and Hess, and possibly others. He states that he was then transported to the Health Care Unit, where he was beaten by defendants Chandler, Butler, Hasemeyer, Pickering, and possibly others. The guards allegedly locked him in an examination room, slammed his head into a biohazard box and into the sink, kicked him in the ribs, and beat him until he passed out. A civilian nurse in the Health Care Unit beat on the door and shouted for help, at which point Dole claims that the guards ceased abusing him. When the nurse entered the room, Dole was examined and it was discovered that he had suffered a broken nose and several small abrasions and bruises on his ribs. After that incident, Dole alleges that he was transported to Tamms Correctional Center in a van with the windows open, which made the temperature inside the van unreasonably cold. He claims that although he requested that the officers close the windows, they refused. According to Dole, the officers were wearing heavy winter coats, and he was wearing only a thin prison uniform and prison shower shoes. Finally, Dole states that he was placed on suicide watch for five days as retribution for attacking the assistant warden and not out of medical necessity. The nurse who intervened in the alleged beating at the Health Care Unit complained to the Illinois Department of Corrections’ (“the Department”) Internal Affairs Office, which initiated its own investigation of the incident the same day. The Department also forwarded a request to the 1 As punishment for this action, Dole was transferred to Tamms Correctional Center, a maximum security prison, and placed in indefinite segregation. He plead guilty to aggravated battery, for which he was sentenced to an additional five years in prison. 4 No. 05-1868 Illinois State Police, asking them to initiate a separate investigation into the incident. Dole cooperated in both of these investigations; over twenty staff members were also interviewed. Both agencies issued full reports at the conclusion of their investigations. The Illinois State Police report was submitted to the Director of the Department of Corrections (“Director”), and the matter was referred to the State’s Attorney of Randolph County for possible prosecution. The State’s Attorney declined to prosecute, despite the fact that the report found the allegations credible, citing insufficient evidence, lack of witnesses, and conflicting staff member statements. The internal affairs report was also forwarded to the Director, as well as the Warden at Menard. That report concluded that defendants Hasemeyer, Pickering, and Chandler violated the Department’s regulations governing the use of excessive force and failure to report violations. Those defendants were disciplined.