January 11, 2017 (NEW YORK) – Proskauer, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) and Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) are suing the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for failing to provide education to youth with disabilities throughout the prison system, including to students held in solitary confinement.

"This lawsuit seeks to vindicate the rights of an incredibly vulnerable population: youth with disabilities in adult prison facilities," said Bill Silverman, a former federal prosecutor and the partner at Proskauer responsible for leading pro bono efforts. "We intend to enforce the law."

Proskauer serves as co-counsel for the plaintiffs in this federal class action lawsuit. The plaintiffs are the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey and three incarcerated students, who have been denied special education services by NJDOC and, combined, have spent over 500 days in solitary confinement. The lawsuit also charges that the NJDOE has failed to monitor and ensure that the NJDOC was providing special education and related services in compliance with federal and state law.

The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. A copy of the Complaint is available here.