Pubdate: Wed, 23 Oct 2002
Source: Badger Herald (WI)
Copyright: 2002 Badger Herald
Contact: http://www.badgerherald.com/about/contact_staff.shtml
Website: http://www.badgerherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/711
Author: Matt Scherling, City Editor

STATE FACING LAWSUIT OVER INMATE'S DEATH

The mother of a prison inmate who died at a New Richmond penitentiary in 
June has filed a wrongful-death civil suit against the Wisconsin Department 
of Corrections.

Kimberly Gray of Sun Prairie filed the suit, alleging her son Franklin D. 
Homesly died of an asthma attack after being forced to participate in 
physical training, collapsing during an evening run in 93-degree weather.

Homesly, 30, suffered an asthma attack and had difficulty breathing for 30 
minutes before being transported by ambulance to Holy Family Hospital in 
New Richmond, approximately 65 miles west of Eau Claire, where efforts to 
resuscitate him failed.

Neither of Gray's attorneys, Keith Clifford and Michael Bohrnstedt, both of 
Madison, could be reached for comment.

Homesly was placed on probation in April earlier this year after February 
convictions for resisting arrest and possession of marijuana, his third 
drug offense.

After violating his probation, Homesly volunteered to take part in the 
four-month "boot-camp" program in lieu of a potentially lengthy prison-term.

Homesly's death comes in the midst of widespread criticism of Wisconsin's 
Department of Corrections, including the Dane County jail system, which has 
come under fire from inmates who say they are provided with inadequate 
health care.

Sept. 27, Dane County sheriff Gary Hamblin and County Executive Kathleen M. 
Falk announced a new health-care provider, Prison Health Services, would 
provide health-care services to inmates until at least Nov. 30.

"I am confident that, under this agreement, we will be providing better 
health-care services to inmates in our jail system," Hamblin said.

One of the reasons cited by Sheriff Hamblin for the poor health-care 
standards in the jail during the last decade is the rising level of jail 
populations.

The issue of prison funding has played a key role in the gubernatorial race 
between the Republican incumbent Scott McCallum and his challenger, 
Democrat Jim Doyle.
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