Good clothes and furloughs sought by inmate in suit

William Evans, imprisoned for possessing cocaine at Lawrenceville Correctional Center, filed a civil rights complaint against the Illinois Department of Corrections alleging that he is being denied furloughs to seek outside employment.

In a suit filed in federal court Nov. 14, Evans also claims he is “constantly exposed to inmates with all kinds of mental and physical diseases such as herpes, hepatitis and AIDS.”

According to Evans, he has to eat and drink out of the same unsanitary cups and trays being used by ex-drug attics and alcoholics.

Evans was convicted of possession of 15 grams or more of cocaine, according to Department of Corrections records. He is expected to be paroled on Aug. 28, 2006.

He claims his Eighth Amendment rights are being violated because he is exposed to imminent dangers such as fights, as well as cruel and unusual punishment.

“My constitutional rights to the pursuit of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are being violated because defendants are denying my right to engage in any legitimate trade occupation, business or profession which I see fit,” Evans states in his handwritten complaint.

Evans is seeking $250 in compensatory damages, $5,000 in punitive damages and an injunction ordering defendants to give him the furloughs sought and proper clothing to seek employment.

The case has been assigned to District Judge James Foreman.

05-CV-00818-JLF