For the Children! | Help stop the abuse , neglect and deaths in Florida,s Juvenile Justice System

The Children

The Children

Children are not born

Good orBad

They are born INNOCENT!

Please !help stop the deaths , abuse and neglect of our youth !

As long as the child will be trained not by love, but by fear, so long will humanity live not by justice, but by force. As long as the child will be ruled by the educator’s threat and by the father’s rod, so long will mankind be dominated by the policeman’s club

"There never was a time when a major social problem was solved by beating a child. And there never will be such a time... For centuries adults have injured children and have lied about it, and other adults have heard those lies and then merely turned away... we must begin putting the blame where it belongs."

                    BOOT CAMP ABUSE, NEGLECT, & DEATHS IN FLORIDA JUVENILE JUSTICE
                                                Department of Juvenile Justice in Florida
                          As of 2004, there were 661 confirmed cases of abuse or neglect since 1994

two thirds of them were in the last four years

Here is an example of just a few:

IN LOVING MEMORY
Angel above
Daniel had one of the purest hearts I shall ever know
and sang with tears in his eyes every night of his life
to me , My heart shall go on . Daniel died 5-31-2003 in
PCDJJ , Florida. His heart shall always go on ... Daniel Matthews, 17

Another father grieves for the loss of his son ... a son who
should still be alive today, a son who was beaten to death
by those who were supposed to help him ... Martin Lee
Anderson, 14

There is no reason youth should be treated this way:

Drill instructors Michael Picardi, left, and Matthew
Kingsley yell at a recruit. "This is not stinkin' Burger
King," Kingsley said later, "and you will not have it
your way here."

Lock Up, Break Down

A tear runs down the face of a juvenile as he goes through
the intake process of the Pinellas County Boot Camp. The
same boot camp were Martin Lee Anderson died after being
beaten by guards.

[Times photos: John Pendygraft]

Juvenile Justice hit with $11M budget cut
Legislature slices proposed $33M increase
By Stephen D. Price
CAPITOL BUREAU

Children's advocates said they were blindsided by a $11 million cut legislators made Monday afternoon to the Department of Juvenile Justice budget, an agency they said had not had a significant raise since 1994.

"This decision came as a complete shock to us because the allocations were agreed to by the conferees that have oversight over the juvenile-justice system," Roy Miller, president of the Children's Campaign, said at a news conference Tuesday. "The programs are in emergency mode."The DJJ was to get a $33 million raise from its current budget, but the cut will make the increase about $22 million.

DJJ spokesman Tara Collins said, "We would like our providers to receive as much monetary resources as possible. (But) We are certain the Legislature has done the best job they can with the resources they have."

Many providers have said that, for several years, funding rates for services contracted through DJJ have fallen far behind the rate of inflation and the need. DJJ contracts with private providers to operate juvenile detention centers, runaway shelters, residential programs and after-care programs.

The agency's budget has come under scrutiny this year with the death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, who died Jan. 6, a day after he was restrained, hit and kneed by guards at the Bay County juvenile boot camp. No one has been charged in Anderson's death.

The Legislature decided to do away with boot camps and form a new system, similar to the highly-regarded boot camp in Martin County that focuses on education and after-care counseling. But even that boot camp is scheduled to fold this summer due to lack of funding.

"We needed $33 million to get off the cliff," said Mark Fontaine, executive director of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association. "Programs are going to have to see if they can stay afloat. Providers are concerned and they don't want to be the next headline because they don't have the resources to do the job."

Contact Democrat senior writer Stephen D. Price at (850) 671-6548 or sprice@tallahassee.com

Originally published May 3, 2006

DEATHS IN THE FLORIDA DJJ SYSTEM

Case	Victim info	Program	Date of death	Cause of death	Details, News Articles, Reports
1	Chad Andrew Franza 16 years old	Polk County Boot Camp	8/17/98	Suicide	- Threats to kill himself - Not put on suicide watch - Allowed to cover window with cardboard - Restricted contact with parents - Found hanging from his boot laces - Parents sued Chad's Main Page
2	Michael Ibarra-Wiltsie, II 12 years old	Eckert Youth Alternatives	2/5/00	Restraint	- Restrained by 300 lb. staff - Held down in full-body restraint - Yelled he couldn’t breathe - Counselor believed he was “playing possum” - Counselor held responsible for use of excessive force - Family sued, settled for undisclosed amount - 6 years after his death his mother was found dead in her garage with 7 year old son in apparent murder/ suicide Michael's Main Page
3	Anthony Dumas 15 years old	Lippman Family Center in Broward County	6/12/00	Suicide	- Hung himself with leather belt from bunk - Staff member took pictures instead of letting him down - Slipped into a coma - Died 4 months later - Worker sentenced to probation and community service; can never work with children or disabled adults again News articles
4	Shawn Smith 13 years old	Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center	10/31/01	Suicide	- Found with sheet tied around his neck and door - Should have been on close watch - Complained he was being abused, harassed, bullied, and beaten by staff Committed suicide after complaining of being abused at the hands of those who were supposed to be there to help him Click here
5	Danny Matthews 17 years old	Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center	3/31/03	Blunt head trauma	- Complained he was afraid another inmate would kill him - Guard mistakenly opened Danny’s cell door when he was supposed to be letting a few inmates into their cells - Inmate who had threatened Danny hit him in the head - Danny died of blunt head trauma - Two staff members were fired - His family sued and won a settlement - Asst. Superintendent received 5-day suspension Danny's Main Page
6	Omar Paisley 17 years old	Miami Dade Regional Juvenile Detention Center	6/9/03	Medical neglect	- Omar complained of severe abdominal pain for days - Staff ignored his pleas - No medical attention was provided - Records show nurses and officers thought Omar was faking - He died an avoidable and painful death - Cause of death was a ruptured appendix - Two nurses were charged with third-degree murder Omar's Main Page
7	Willie Lawrence Durden, III 17 years old	Cypress Creek Juvenile Offender Correctional Center	10/13/05	Medical neglect	- Willie’s body was found limp - Guards waited 20 minutes before starting CPR or calling 911 - Said teens sometimes “play pranks” Willie's Main Page
8	Martin Lee Anderson 14 years old	Bay County Sheriff’s Office Boot Camp	1/6/06	Beaten and suffocated	- Beaten by seven guards - Nurse stood by and watched - Caught on video - Parents questioned 1^st autopsy, body exhumed - 2^nd autopsy revealed he died from suffocation as a result of ammonia capsules stuffed up his nose - Parents sued the state and settled for $40 Million - All of the guards and the nurse were acquitted Martin's Main Page
9	Dillon Taylor Peak 6/17/06	Peace River Outward Bound camp in DeSoto County	6/17/06	Medical neglect	- Last day of camp, mother on her way to pick him up - Call from facility, son had been hospitalized - High fever and strep throat - Taken to hospital, returned to camp same day - Returned to tent with Tylenol - Condition worsened, parents not notified - Slipped into a coma; died a month later - Death is being investigated Dillon's Main Page
	More information	Juvenile Justice News			Main Page

RESTRICTIVENESS LEVELS OF PROGRAMS

Minimum-Risk Non-Residential	Programs or program models at this commitment level work with youth who remain at home and participate at least 5 days per week in a day treatment program. Youth assessed and classified for programs at this commitment level represent a minimum risk to themselves and public safety and do not require placement and services in residential settings. Youth in this level have full access to, and reside in, the community. Youth who have been found to have committed delinquent acts that involve firearms, that are sexual offenses, or that would be life felonies or first-degree felonies if committed by an adult may not be committed to a program at this level.
Low-Risk Residential	Youth classified for placement in programs in this restrictiveness level are assessed as low risks to public safety, yet require 24-hour supervision. Currently, most placements result from first and second-degree misdemeanors to third degree felonies. Patterns of offending are infrequent and non-violent and are oriented toward property crimes rather than crimes against people. These youth have usually performed unsuccessfully in prevention and diversion programs, and typically have weak family and community support structures. Low-risk programs cannot accept youth who are found to have committed delinquent acts that involve firearms, are sexual offenses, or would be life felonies or first-degree felonies if committed by an adult. With the court’s concurrence, low-risk programs may allow supervised and unsupervised access to the community contingent upon the youth’s assessed risk to the public and demonstration of positive behavior. Examples of low-risk program models include host homes, group treatment homes, and short-term outdoor expedition programs.
Moderate-Risk Residential	Youth classified for placement in this restrictiveness level have been assessed as moderate risks to public safety and require 24-hour awake supervision. Moderate-risk facilities are either environmentally secure, staff secure, or hardware-secure with walls, fencing, or locking doors. The majority of these youth have generally committed serious property offenses and their offending is characterized by frequent and repeated law violations. Moderate-risk programs, with the court’s concurrence, may allow supervised and unsupervised access to the community contingent upon the youth’s assessed risk to the public and demonstration of positive behavior. Program models include halfway houses, wilderness camps, and youth academies.
High-Risk Residential	Youth classified for placement in this restrictiveness level have been assessed as high risks to public safety and require close supervision in a structured residential setting that provides 24-hour secure custody and care. Placement in a high-risk program is prompted by a concern for public safety that outweighs placement in a program at lower restrictiveness levels. High-risk facilities are hardware-secure with perimeter fencing and locking doors. Community access for youth in high-risk programs is restricted primarily to necessary off-site activities such as court appearances and health-related events. However, with the court’s concurrence, unsupervised home visits for purposes of facilitating their transition may be granted toward the end of a youth’s stay if the youth is assessed as a minimum risk to the community and has demonstrated positive behavior. Examples of high-risk program models include intensive halfway houses, sex offender programs, and youth development centers.
Maximum-Risk Residential	Youth classified for placement in this restrictiveness level have been assessed as serious risks to public safety and require 24-hour custody, care, and close supervision in a maximum-security setting. They are chronic offenders with committing offenses consisting of violent and other serious felony offenses. Placement in a maximum-risk program, with a minimum length of stay of 18 months, is prompted by a demonstrated need to protect the public. Therefore, maximum-risk facilities are hardware-secure with perimeter security fencing and locking doors. These facilities are comprised of single cells, except that youth may be housed together during their pre-release transition phase. Except for necessary off-site supervised activities such as court appearances and health-related events, youth in maximum-risk programs are prohibited from having access to the community. Program models include long-term maximum-security programs and juvenile offender corrections centers.

"There never was a time when a major social problem was solved by beating a child. And there

never will be such a time... For centuries adults have injured children and have lied about it, and other adults have heard those lies and then merely turned away... we must begin putting the blame where it belongs."

In Memory of all the children whose lives have been lost needlessly!

No, Diana, we will never forget! Click here

LIST OF DEATHS
Help for Grieving Families (click here)

There is no federal or state agency, that we know of, that tracks the number of deaths of youth in residential treatment facilities, boot camps, wilderness programs, behavior modification programs, etc., nor is there any federal or state agency that tracks the number of deaths of youth after they leave such programs. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy.

Legislation passed in 2000 by Congress (Children's Health Act 2000) that requires treatment facilities who receive federal funds to report deaths caused by restraints and seclusion procedures within 24 hours after the child has been removed from restraint or seclusion or when it is reasonable to assume the death is a result of the restraint or seclusion.

NOTE: "Natural causes," means a death that is not a homicide, suicide or due to accident.

Click here for articles.

State-funded programs - lighter shade of green

CHILD	AGE/DATE	FACILITY	DETAILS	ARTICLES/DOCS
Aaron Wright Bacon	16 years old 3/31/94	*Northstar Expeditions Wilderness Program, Phoenix, AZ* [Private pay]	Untreated Peritonitis *	Aaron's Main Page
Alex Cullinane	13 years old 8/12/06	Back to Basics Christian Military Academy; subcontracts with Fort Lauderdale-based Juvenile Military Training and Leadership Corp. The camp is run by certified National Guard drill sergeants [State funded: State records show 24 students are using state scholarship money for disabled children to attend the private military academy.]	His death is under investigation. 15-year old squad leader Brandon Scott believes he died of dehydration. He did not eat for days, according to other children, and complained of stomach pain. He died in the middle of the night after getting up to use the bathroom.	Alex C. Main Page
Alex Harris	12 years old 9/13/05	Hope Youth Ranch Minden [State funded: It receives state funding because the juveniles in its care are either foster children or have been sent there by state authorities.]	Died of dehydration and blow to the head, allegedly when he was dropped on his head. He was forced to run, said he was thirsty, withheld water, he died of dehydration.	Alex Main Page
Andrew McClain	11 years old 3/22/98	Elmcrest Psychiatric Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut [State-funded: Andrew, a state foster child, died in restraint in March at Elmcrest psychiatric hospital.]	Traumatic asphyxia and chest compression; face-down restraint with arms crossed over chest.	article; report
Angellika "Angie" Arndt	7 years old May 26, 2006	Northwest Counseling and Guidance Clinic, Rice Lake, Minneapolis - Died at their Rice Lake Day Treatment Center in Rice Lake, Wisconsin [State-funded: The clinic where a 7-year-old girl was fatally injured while being restrained will lose its state certification and close for at least six months.]	Stopped breathing after being placed in prone restraint position; death being ruled a homicide	Angie's Main Page
Anthony Dumas	15 years old 6/12/00	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; Brookhaven Website
Anthony T. Haynes	14 years old 7/1/2001	*America's Buffalo Soldiers (Arizona)* [Private pay: The boy's death has renewed interest among lawmakers who argue states should impose tougher regulations on privately run youth boot camps, which are often subject to little or no regulation.]	Dehydration and near drowning	Anthony's Main Page
Bobby Joe Randolph	17 years old 9/26/96	*Progressive Youth Center, Houston, TX* [State funded: Privately owned Houston youth detention facility the Progressive Youth Center at 7103 Peerless in southeast Houston began accepting youths last spring under a contract with the State of Texas Youth Commission.]	Taken to floor and restrained by two aides; died of asphyxia due to pressure on neck by 2 staff; ruled homicide	article; article 2;
Bobby Sue Thomas	17 years old 8/16/96	*Northwood Childrens' Home* [State funded: The girl, a ward of the state, has not been publicly identified, and officials declined to discuss details of her history.]	Acute cardiac arrhythmia while restrained face-down	article; article 2
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
Brendan Blum	14 years old 6/28/07	Youth Care of Utah in Draper, Utah [The Division of Child and Family Services licenses the facility]	Brendan died of a bowel obstruction. That night, he lost bowel control, vomited and complained of stomach pain. He was given over-the-counter medicine. In violation of the center's policy, staff did not call the on-call nurse or seek emergency medical attention. Two counselors were fired and charged with child neglect. Utah regulators placed Youth Care of Utah on probation. It remains free to enroll new clients.	Brendan's Main Page
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
Caleb Jensen	15 years old 5/2007	Alternative Youth Adventures camp [State funded: Placed into this program by the Utah Juvenile Justice System]	Possible severe staph infection; a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Human Services said the youth "showed observable signs of staphylococcus infection that were neglected." Preliminary indications are he died of natural causes, meaning his death was not a suicide, homicide, or due to an accident.	Caleb's Main Page
Cameron Hamilton	2 years old 12/5/05	Achieving a Better Life, a day care in Chubbuck	Randie Wilhelm and Vickey Stauffer were charged with injury to a child, resisting or obstructing an investigation, and failure to report child abuse. Cameron died December 5th of severe head trauma.	Cameron's Main Page
Candace Newmaker	10 years old 4/18/2000	*Evergreen Attachment Center*	Death resulting from rebirthing	Candace's Main Page
Carlton Eugene Thomas	17 years old	Edgemeade-Raymond A. Rogers Jr. School	Restraints	article
Casey Collier	17 years old 12/93	*Cleo Wallace Center* [State funded: Devereux Cleo Wallace, the treatment center of last resort for many of Colorado's most troubled kids, will close its Colorado Springs campus and an inpatient center in Westminster. In an announcement Monday, officials blamed the residential centers' financial woes on state payments that don't cover the cost of treatment.]	Restraint; Asphyxia	article
Cedric Napoleon	14 years old 3/7/2002	Manor Middle School, Killeen, Texas	Restraint	article
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
Charles "Chase" Moody,Jr. Father, Charles Moody, Attorney at Law	17 years old 10/14/02	On Track Wilderness Therapy The Brown School (CEDU affiliated) [Private pay]	Asphyxiation by restraint	Chase's Main Page
Charles Collins, Jr.	15 years old	Camp Oakland/Crossroads for Youth	Died after allegedly being forced to exercise at the facility after they were told he had an enlarged heart and should not participate in such activities	(click here)
Chloe Cohen	2/21/	KidsPeace	Minutes after she went to her room to take a shower on Feb. 21, KidsPeace workers said, she tied a bathrobe belt around her neck and they found her body hanging from the metal railing on her bunk bed.	KidsPeace Main
Christopher Michael	8 years old 11/24/02	Foster / adopted parents' home	Was found dead in the home of his foster parents. Four years after his death police arrested his foster mother on suspicion she abused and neglected him.	Christopher's Main Page
Chris Campbell	13 years old 11/2/97	Iowa Juvenile Home Toledo, Iowa	Restrained 4 times in his last 24 hours....Cause of death undetermined. Chris, who had a pacemaker, had been transferred to four different facilities in the last five months of his life.	article 1; article 2
Christie Scheck	13 years old 3/6/92	Southwood Psychiatric Hospital	Hung herself while on suicide watch; wrongful death, among other charges, lawsuit settled in favor of her parents	article; book written about her death
Cindi Sohappy	16 years old 12/6/03	Chemawa Indian School, Oregon	Left alone in a cell after being brought in for drinking; was found dead	article
Corey William Murphy	17 years old 3/21/2000	*WWASP - Spring Creek Lodge* [Private pay]	Suicide while at the program Read the powerful article about his death (right)	article
Daniel Matthews	17 years old Died: 3/31/03	Pinellas Juvenile Detention Center [State funded: Florida Juvenile Justice System]	Killed in May by a fellow inmate in the Pinellas detention center	Danny's Main Page
Danieal Kelly	14 years old Died: 8/4/06	Multiethnic Behavioral Health, Pennsylvania [State Social Services provided services through the City, which contracted with a private company, Multiethnic Behavior Health]	Wasted away under the nose of city’s social service agency, weighing just 46 pounds when she died. She had been bedridden, infested with maggots and nearly paralyzed with cerebral palsy, died dehydrated during a heat wave	Danieal's Main Page
Darryl Thompson	15 years old Died: 10/06	Tryon Residential Center for Boys, New York [State Funded: State's Office of Children and Family Services operates Tryon Residential Center for Boys, New York]	Darryl talked in the bathroom, saying he wanted his recreation back. It had been taken away from the children for days. He persisted and staff placed him in a restraint hold at 9:10 a.m. By 10:25 a.m. he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The staff had grabbed him from behind and wrestled him to the ground. One staff lay across Thompson's arms and back and handcuffed him, while the other lay across his feet and legs.	Darryl's Main Page
Dawn Renay Perry	16 years old Died: 4/10/93	Behavior Training Research, Manvel near Houston, TX	Restraint death: Died after being placed in restraint, ruled natural causes, then changed to accidental death. Mother sued facility’s owners.	article; article 2
Dawnne Takeuchi	18 years old Died: 6/25/95	Vision Quest	Thrown from semi-truck driven by program staff; driver convicted of careless driving	article 1
Diane Harris	17 years old Died: 4/11/90	Sequin Community Living Center	Violently restrained in basket-hold restraint; died of asphyxiation	article
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