Florida youths being abused in privatized facilities. Kudos to our paper.

[madfloridian]

This is sickening. I am proud of The Ledger for taking up this issue. It covers about 3 full pages of the print version. This has been happening pretty much without people noticing. This is "Scared Straight".....it just has different names!!

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040621/NEWS/406210381/1039

SNIP..."POLK CITY -- For six years the pleas for help from inside Florida's largest juvenile prison received scant attention from the state.

Dozens of inmates at the Polk Youth Development Center for boys were beaten or intimidated by abusive workers, some of whom lacked adequate training, state records show.

But juvenile justice officials have only recently begun to address underlying problems at PYDC with an infusion of dollars to improve training, security and living conditions.

State child abuse investigators confirmed nearly 60 cases of inmate abuse between June 1998 and June 2003, more than any other juvenile program in the state."

There should not be ANY cases, much less 60 in one facility! There is more. I am sickened.

[madfloridian]

1. Also a girls' facility under attack. Again...privatized. Scared Straight

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040621/NEWS/406210382/1039

SNIP..."Live Oak Academy is by many accounts a model program housing 60 girls whose crimes deem them to be a moderate threat to the community.

But some parents whose children have served time at the state Department of Juvenile Justice's Lakeland detention program paint another picture: Guards using physical violence to win obedience.These parents say anyone who complains is threatened with having their children transferred out of town or across the state."

SNIP..."He said his daughter was injured twice when tackled by a male worker who claimed she was disruptive. The first incident on Dec. 23 resulted in minor injuries, he said, but the second incident a few weeks later required an MRI on his daughter's shoulder.

Other girls have been hurt worse, he said. "I'm telling you one of these kids is going to get killed."

Lanham is not alone in his criticism of Live Oak staff.Other parents complain of beatings, heads slammed into metal doors, even sexual abuse."

SNIP.."Rose Young, a Youth for Christ missionary who also serves on Live Oak's volunteer advisory board, said the program is a valuable community asset. (Yeah, Rose...a great asset.)

[madfloridian]

2. Kick.

It is indicative for the nation the way Florida is going now in almost every area such as voter rolls, public records being closed, and privatizing of youth facilities without proper oversight.

I am really amazed this is getting so little attention. Our schools are a wreck, I posted about that, it got little attention.

With Jeb at the controls, you can just take a look here and see what they plan for America.

Kick.

[madfloridian]

3. Same company was in trouble in Palm Beach last year. Widespread.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040621/NEWS/406210383/1039

SNIP.."Premier Behavioral Solutions, the company that runs Polk Youth Development Center, came under fire last year for abuses at a girls' home the company operated in South Florida.

A Palm Beach County grand jury was convened to investigate allegations of rampant abuse and injuries at the Florida Institute for Girls, a 100-bed facility housing violent juveniles.
Ultimately, Premier lost its $5 million annual contract.

There were no indictments, but the jury's 62-page report of Jan. 29 portrayed Premier as operating with little or no oversight or accountability and jeopardizing safety to maximize profit.

The grand jury also blasted the state Department of Juvenile Justice for failing to monitor problems at the Palm Beach program, including such contract obligations as adequate staff and staff training....."

[Hubert Flottz]

4. I think you are exactly right about their plans for America!

I'm not surprised by the stories that you posted! Then look at what Jeb's daughter got for her crimes! Justice is for sale like everything else is under this regime!

[madfloridian]

5. I would think Democrats would pick up on this.

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it. It would be a good way to point out the dangers of privatization....and lack of oversight.

I think few care, though. Heck, we are not even aware of all that is going on here, so it could be going on in other states as well.

This is shameful.

[disinfo_guy]

6. Beatings can increase employee efficiency

you know by improving morale! :eyes:

[greekspeak]

7. When are Americans going to wake up and realize

that not every single thing the government does privatized? Prisons, schools, etc. need to be VERY closely monitored and run publicly where possible. Since I moved to Florida a mere year ago, I cannot tell you how many privatization scandals I have heard about.

[madfloridian]

8. A lot of it in the schools, too.

You are so right. There are just too many scandals to keep up with. The vouchers for special ed students was one scandal. Keep an eye on the privatized county jail system now. They are not having good track records.

Florida is not the same now. No one is paying attention. If there were good investigative researchers like this Eric Pera throughout the state, more would get done.

Charter schools are worrying me some. A couple were so bad they have already been shut down. We are in trouble here.

[kiahzero]

9. Sound familiar?

Dozens of inmates ... were beaten or intimidated by abusive workers, some of whom lacked adequate training, ... records show.

Abu Ghraib is here at home. That's why I wasn't surprised at all to find out one of the MPs in question was a prison guard stateside.

[madfloridian]

10. Yes, you got it.

Many of the state prisons are privatized, and almost no oversight.
Not a pretty picture.

Abu Graib begins in the heart and soul at home.

[rumguy]

11. welcome to repig America