ABUSE IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIE

INJUSTICES OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

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November 7, 2007	Mark Caldwell distraught over son’s conviction	(click here)
November 7, 2007	Jury finds Caldwell guilty of battery in Dozier officer	(click here)
November 7, 2007	CAICA REPORT: Abuse and deaths in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) system	(click here)
October 27, 2007	Degree inspires little faith Florida's juvenile justice chief draws praise. But his degree doesn't.	(click here)
October 20, 2007	Panel visits Southwest Florida to look at reasons for juvenile crime	(click here)
October 20, 2007	Hastings troubled-youth facility has troubles of its own	(click here)
August 4, 2007	Juvenile justice head vows improvements Promises any budget cuts will not stop progress	(click here)
July 31, 2007	BLUEPRINT COMMISSION SELECTED TO COLLABORATE ON REFORM OF FLORIDA'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM PRESS RELEASE	(click here)
July 31, 2007	Bay County Boot Camp property at center of squabble	(click here)
July 31, 2007	Siebert appeals decision to fire him	(click here)
June 20, 2007	Florida DJJ Inspector General Investigation - Two allegations of excessive force by Christopher Williams substantiated	(click here)
July 16, 2007	Bay County examiner fighting to keep job Ruling controversial in boot-camp death	(click here)
June 22, 2007	Boot camp trial may not be a slam dunk	(click here)
June 9, 2007	Juvenile facilities rated among state's worst	(click here)
May 3, 2007	Free Justin!	(click here)
April 25, 2007	Sheriff's office to pay $2.25M in boot camp death	(click here)
April 25, 2007	Senate panel reinstates full $5-million for death (Martin Lee Anderson)	(click here)
April 19, 2007	Family Speaks Out on DJJ Abuse	(click here)
April 15, 2007	Two Fired in Wake of Abuse Allegations	(click here)
December 4, 2006	Juvenile justice efforts here funded	(click here)
November 18, 2006	Teacher's aide charged with sex offense	(click here)
November 7, 2006	Care continuing at youth center, agency assures	(click here)
November 6, 2006	More Allegations of Neglect at Juvenile Lock-up Facility	(click here)
November 5, 2006	Youth Lockup In Little Rock Not Working	(click here)
November 5, 2006	Alexander lockup fails children, report asserts	(click here)
November 4, 2006	State to terminate juvenile services contract	(click here)
November 4, 2006	Arkansas fires firm running youth lockup	(click here)
November 3, 2006	State Ends Youth Services Contract	(click here)
November 3, 2006	Former Employee Speaks Against Alexander Youth Services	(click here)
October 30, 2006	Suing the Drill Instructors	(click here)
October 29, 2006	Studies: Youth punishment doesn’t always fit the crime	(click here)
October 29, 2006	Teen under DHS care: A fugitive	(click here)
October 23, 2006	State should feel more pressure to follow law on mentally ill inmates	(click here)
October 19, 2006	Harlem blew it; balloon discipline much too harsh	(click here)
October 17, 2006	Bush: no idea when Anderson investigation will conclude	(click here)
October 16, 2006	Boot camp death civil trial set April 16	(click here)
October 16, 2006	Court date set for civil trial in boot camp death	(click here)
October 14, 2006	Report: State investigating practices at camp for delinquent boys	(click here)
October 14, 2006	New claims of abuse at boys camp	(click here)
October 9, 2006	16 DEATHS IN 11 MONTHS - WHEN IS ENOUGH GOING TO BE ENOUGH?	(click here)
October 9, 2006	I'm not going away, would you?	(click here)
October 5, 2006	Female therapist admits to sex with patient	(click here)
October 5, 2006	Therapist helped teen sex partner escape	(click here)
October 4, 2006	Five-year old handcuffed, taken to mental health facility	(click here)
October 3, 2006	End the shackling of juveniles	(click here)
October 2, 2006	Ten months, no answers (Martin Lee Anderson)	(click here)
October 1, 2006	From buckets to boot camps: Retiring juvenile justice director has seen years of progress	(click here)
September 29, 2006	Delayed closure tortures family : It's been nine months since a teen beaten by boot camp guards died, but still no charges	(click here)
September 29, 2006	Cochran taps Silvercrest site for juvenile detention center	(click here)
September 19, 2006	Report rips mental health care at juvenile center	(click here)
September 16, 2006	Juvenile court asks for guidance	(click here)
September 18, 2006	Go after juvenile center thieves: OUR OPINION: WORKERS STEALING DETAINEES' PROPERTY NEW DJJ LOW	(click here)
September 17, 2006	Overcrowded juvenile hall tries to cope: County is expanding it slowly even though there is no state or county money to pay for it	(click here)
September 16, 2006	Juvenile court asks for guidance	(click here)
September 16, 2006	Family sues after inmate on suicide watch dies [BAKER ACT PATIENT] Suit claims medication used to restrain man caused his death	(click here)
September 15, 2006	SAN MATEO COUNTY: New juvenile hall focuses on rehab, not punishment	(click here)
September 15, 2006	Teen Sentenced for Murder: Rody Phillips, now 15, prosecuted as adult, sentenced to juvenile facility [PARENTS: Warning, anti-depressants believed to have been a contributing factor]	(click here)
September 14, 2006	SM County opens new juvenile hall	(click here)
September 13, 2006	Take the chains and shackles off juveniles	(click here)
September 13, 2006	Boot camp medical examiner plans appeal in other cases	(click here)
September 13, 2006	Lawyers want kids unshackled in court	(click here)
September 12, 2006	Shackling of juveniles challenged Public defenders call chaining children abusive	(click here)
September 9, 2006	Juvenile jail's future uncertain: Manatee sheriff pulls out of program over pepper-spray ban	(click here)
August 22, 2006	County unveils plan for juvenile justice: Facility would house troubled teens	(click here)
August 21, 2006	Juvenile Justice Deaths (Florida)	(click here)
August 21, 2006	Juvenile justice deaths	(click here)
August 16, 2007	Florida prosecutors can ask judge to unseal records in abuse case	(click here)
August 15, 2006	DJJ Office May Benefit Polk	(click here)
August 6, 2006	Juvenile felony arrests decline 44% in county ... and when you provide young people with the kinds of services they need — education, counseling, drug treatment, recreational programs — they will improve. Institutionalizing them doesn't make them better; it makes them worse."	(click here)
December 19, 2007	Florida DJJ: Young offenders get lost in the shuffle	(click here)
March 22, 2001	ELAINE GORDON TREATMENT CENTER Report: Suicide attempts, sexual misconduct from poor supervision	(click here)

Anthony Dumas	15 years old 10/14/2000	Lippman Family Center in Broward County, Florida run by the Lutheran Services Florida [State funded: Lutheran Services Florida, a Tampa-based nonprofit organization, runs the 20-bed center under a contract with the state Department of Juvenile Justice.]	On June 12, 2000, hung himself with a leather belt from his bunk bed at the Lippman runaway shelter in Oakland Park. Police reports say three staff members on duty that night all failed to cut him down from the bed, and one snapped pictures of the teen with an instant camera. Anthony was not released from his noose until police arrived. He died after being in a coma for four months. Three employees on duty that night were suspended without pay. Youth care specialists are not counselors. They handle the day-to-day operations of the residential facility. They need a high school diploma and must undergo CPR and first-aid training within a year of being hired. In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, the staff who first found Anthony was a certified nursing assistant. The shelter was not licensed.	Anthony's main page
Anthony Green	15 years old 5/21/91	Brookhaven Youth Ranch [State funded: Brookhaven does not accept private referrals. A referral must come from a juvenile probation with whom we have a contract, the Texas Youth Commission or The Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services - from their website.)	Restrained face down for 15 minutes Asphyxiation	article; website
Brandon Hadden	18 years old 1998	Healthcare Rehabilitation Center, Austin, TX [State funded: Texas corrections facility]	Restrained in a straitjacket and held facedown on a bed, vomited, and choked to death while two staff continued to hold him down	article; article 2; article 3
Bryan Dale Alexander	18 years old	Cold Springs Correctional Facility, Texas [State funded: Texas corrections facility]	Pneumonia, lack of proper medical care - conviction	article; article 2; article 3; multiple articles
Chad Andrew Franza	16 years old 8/17/98	Polk County Boot Camp, Florida [State funded: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.]	Suicide by hanging Boot Camp Death Results in $240,000 for Family	article; article 2; article 3 article 4
Daniel Matthews	17 years old Died: 3/31/03	Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center St. Petersburg, FL [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System]	Danny died of blunt trauma to the head after a detention officer, a non-certified trainee, mistakenly opened the cell door of another youth, who punched Danny twice, causing him to hit his head. Danny's Main Page	Danny's Main Page
Dillon Taylor Peak	14 years old Died: 6/17/06	Peace River Outward Bound camp in DeSoto County [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System]	Officials say Dillon apparently died of a severe case of encephalitis. The death remains under investigation. According to an article listed on the ACLU website, Dillon died after becoming ill and suffering seizures. His parents claim he didn't get medical treatment soon enough, and a state investigation released in January found that, while Outward Bound staffers weren't guilty of neglect, they failed to follow strict guidelines that would have sent Peak to the hospital instead of back to his tent. Boy dies after stay at camp for teen offenders Boy dies after illness at offender camp	article 1; article 2
Gina Score	14 years old 1990	South Dakota Training School, Plankinton, SD	Collapsed (hyperthermia), left out in sun for 3 hours....internal temp at least 108	Gina's Main Page
Joey (Giovanni) Alteriz	16 years old 2/4/06	SummitQuest, ViaQuest Program	Preliminary autopsy report indicates cause of death was asphyxia due to prone, face-down restraint; found traumatic injuries about the shoulder, right lower abdomen, indicating compression and forcefully being maintained in a face down position	Joey's Main Page
Johnny Lim	14 years old 12/26/05	King County Juvenile Detention Center, Washington [State funded: Washington Department of Juvenile Justice]	After complaining of an excruciating headache, he vomited and fell to the floor. The county's medical examiner ruled the death a "spontaneous brain-stem hemorrhage" attributable to natural causes. There are many unanswered questions by Lim's family and attorney representing staff and the center.	Johnny's Main Page
Martin Lewis Anderson	14 years old 1/6/2006	Bay County Sheriff’s Office Boot Camp [State funded: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice]	Martin Lee Anderson died at a Pensacola hospital one day after guards at the Bay County Sheriff's Office Boot Camp punched, kneed, and applied pressure to his head in an attempt to force him to continue running laps. An autopsy ordered by a special prosecutor concluded Martin died of asphyxia after guards covered his mouth and shoved ammonia capsules up his nose. A use-of-force report said the guards had thought Martin was malingering. The beating was caught on video. Original report from the medical examiner determined his cause of death was due to sickle cell trait. His body was exhumed and a second autopsy was performed. The cause of death was then determined to be a result of asphyxiation from ammonia inhalants shoved up Martin Lee Anderson's nose while his mouth was covered. Following a week-long criminal trial the seven guards and nurse were acquitted. The fight continues for justice in this case. Martin's Main Page	Martin's Main Page
Michael Ibarra-Wiltsie	12 years old 2/5/2000	Eckert Youth Alternatives Camp E-Kel-Etu in Marion County, Florida [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System] A Florida Department of Juvenile Justice investigation held counselor Joseph Cooley responsible, saying he used excessive force to restrain Wiltsie. Linda Ibarra, Wiltsie's mother, filed wrongful death lawsuits against Cooley and the camp owner in both state and federal court. The cases settled for an undisclosed amount in 2002, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.	Cause of death: Asphyxia -- Restraint sat on by 320 pound counselor Investigations concluded Michael, who weighed only 66 pounds, died of asphyxia after being held in a ''full-body restraint'' by a counselor who weighed over 300 pounds. While being held by the counselor, Michael yelled several times that he could not breathe. A death review said the counselor believed Michael was ``playing possum.'' Wiltsie's mother was found dead in her garage with her 7-year-old son in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities said. Mother, son found dead in apparent murder-suicide Justice for the young	article, article 2
Nicholas Contreras Nicholas' mom and sister as they grieve his loss	16 years old Died: 3/2/98	Arizona Boys Ranch	Prolonged and serious medical neglect and openly abusive treatment per investigative summary. From one article: "In one case, Contreraz was forced to do pushups with his head over a bucket of feces-smeared clothing..."	Nicholas' Main Page Articles, Investigation Summary, Police report (click here) Picture of Nicholas' torso during his autopsy
Omar Paisley	17 years old 6/9/2003	Miami Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center Florida [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System] June 9, 2003, at the Miami Juvenile Detention Center of a ruptured appendix that went untreated. Omar had complained to nurses and guards for three days that he was sick and in excruciating abdominal pain. Two nurses, who have been charged with third-degree murder, failed to treat him, and officers waited days before summoning help. Records show some of the officers and nurses thought Omar was faking.	Died of a ruptured appendix that went untreated. Omar had complained to the guards and nurses for three days that he was sick and in excruciating abdominal pain. Two nurses, who have been charged with third-degree murder, failed to treat him, and officers waited days before summoning help. Records show some of the officers and nurses thought Omar was faking. Ill youth died amid chaos, confusion Making DJJ safe Final report of the Miami-Dade County Grand Jury Jail nurses indicted in boy's death Two nurses charged with murder in Omar's death	article; article 2; Report; article 3; article 4;
Shawn Smith	13 years old 10/30/2001	Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center Florida [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System]	Smith was found with a sheet tied to his neck and to the door of his cell. He was supposed to be on ''close watch'' -- requiring officers to observe him ever five minutes -- as a suicide risk. Committed suicide after complaining of being abused at the hands of those who were supposed to be there to help him Click here	Click here
Willie Lawrence Durden, III	17 years old 10/14/2003	Cypress Creek Juvenile Offender Correctional Center Lecanto, Citrus County, Florida [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System; privately managed, contracted with the state]	An autopsy concluded Willie died of ventricular arrhythmia, due to an enlarged and diseased heart. A recent report says guards waited about 20 minutes after discovering the limp teen before calling 911 and beginning CPR. A guard told investigators he waited to begin CPR because teens sometimes ``play pranks.'' Inmate dies at youth facility State examines juvenile center death Report: Guards thought teen with no pulse faking	article; article 2; article 3

Arkansas fires firm running youth lockup

Studies: Youth punishment doesn’t always fit the crime

Court date set for civil trial in boot camp death

Delayed closure tortures family : It's been nine months since a teen beaten by boot camp guards died, but still no charges

Go after juvenile center thieves: OUR OPINION: WORKERS STEALING DETAINEES' PROPERTY NEW DJJ LOW

Overcrowded juvenile hall tries to cope: County is expanding it slowly even though there is no state or county money to pay for it

Juvenile jail's future uncertain: Manatee sheriff pulls out of program over pepper-spray ban

Juvenile justice deaths