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 educators threat and by the fathers rod, so long will mankind be dominated by the policemans 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 couldnt 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 Dannys 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	- Willies 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 Sheriffs 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 courts concurrence, low-risk programs may allow supervised and unsupervised access to the community contingent upon the youths 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 courts concurrence, may allow supervised and unsupervised access to the community contingent upon the youths 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 courts concurrence, unsupervised home visits for purposes of facilitating their transition may be granted toward the end of a youths 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
citys 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 facilitys 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 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

Donderey Rogers

July 2002

New Directions home owned by Resources for Human Development Inc. Philadelphia, PA

Held in state custody half of his 14 years. Died after a restraint by four staff members at New Directions. Workers reported they held him down after an aggressive outburst.

Article

Dustin E. Phelps

14 years old
3/1/98

Lancaster Foster Home, Ohio

[State-funded]

Strapped in a blanket in a bed

article; article 2

Earl Smith

9 years old
Died: 1/11/95

Children's Village

Restrained face-down by staffer who thought his distress was a ruse; died of asphyxiation due to chest compression during restraint

article

Edith Campos

15 years old
2/2/98

Desert Hills Center for Youth and Families, Tuscon, Arizona

Restraint Asphyxia - Edith was
looking at a family photograph when a male aide instructed her to hand over the "unauthorized" personal item. The dispute escalated into a face-
down floor restraint. Charges against the aide were dismissed.

article; article 2;
article 3; article 4;
article 5; article 6

Elisa Santry

16 years old
7/16/2006

Outward Bound, Utah

Elisa was found dead 5 hours after she was separated from her group when she was hiking in 110 degree weather in the Utah wilderness. Cause of death is being investigated.

Elisa's main page

Eddie Lee

15 years old

Obsidian Trails Outdoor Program

Restrained, reported beaten

article; article 2; article 3

Eric Roberts

16 years old 2/22/96

Odyssey Harbor

Wrapped in plastic foam blanket with velcro for one hour; stopped breathing due to pressure on chest according to autopsy

article; article 2; article 3

Erica Harvey

15 years old
5/27/2002

Catherine Freer Wilderness Program

Hyperthermia with dehydration

Gareth Myatt

15 years old
4/04

Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre, England

Restrained by three staff members on his 4th day at the facility near Rugby

2/17/06 - Article

Garrett Halsey

16 years old
12/23/04

Grafton School Inc., Grafton group home

Autistic and mentally retarded boy was restrained by 6 people who sat on his back. This occurred on his second day at the group home.

Garrett's Main Page

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

Ian August

14 years old
7/13/2002

Skyline Journey of Nephi, Utah

Hyperthermia Hiking

Ian's Main Page

Isaiah Simmons

1/23/2007

Bowling Brook Preparatory School
Maryland

[State-funded: A Maryland senator said that the Juvenile Justice System in their state "is an embarrassment, it is the worse system we have in our whole government, and has been for years. It is in need of total overhaul." The private school is under contract with the state to educate juveniles in trouble with the law. ]

Four youths who witnessed saiah's death immediately told their lawyers that they watched Isaiah Simmons suffer an excruciating death. Students say staff sat on Isaiah for three hours until he passed out and died.

Isaiah allegedly acted out in a dinner line and had to be restrained. The incident occurred during dinnertime around 5 p.m. and officials were not called until after 8 p.m., over three hours later. Officials have shown concern as to what happened during that window of time.

Isaiah's Main Page

Jamal Odum

9 years old

New Hope cottage, Jedburg, South Carolina

Restraint death: Three employees were charged with homicide by child abuse in connection with Jamal's death; one faces life imprisonment if convicted

article; article 2; article 3

Jamar Griffiths

15 years old
10/18/94

Allen Residential Center

Breathing was obstructed while being restrained...Traumatic asphyxia and brain death from lack of oxygen due to heart and lung failure

James White

17 years old
12/05

SummitQuest, ViaQuest Program

[State funded]

article

Jamie Young

13 years old
6/5/93

Ramsey Canyon Hospital & Treatment Center, Arizona

Autopsy found that death was caused by heatstroke with dehydration triggered by 10 times the lethal levels of an antidepressant

article

Jason Tallman

12 years old
5/12/93

KidsPeace

Restrained Face down on pillow

Suffocation

See Jason's main page

Jeffrey Bogrett

9 years old 12/1/95

New England Center for Autism

Sudden death during restraint

Jeffery Demetrius

17 years old
Died: 9/26/97

Patient at: Crockett (Texas) State School

[State-funded]

Cause: Strangulation while in restraint D.J. lost consciousness while being physically restrained by two staff members after assaulting staffers. It was the second time he had been
restrained that day. A grand jury did not issue any indictments.

Jerry McLaurin

14 years old 11/2/99

New Horizons Ranch

Restraint

Jimmy Kanda

6 years old
9/20/97

Crow's Nest Family Care
San Martin, CA

Strangulation while in restraint hold 911 had to talk staff through CPR; died of asphyxiation; Jimmy was strapped to a wheelchair and left unattended, the home was shut down as a result of his death

article; article 2

Joey (Giovanni) Alteriz

16 years old
2/4/06

SummitQuest, ViaQuest Program

[State-funded]

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

John McCloskey

18 years old
2/24/96

Western State Hospital, Virginia

[State-funded]

Ruptured colon, torn liver, and torn
small intestine after being sodomized with a broom-like handle

Article; article 2;
article 3; article 4;
article 5; article 6

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

Jonathan Carey

13 years old
2/15/07

O.D. Heck Developmental Center

[State-funded; run by NY State. Child was in parents care, not turned over to state custody. But the state paid for his care. Documents were withheld from parents. Fought for Jonathans Law, which was passed 5/5/07 slipped in the law without parents knowledge that documents cannot be disseminated]

Restrained in a van while staff were running errands. Though he was clearly having difficulties breathing they continued running their errands for another 1 1/2 hours. When they returned to the facility emergency crews were called. The child could not be revived. The two staff are being charged in his death.

Jonathan Carey Main

Joshua Ferarini

13 years old
1/8/89

St. Aemelian Hospital

Facedown restraint, suffocation

Joshua Sharpe

17 years old 12/28/99

Wisconsin Treatment Center

Restraint

article

Karlye Newman

16 years old 10/8/2004

WWASP - Spring Creek Lodge Academy

[Private pay]

Suicide by hanging

(read article)

Kasey Warner

13 years old
10/8/2005

ViaQuest Warren Avenue group home

[State-Funded]

Autistic boy who had never spoken a word was left alone and drowned in a bathtub with 12"; his mother was promised he would have round-the-clock care and supervision

Group Home In Trouble With the State

article; article 2

Katherine Lank

16 years old
1/13/2002

Red Rock Ranch Academy, Utah

Slipped and fell down crevice while hiking, suffered massive head trauma, died 3 weeks later. Parent's filed wrongful death lawsuit, settled for undisclosed amount.

Katherine's Main Page

Kelly Young

17 years old
3/4/98

Patient at: Arthur Brisbane Child Treatment Center,
Wall Township, N.J.

Cause: Positional asphyxiation
Kelly. died in a restraint "basket" hold and taken down to floor, but her family was initially given a different story: that Kelly had choked on an object. A grand jury was convened, but no indictments were issued.

article; article 2

Keyana Bravo-Hamilton

2 years old
9/4/06

Oregon State Foster Care

[State Foster Care]

Keyana's foster mother was arrested after her 2-year old foster daughter died of internal injuries. The mother is accused of murder by abuse, according to police.

Keyana's Main Page

Kerry Layne Brown

24 years old
6/6/06

Tranquility Bay, Jamaica

[Private pay]

Though Layne was not in the program at the time of his death, I feel it is appropriate to include him here - the abuse he suffered at the hands of those who were supposed to be there to help him literally destroyed his life. He was pepper sprayed every day, multiple times a day, for nearly nine months, and was forced to lie on his face in "observation placement" for nearly the entire nine months he was there.

Layne's Main Page

Kristal Mayon-Ceniceros

16 years old
2/5/99

New Alternatives, Chula Vista, CA

Respiratory arrest after being restrained face-down by four staff members

article

Kristen Chase

16 years old
6/27/90

Challenger Foundation

Heatstroke

article

Kyle Young

16 years old

Alberta, Canada

A review of Kyle's death by Alberta's Justice Department says the guards pushed the boy, whose legs were in shackles and who was handcuffed, against the elevator door, the door opened, and Kyle fell to his death. Police investigated his death, but no charges were laid.

articles

LaKeisha Brown

17 years old
4/9/2005

Alexander Youth Services Center
Arkansas

[State: Juvenile Justice]

Medical neglect; blood clot in her lung

LaKeisha's Main Page

Alexander Youth Services Main Page

Latasha Bush

15 years old
2/14/2002

Daystar Residential Treatment Center, Southeast Texas

Complications of mechanical restraint; asphyxia
DPRS investigation concluded she died after being restrained. Medical examiner listed mechanical asphyxiation as the cause of death.

Lenny Ortega

May 31, 2006
12 years old

Star Ranch Foster
Ingram, TX in Kerr County

Drowned during outing at facility that was under investigation for the death and alleged abuse of other children there; the facility has been shut down pending an investigation

Lenny's Main Page

Star Ranch Main Page

Linda Harris

14 years old
9/18/2005

Chad Youth Enhancement Center

Stopped breathing after being physically restrained by male worker

Linda's Main Page

Leroy Prinkley

14 years old 9/28/88

Western Center

Aide used a "one-man body" slide that led to face-down restraint; died of cerebral anoxia caused by heart and lung failure due to forceful restraint

Maria Mendoza

14 years old 10/12/2003

Krause Children's Center, Katy, TX

Mechanical or traumatic asphyxiation Restraint - Department of Protective & Regulatory Services did an investigation and reported Maria died of "mechanical" or traumatic asphyxiation, meaning external pressure or the position of her body prevented her from breathing

Marcus Fiesel

3 years old
August 2006

State foster care

[State Foster Care]

He was wrapped in a blanket then taped to a high chair and left alone for two days while his foster family went out of town. When they returned, he was dead. They burned his body.

Marcus' Main Page

Mario Cano

16 years old

VisionQuest

Blood clot while doing calisthenics

Mark Draheim

14 years old
12/98

KidsPeace

Asphyxiation while being forcibly restrained by 3 staff; in 2006 the case was finally settled; family wins $30K per year for 30 years.

KidsPeace Main

Matthew Goodman

14 years old
2/6/2002

Bancroft Institution, Haddenfield, New Jersey

Pneumonia, respiratory distress and blood poisoning, after he had been kept in mechanical restraints for 16 months (see below)

Matthew's Main Page

Mark Soares

16 years old
4/29/98

Wayside Union Academy

Cardiac arrest from physical restraint; aides thought teen was faking unconsciousness

Martin Lee Anderson

14 years old
1/6/2006

Bay County Sheriffs 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

Melissa Neyman

19 years old
7/24/97

(Judith Young Adult Family Home (private group home in Washington)

Climbed out a window and became entangled in straps of restraint. Had been dead 6 hours before workers noticed her hanging from window.

article

Michael Arnold

19 years old
7/15/97

Keystone City Residence

Prone torso restraint after he tried to leave a day camp; died of asphyxiation due to chest compression

article

Michael (Christening) Garcia

12 years old
12/2005

Star Ranch

Restraint death

article; article 2;
larticle 3; Child Care Licensing Report
Star Ranch Main Page

Michael Ibarra-Wiltsie

12 years old 2/5/2000

Eckert Youth Alternatives

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.

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.

Mother, son found dead in apparent murder-suicide

Justice for the young

Michael R. Lewis, III

15 years old
8/25/2003

Parchment High

[Public school system]

On the first day of school, this autistic child was restrained on his stomach by six employees. He was dead within two hours.

Michael's Main Page

Natalynndria Lucy Slim

16 years old
7/13/06

Adolescent Residential Treatment Center operated by the Presbyterian Medical Services

She was found by a friend hanging from a computer cord. Death being investigated and is considered a suicide.

Natalynndria's Main Page

Nicholas Contreras

Nicholas' mom and sister as they grieve his loss

16 years old
Died: 3/2/98

Arizona Boys Ranch

[State-funded] On March 4, 1998, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) learned of Nicholaus Contreraz's death at Arizona Boys Ranch (ABR). In response to this information CDSS issued a letter to all County Welfare Directors, County Chief Probation Officers, and Interstate Compact Coordinators suspending the use of state and federal foster care funding for new placements at ABR pending CDSS review.

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)

Omar Paisley

17 years old
6/9/2003

Miami Dade Regional JDC, Florida

[State funded: Florida Department of Juvenile Justice System]

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

Omega Leach

17 years old
June 2007

Chad Youth Enhancement Center
Tennessee

Teen died after being restrained by staff; other parents are removing their children from the program alleging their children were abused; cause of death pending

Omega Leach Main Page

Orlena Parker

15 years old
Died: 3/10/2003

Devereux Cleo Wallace, Colorado Springs

Pinned face down by at least six, possibly seven, adult staff members; after 15 minutes, she died

Paul Choy

16 years old
1992

Rites of Passage

Restraint

article

Raijon Daniels

8 years old
10/26/06

Mother accused of his death after state departments failed this child

[State failed child]

Welts and bruises in various stages of healing covered Raijon Daniels' little body, encased in a neck brace with a tube protruding from his mouth. The injuries told a long, horrible story of abuse: rope marks on his limbs, chemical burns, bed sores.

Raijon's main page

Randy Steele

9 years old
2/6/2000

Laurel Ridge

Restraint...in the scuffle he vomited then stopped breathing. After reviving he was transferred to a hospital where he died the next day. Had been restrained 25 times in 28 days prior to death.

autopsy report;
article; article 2; article 3

Robert Doyle Erwin

15 years old

VisionQuest

Drowning

Robert Rollins

12 years old
4/21/97

Devereaux, Rutland, Mass.

Asphyxiation while restrained after a dispute about his teddy bear
Robert was restrained for 10 minutes, face down on the floor, after a dispute escalated over his missing teddy bear. Investigators found a significant delay in emergency response. The staffer who restrained the boy left him lying, unresponsive, on the floor. No criminal charges were filed.

article

Roberto Reyes

15 years old
11/3/04

Thayer Learning Center

Robert Reyers' cause of death was said to be from a probable spider bite and lack of medical care. Reyes died of rhabdomyolysis. This can be caused by severe exertion, trauma, and heatstroke. All likely consequences of the regime at Thayer Learning Center. Without the basis of any evidence the coroner claimed Reyes died of a probable spider bite. However, they could not even find a spider bite on his body. Additionally, spider bite is not one of the causes of rhabdomyolysis.

Roberto Reyes Main Page

Rochelle Clayborne

16 years old 8/18/97

Laurel Ridge

Pinned face-down by aids and given tranquilizer; cardiac arrhythmia

article; article 2

Roxanna Gray

17 years old
7/6/89

Family and Children's Center

Restrained face down on a pillow; suffication

article

Ryan Lewis

14 years old
2/13/2001

Alldredge Academy

Committed suicide by hanging

article - article 2
article 3

Sabrina E. Day

15 years old
2/10/2000

North Carolina Group Home

Restraint

Sakena Dorsey

18 years old
6/10/97

Foundation Behavioral Health Center,
Bucks County, PA

Suffocation during face down restraint with staff member laying across her back...history of asthma. Dorsey stopped breathing while she was being physically restrained, face down. No criminal charges were filed. Dorsey had a history of asthma and problems with swollen tonsils that
hindered her breathing

article

Sarah Crider

14 years old
2/13/06

Georgia Regional Hospital/Atlanta

[State facility: mental hospital] Department of Human Resources runs the hospitals. Unable to afford private medical services, Sarah's family was forced to place her in a state hospital.

The medical examiner found Sarah had developed a severe intestinal blockage that caused her colon to stretch almost to the point of bursting. Her lungs had filled with vomit. And she had developed bacterial sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream.

Sarah was one of at least 115 patients from Georgia's state psychiatric hospitals who have died under suspicious circumstances during the past five years

Sarah's Main Page

Shinaul McGraw

12 years old
6/5/97

New Directions 2nd Chance

Hyperthermia and extremely high temperature after being wrapped in a bed sheet with gauze over mouth and being restrained to a bed

Shawn Smith

13 years old
10/30/2001

Volusia Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Florida

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

Shirley Arciszewski

12 years old
09/05

Charlotte group home, South Carolina

Restraint death; asphyxia

article; article 2; article 3

Stephanie Duffield

16 years old
2/11/01

Shiloh Residential Treatment Center

Restraint

Stephen Komminos

22 years old
10/4/07

Bancroft NeuroHeath - Group Home in Cherry Hill

[State-funded]

Cause of death: Choking
Previous reports of abuse

Stephen Main Page

Timothy Thomas

9 years old

Grandfather Academy for Children

Restraint death

article 1

Tanner Wilson

11 years old
2/9/01

Gerard, Iowa Facility

Heart attack while being physically restrained

article; article 2

Anthony "Tony" Haynes

14 years old

Buffalo Soldier's Camp

Heat exhaustion, bruising, suspicious death (employee arrested)

article; article 2;
article 3; article 4;
article 5

Thomas Mapes

17 years old
7/8/94

Youth Center of Topeka

Asphyxiation; handcuffed, pushed face down on floor

Travis Parker

13 years old
4/21/05

Appalachian Wilderness Camp, Georgia

Restrained l l/2 hours. Denied request for asthma med -

Travis's main page

Tristan Sovern

16 years old
3/4/98

Charter Behavioral Health, Greensboro,
Psychiatric Hospital in No. CA

Asphyxiation during restraint Workers restrained Sovern face down on the floor. During the struggle, staffers put a towel over the boy's mouth and held a bed sheet around his head. No one checked Sovern's breathing or pulse during the restraint. One criminal indictment has been
issued against a staffer.

article; article 2

Unnamed

16 years old
7/2/2004

Island View Academy, Utah

The teen hanged himself in a bathroom after excusing himself from a movie. Staff believed he was in his room, but the youth entered the bathroom from a private entrance in his room. When staff found him, they unsuccessfully tried to revive him. The facility was cited for minor issues and required to submit a plan of "corrective action."

Article

Unidentified

16 years old
April 2007

Aspen Achievement Academy in Loa

The teen attempted to hang himself with a shoelace from a tree at the ranch. He had asked to use the latrine, and when he didn't respond to prompts from staff, they went looking for him, found him unconscious and revived him. He died in a helicopter transport en route to the hospital. The case is still under investigation.

Article

Valerie Ann Heron

17 years old
8/10/2001

WWASP - Tranquility Bay

Jumped off balcony at Tranquility Bay (suicide)

article; article 2;
article 3

Victoria Petersilka

2/9/02

Marysville Academy, Des Plaines

Hanged herself while at the facility

article

Walter Brown

18 years old
January 2005

Northwestern Academy Intermediate Treatment Program

Having just celebrated his 18th birthday, and expecting to leave in three weeks, Walter was restrained and suffered lacerations to his head requiring five staples to close. The following day, he died after being held down for nearly three hours by two workers. His face was covered with bloody scrapes when he arrived without a pulse at the hospital.

Article

Wauketta Wallace

12 years old
7/11/89

Marysville Academy, Des Plaines

Postural asphyxia and stress due to restraint

Will Futrelle

15 years old
3/25/96

Mountain Park Baptist Academy

Murdered by other students

William "Eddie" Lee

15 years old 9/18/2000

Obsidian Trails Wilderness Camp

Injury to Vertebral Artery at base of
skull after being restrained by
counselors

article

Willie Lawrence Durden, III

17 years old
10/14/2003

Cypress Creek Juvenile Offenders Correctional Center, Florida

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

Willie Wright

9 years old
2/4/2000

Southwest Mental Health

Stopped breathing while in restraint

article

Children believed to have died as a result of their stay in residential facilities or programs where cause of death or fault of facility is unknown:

Bernard Reefer	11/24/80	Vision Quest
Carlos Ruiz	13 years old 12/16/94	Vision Quest
Carter Lynn	6/7/06	Tranquility Bay, Jamaica	Though Carter Lynn was no longer at the program when he died, the torment and torture he received while he was there was likely a contributing factor to what appears to be a suicide. He was found hanging from the rafters at his home just eighteen months after leaving the program, and just weeks after being interviewed for the article Rough Love.	Article
Charles Lucas	16 years old 11/24/80	Vision Quest	Drowning
Christopher Brown	16 years old 3/7/98	Robert Land Academy	Hit by a train when running away from program	article
Corey Baines	16 years old 3/26/03	Catherine Freer Wilderness Expeditions	Tree limb fell on tent while he was sleeping	article
Danny Lewis	16 years old Died: 6/89	Vision Quest
Eric David Schibley	17 years old 11/24/80	*Vision Quest*	Drowning
James Lamb	14 years old 11/24/80	Vision Quest	Possible drowning accident
John Avila	Age unknown 7/25/94	Rocky Mountain Academy
James Lamb	14 years old 11/24/80	Vision Quest
John Vincent Garrison	18 years old	VisionQuest
Kristen Chase	16 years old 6/27/90	Challenger, Utah
Laura Hanson	17 years old 11/19/98	Unknown
Leon Anger	Age unknown 9/16/84	Vision Quest
Lorenzo Johnson	17 years old 6/27/94	Arizona Boys Ranch	Drowned while trying to escape
Lyle Foodroy	Age unknown	VisionQuest	Drowning; boat capsized off Baha during storm
M. L.		Spring Creek Lodge (WWASP) [Private pay]	M.L. shot and killed himself shortly after leaving the program
Matt Toppi	17 years old 3/7/98	Robert Land Academy	Hit by a train while running away from facility	article
R. C.	4/10/05	Casa by the Sea	Suicide after leaving
Robert Zimmerman	17 years old 11/24/80	*Vision Quest*	Drowning
Rocco Magliozzi	12 years old 7/28/06	SUWS Youth Camp in Gooding	Rocco contracted the West Nile Virus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The combination killed him. No autopsy was done, it is believed the facility was not negligent.	Rocco's main page
Tammy Edmiston	Age Unknown 9/11/82	Vision Quest

17th Annual Victims' March
April 24, 2006 - Capitol Building in Sacramento, CA

Children have died and continue to die at the hands of those who should have been there to help them.

Child advocates attended the march to remember them and to raise awareness that children continue
to be abused, and children continue to die in youth residential treatment centers - boot camps - wilderness
programs - behavior modification programs - therapeutic boarding schools - mental health facilities

The abuse and deaths must stop!

A special thank you to the teens who assisted in putting this display together - together, we can make a difference!

Child advocates Isabelle Zehnder, Catherine Sutton, and Jordan Riak attended the 17th Annual Victims' March in Sacramento, CA, where they shared information about the abuses that take place in many youth residential treatment centers in the US and other countries. Not only was literature distributed to raise awareness about this growing industry, but Jordan distributed literature about children who continue to be paddled in schools across the US, the only civilized country that allows such a practice. He shared photos of children with huge bruises from their beatings, as well as pictures of the large paddles teachers are allowed to use to hit the children. Most people had no idea such a practice still goes on in our country.

Left to right: Child Advocates Cathy Sutton, Isabelle Zehnder, and Jordan Riak

Sacramento Capitol Jordan and Isabelle Crowd gathers to remember victims Jordan's speaks out

VICTIMS REMEMBERED - CHILDREN WHO DIED AT THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO HELP THEM

"Justice for Joey" Chase Moody remembered Michelle Sutton - 22 hours on a lone dirt road ...

A few of the many children who have died in the name of treatment - click here for a list of children who have died

A LOOK INSIDE ...

                Isolation rooms - a girl whose jaw was broken during her                    Inside Tranquility Bay, Jamaica - Children claim it is the most
                stay at Tranquility Bay in Jamaica                                                    abusive program today - www.tbfight.com

             Western Samoa facilities were shut down by the Samoan                 Boot Camp Mentality - "If I can't make a kid puke or piss his
               government with allegations of child abuse and torture                       pants on his first day, I'm not doing my job".

More deaths - Martin Lee Anderson beaten to death by guards, Aaron Bacon was ridiculed, starved, and left to die

"Children, once locked behind closed doors, have no voice. It is incumbent upon us to be their voice" I. Zehnder