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More reports received by
J4K
The story of Justin Caldwell
The story of
Christopher Sholly
The story of "J"
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10/22/08 Florida reform school abuse victims recall horrors,
Associated Press. |
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10/19/08 Reform school alumni recount severe beatings, rapes, Miami
Herald. |
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11/07/07 CAICA REPORT Abuse and deaths: Florida Department of Juvenile
Justice (DJJ) |
| 04/28/04
Former counselor arrested in abuse case |
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04/23/04 Pines juvenile center accused of denying dental care to aching
17-year-old |
| 04/14/04 Clean it up |
| 04/11/04 Young offenders at
risk |
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March 2004 Pinellas County School failed to report sexual abuse! |
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Jul 25, 2003 Florida Institute for Girls names new directors |
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Jul 18, 2003 Two teenage girls suffer broken arms at the Florida
Institute for Girls |
| Jun 20, 2003
Guard hits youth at Pinellas JDC |
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Jun 10, 2003 Teen dies at Miami-Dade JDC after languishing in pain! |
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May 31, 2003 Tragedy: Teen dies in fight at Pinellas JDC... |
| Apr
6, 2003 Tampa Tribune examines Baker Act... |
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Mar 18, 2003 Youth abuse investigation leads to 2 arrests... |
| Aug 14, 2003
This place is out of control... |
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Jan 22, 2002 "If fighting to save my child makes me a criminal, then there's
really a big, big problem"...
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Aug
6, 2002
Feds look into juvenile abuse
claims
Note: The Civil Rights Litigation Section is authorized to
take action only if there is a pattern or practice of illegal conduct.
Exposure of a pattern would warrant an investigation that could result in
obtaining broad reform of conditions in these institutions. To read more
click:
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/split/complaints.htm#Institution |
For information on Omar Paisley
click here.
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04/28/04 Former counselor arrested in abuse case
Chris Tisch, St. Petersburg Times
Police found that the child had been the subject of a take-down
on March 6, 2003, because she would not stop talking after lights-out. Collins
and another staffer, Betherea Stokes, then took the girl to a timeout room,
which was out of range of the facility's 72 surveillance cameras.
Collins and Stokes then began a "beat out" in which they punched the girl in
the arms, legs and torso, arrest reports state. The girl told police that a
"beat out" was a rite of passage for those who are about to be released from the
facility.
A doctor's report later showed the girl suffered deep tissue bruising.
Click here for complete article.
top
04/23/04 Pines juvenile center accused of denying dental care to aching
17-year-old
Megan O'Matz, Sun Sentinel
...youth contracted a foot fungus from fecal matter on the floor of a shower
stall at South Pines. . . .all restrooms were found to be in need of cleaning,
as foul odors were apparent. The program has been providing Pop-Tarts to
subsidize the small portions of food
top
04/14/04 Clean it up
Editorial, Orlando Sentinel
Our position: The juvenile-justice system needs both punishment and
treatment.
Improving the oversight of the agency and its contractors is critical. It's
shocking that internal reports at the agency found gross deficiencies in
performance standards. Click here to read
Clean it up
top
04/11/04
Young offenders at risk
Rene Stutzman, Orlando Sentinel
One of the most egregious child abusers in Florida is the very
agency that's supposed to rehabilitate troubled youths: the state
Department of Juvenile Justice. In case after case, records suggest an
agency that cannot control its employees or those of the dozens of
private companies it pays to run most of its field operations. Claudia
Wright, professor at the Levin College of Law at the University of
Florida, represented a child housed in the Polk City facility when it
was run by Youth Services. "We saw a lot of abuse," she said, "overuse
of isolation, using children to supervise other children, provoking
fights between the children." "It's just impossible to effectively
either punish or treat children in large institutions," Wright said.
"They're just throwing money absolutely down a rathole." Click here to
read
Young offenders at risk
top
March 2004 Pinellas County School failed to report sexual abuse!
Sexual abuse of a child against another child is alleged to have occurred at
Westgate Elementary School. The school is mandated to follow the law (Florida
Statute 39.201) when there is suspicion of child abuse. Following the law
includes reporting the allegation to the Abuse Hotline 1-800-96-ABUSE.
For more information, contact: Pinellas County School Board 727-586-1818 or
Matt Sullivan at 727-343-8231
The Pinellas County School Board attorney gave a statement at the March 9,
2004 School Board meeting relative to this incident. The next Pinellas County
School Board meeting is scheduled for: April 13, 2004 - 10 am
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June 21, 2003
Pinellas JDC
Sheriff's deputy tells Cathy Corry that DJJ staff want her removed from
the premises. She asked why; no one had an answer, so she stayed! |
June 20, 2003
Guard hits youth at Pinellas JDC
A 15 year-old at Pinellas JDC receives stitches in his face after
altercation with guard.
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May
31, 2003 TRAGEDY: Teen dies in fight at Pinellas JDC...
Daniel Matthews, 17 years-old, died in a fight with another detainee at the
Pinellas County Juvenile Detention Center in Clearwater, Florida on May 31,
2003. What follows are newspaper reports by the St. Petersburg Times
and communications received by justice4kids.org concerning this
tragedy.
| Oct 9, 2003:Justice
officials admit errors led to fatal fight, St. Petersburg Times |
| August 9, 2003:
Report: Guard's error opened cell doors St. Petersburg Times |
| July 7, 2003:
Teen not charged in fatal fistfight St. Petersburg Times |
| June 15, 2003:
Detention often a terrible option... St. Petersburg Times |
| June 5, 2003:
Protesters rally at juvenile center St. Petersburg Times |
| June 4, 2003:
Charges sought in deadly jail fight St. Petersburg Times |
| June 3, 2003:
Video details fatal jail fight St. Petersburg Times |
| June 2, 2003:
Message from DJJ Secretary Bankhead Dept. of Juvenile Justice |
| June 2, 2003:
Sent to jail for help, teen killed St. Petersburg Times |
| June 1, 2003:
"Well it's too late, last night a detainee died..."
Anon. |
| November 9, 2002:
"A
first warning..."
Anon. |
| September 13, 2001:
A warning to Gov. Bush Steven Sundquist, JDO, et.al. |
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Click here to read letters justice4kids.org has received. |
If you have information, contact Curtis Krueger, Staff Writer
at the St. Petersburg Times, 727.893.8232 or email him at
krueger@sptimes.com. |
June 4, 2003: justice4kids.org
rallies at Pinellas JDC over
teen tragedy
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April 6, 2003
Tampa Tribune examines Baker Act...
Statewide, a Tampa Tribune investigation has found, there were 16,000
cases last year of children being taken to crisis centers under the Baker
Act. Often they are kept for days, put on prescription psychiatric drugs and
then released with only a recommendation they seek outpatient care. To read
the 4-part article,
click here.
top
March 18, 2003 Youth abuse investigation leads to 2 arrests...
The employees at Florida Youth Academy may have hit teens during a rite of
passage for those leaving the program.
Click here to read the full text of Leon M. Tucker's report in the
St. Petersburg Times on March 18, 2003. top
August 14, 2002
This place is out of control...
...said a report about the Sago Palm Academy, the 350-bed juvenile offender
facility in western Palm Beach County. This St. Petersburg Times
Editorial published August 14, 2000 may be relevant today.
Click here to read the the editorial. Then, ask yourself if you, or
someone you know, has a child in these conditions today. If so,
click here to send me an e-mail or call me, Cathy Corry, at
727.799.9762.
top
January 22, 2002 "If fighting to save my child makes
me a criminal, then there's really a big, big problem"...
Click
"Mother's effort to help her son prompts arrest" and
"Boy put in state care after mom is arrested"
We, as parents, seek help for our children. We are too often turned
away; then we are accused and threatened in a manner that does not help
anyone. Where is the village? Where is the community effort to
help those who seek help? - Cathy Corry
top Children told to sign SELF PRESERVATION
STATEMENT at some DJJ facilities
Children in some of Florida's Juvenile Justice Facilities are told to sign
statements stating they are able to care for themselves in case of an emergency!
SELF PRESERVATION STATEMENT
| I am capable and willing to be responsible for
myself in the event of an emergency such as a fire, storm, or accident. |
| I agree to not harm myself or others and to
not attempt suicide. At the present time, I do not have any thoughts or
plans to hurt myself or others. |
| I am capable and able to manage and care for
myself in case of an emergency (such as a fire or life threatening
situation) that occurs within the building. |
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