Used Jail Clothes Causing Bad Breakouts, Infections: Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — Melvin Louis Wilson Jr., a 39-year-old Joliet man charged with shooting a man in the stomach on Dec. 21, 2020, has filed a pro se lawsuit against the Will County Adult Detention Facility, claiming the jail's commissary prices are extreme.

"If you look at the prison and jail standard code ... it states in black and white that all prison and jails are entitled to have reasonable commissary prices that all detainees can afford," Wilson's lawsuit against Sheriff Mike Kelley and Will County Jail Administrator Dale Santerelli alleges.

According to Wilson's lawsuit, the Will County Jail does not allow inmates to purchase boxer drawls, socks or undershirts off the commissary because inmates are provided these items through the jail laundry system twice per week.

"However, these clothing items that's being provided for the inmates through W.C.A.D.F. laundry system are used and wore out items from other inmates in the W.C.A.D.F. God knows what these items been through!" Wilson exclaimed in his lawsuit.

"Myself and several other inmates have complained to laundry about how the used clothing has caused ... really bad breakouts in the area that's (embarrassing) to say: the penis area, in between the butt crack, the foot area, leg area, the back area and more. Inmates should be able to either keep their underwear upon their arrival at W.C.A.D.F. or be given new items upon their arrival at W.C.A.D.F," Wilson argues.

The Joliet shooting defendant also takes issue with the cost of the commissary for he and his fellow inmates who are being detained at 95 South Chicago St.

"We are getting charged 99 cents for individual oatmeal packs, that's not supposed to be sold individually," Wilson wrote. "We are getting charged $2.07 for a 3.2 oz dial soap bar. That's not supposed to be sold individually. It literally says on the items: not for individual sale.

"The Will County Adult Detention Facility is clearly making their own rules, by violating the prison and jail policy by selling all detainees very high-priced commissary, which is a violation of all detainees' rights," the plaintiff contends.

Wilson maintains the defendants are in violation of his Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution "by not giving the plaintiff adequate prices for commissary.

"For all these reasons, I will like to sue for One Million Dollars," Wilson's lawsuit closed.

According to jail logs, Wilson has remained in custody since Will County Sheriff's deputies arrested him Dec. 21, 2020 on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery, theft and two counts of battery.

His bail is $158,000.

At the time of his arrest, Wilson lived in the 3000 block of Woodside Drive.

Wilson's jury trial for his five criminal charges is set to begin in late January.

According to the criminal complaint, Wilson is accused of pushing the victim, striking him in the head, taking the man's pistol away by use of force and shooting the man in the stomach.

Last week, Assistant Will County Public Defender Kristen Wyss filed a motion indicating "Wilson intends to assert self-defense."