DENVER—A Colorado inmate held in solitary confinement for over a decade has prevailed in his legal battle for exercise time outside.
A federal judge in Denver has sided with Troy Anderson, a mentally ill inmate at the Colorado State Penitentiary. His crimes include a shootout with police.
The state argued that a chin-up bar in Anderson’s cell and 6-inch-wide slits in the wall satisfied an outdoor exercise requirement. The Denver Post ( ) reported that U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson disagreed in a ruling last week, describing Anderson’s conditions as “inhumane.”
Anderson’s attorneys say the ruling could lead to all inmates getting outdoor time but the corrections department says the ruling only applies to Anderson.
The lawsuit also asked for a reassessment of his mental health treatment.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
