The story of Justin Caldwell
The story of
Christopher Sholly
The story of "J"
For information on Omar Paisley click here.
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.
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
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
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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. |