When they started to investigate the graves at the former reform school, they expected to locate around 30-40 children. Until now they have found the remains of 55. If the exact number of victims is ever known is hard to say. Fact is that there also were boys who were found dead outside the facility.
Children who might either have committed suicide due to the harsh condition or children who were murdered because they were considered criminals the society could not turn around.
Now where we now that some had interest in hiding matters, it is time to look at our own state. Could something similar happen here?
Yes, it could.
In Denmark everyone can search on "Godhavn", which was a terrible place before the early 1970's where the authorities quickly but discreetly retired the management and the employees to avoid a criminal investigation.
Everybody can read about "Skorpeskolen" a boarding school which had teachers doing improper personal activities with the boys. A teacher died in a car accident where the faulty brakes might have been worked on by some of the boys but the authorities didn't investigate because some knew that the truth could come out.
There are many more secrets but will we learn them? In Denmark the parliament has closed the door to the past. In Florida they have opened it. Denmark might learn something here. What about your state?
Sources:
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Monday, December 1, 2014
New book about Camp Tracey
Wayne Francis teaches literature and composition at Florida State College at Jacksonville. He’s currently working on a book detailing the history of Camp Tracey, a fundamentalist children’s home recently shut down by the Florida Department of Children and Families.
For this purpose a website has been created. Former detainees of Camp Tracey can go there and report their testimony.
To learn what Camp Tracey is about here is a copy of the contents of Fornits Wiki. Fornits Wiki is in the process of an upgrade to a newer version of MediaWiki and cannot be read right now.
If you have been forced to attend Camp Tracey, please contact the author using the website. All this torment inflicted on teenagers must be stopped and legislation is needed. This book could prove a difference.
Sources:
For this purpose a website has been created. Former detainees of Camp Tracey can go there and report their testimony.
To learn what Camp Tracey is about here is a copy of the contents of Fornits Wiki. Fornits Wiki is in the process of an upgrade to a newer version of MediaWiki and cannot be read right now.
Camp Tracey is a summer camp in Florida, which use behavior modification
It was founded in 1982 by Wilford McCormick.
In 2007 they claimed that they could detain 40 teenagers
Program structure
The program consists of elements of physical education, prayers, schooling in Christian Values and chores backed by use of corporal punishment.
In the news
- In 1987 a Baker County grand jury investigated Camp Tracey after years of physical abuse allegations by children and parents. The grand jury issued a presentment criticizing the camp for excessive corporal punishment and the use of ropes and handcuffs to restrain children at the camp, near Glen St. Mary. Grand jurors also criticized education and health care at the camp and said it would consider criminal charges if changes weren't made. However, no charges were filed.
- In 2003 a man sued the program for sexual abuse done by two staff members.
Several others incidents are named in these articles.- As of July 2008 a investigation done by the Department of Children and Families is pending.
If you have been forced to attend Camp Tracey, please contact the author using the website. All this torment inflicted on teenagers must be stopped and legislation is needed. This book could prove a difference.
Sources:
- Camp Tracey book website
- Factsheet (Fornits Wiki)
- Staff records (HEAL-online)
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Extreme Brat Camp on Channel 4
I feel honored that Secret Prisons for teens was mentioned in the documentary "Extreme Brat Camp" about 22 minutes and 30 seconds into the program.
However some part of me feels that it is too much. I have done as founder of Secret Prisons for Teens is to care as a parent would and should care. Being a father myself to two children who have endured too much hardship in this world I constantly walk around feeling that I have not done enough.
My thoughts go out to the children in the program. Normally I mistrust the child protection services having seen firsthand how self-centered foster-parents can be. Foster parents who believe that they are smarter than doctors, nurses and counselors all together. But the children in this documentary could have benefitted if the system had interfered with the parents decision to hand custody over their own children over to shouting paramilitary people on power-trips.
In this documentary two programs should have center for investigations by the authorities if the social services in these town had cared. The transport service should have been outlawed and the Christian Boarding School, which was listed on Fornits Wiki really seemed as a warehouse for children of none caring parents left without any knowledge about modern teenage life. They cannot document progress but get children returned they have graduated from their program once before.
My children are not at my side right now due to illnesses. However due to the work pushing for reforms their cell phone and Internet contracts have been modified so they can call my all day without having their conversations monitored and cut if they happened to disagree to something at the place they live now. They have the right to complain and be heard. That doesn’t mean that I agree with them. I pay the rent. I make the food. I make the rules in my house and it is respected. Others make the rules where they live and because it is a package deal they have to take the rough with the smooth.
But the rough my children experience is no near what is seen in this documentary. Whenever home is no longer an option the replacement should not be a kind of prison but a place for healing. That is where my children are now. Unfortunately not all children get help. They get punishment instead as the documentary shows. So the fight against abusive residential placements for children continues so other children can get help also.
Once again: I am honored but there are a lot of work left.
However some part of me feels that it is too much. I have done as founder of Secret Prisons for Teens is to care as a parent would and should care. Being a father myself to two children who have endured too much hardship in this world I constantly walk around feeling that I have not done enough.
My thoughts go out to the children in the program. Normally I mistrust the child protection services having seen firsthand how self-centered foster-parents can be. Foster parents who believe that they are smarter than doctors, nurses and counselors all together. But the children in this documentary could have benefitted if the system had interfered with the parents decision to hand custody over their own children over to shouting paramilitary people on power-trips.
In this documentary two programs should have center for investigations by the authorities if the social services in these town had cared. The transport service should have been outlawed and the Christian Boarding School, which was listed on Fornits Wiki really seemed as a warehouse for children of none caring parents left without any knowledge about modern teenage life. They cannot document progress but get children returned they have graduated from their program once before.
My children are not at my side right now due to illnesses. However due to the work pushing for reforms their cell phone and Internet contracts have been modified so they can call my all day without having their conversations monitored and cut if they happened to disagree to something at the place they live now. They have the right to complain and be heard. That doesn’t mean that I agree with them. I pay the rent. I make the food. I make the rules in my house and it is respected. Others make the rules where they live and because it is a package deal they have to take the rough with the smooth.
But the rough my children experience is no near what is seen in this documentary. Whenever home is no longer an option the replacement should not be a kind of prison but a place for healing. That is where my children are now. Unfortunately not all children get help. They get punishment instead as the documentary shows. So the fight against abusive residential placements for children continues so other children can get help also.
Once again: I am honored but there are a lot of work left.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Shackling of teenagers and mental patients widespread
Only months ago an Amber Alert were issued on teenagers being removed from a ranch in Arizona. The Department of Human Services had investigated the ranch for some time and suddenly the teenagers were gone. Fortunately the teenagers were returned to their parents after a couple of days.
Among the odd methods used at The Tierra Blanca Ranch were shackling of the teenagers. It was unfortunately not the only case where so-called treatment programs for at-risk teens have used shackles. A “school” in Florida today named Southeastern Military Academy also shackles the teenagers. A few years ago when the program was name Victory Forge Military Academy a boy ran away in shackles. The authorities investigated but decided that it was allowed to do that in Florida. Just remember that if you plan to move to Florida with your children or invest in businesses in that state.
The ranch in Arizona was shut down. The military school in Florida continues in operation ignoring orders to be licensed and audited and the authorities allow the facility to function without regulation. How the citizens in Florida accept that there are areas which could concern their children with functions so to say outside the law is not to understand.
Outside the United States the international headlines focuses on Indonesia. Religious homes seem to be the only option when it comes to treatment of teenagers and adults suffering from various mental issues. An article mentions the Islamic boarding school in Tulungagung, East Java. Another article mentions an escape attempt which ended with fatal results because some of the teenagers downed. It is also an Islamic boarding school however located in Ciamis, West Java.
Two cultures and two religions where the treatment offer for teenagers seem to be the same: Having your legs shackled!
Sources:
Among the odd methods used at The Tierra Blanca Ranch were shackling of the teenagers. It was unfortunately not the only case where so-called treatment programs for at-risk teens have used shackles. A “school” in Florida today named Southeastern Military Academy also shackles the teenagers. A few years ago when the program was name Victory Forge Military Academy a boy ran away in shackles. The authorities investigated but decided that it was allowed to do that in Florida. Just remember that if you plan to move to Florida with your children or invest in businesses in that state.
The ranch in Arizona was shut down. The military school in Florida continues in operation ignoring orders to be licensed and audited and the authorities allow the facility to function without regulation. How the citizens in Florida accept that there are areas which could concern their children with functions so to say outside the law is not to understand.
Outside the United States the international headlines focuses on Indonesia. Religious homes seem to be the only option when it comes to treatment of teenagers and adults suffering from various mental issues. An article mentions the Islamic boarding school in Tulungagung, East Java. Another article mentions an escape attempt which ended with fatal results because some of the teenagers downed. It is also an Islamic boarding school however located in Ciamis, West Java.
Two cultures and two religions where the treatment offer for teenagers seem to be the same: Having your legs shackled!
Sources:
- Boys report being shackled and beaten at remote New Mexico ranch for troubled teens (New York Daily News)
- In Gods name - Unlicensed religious Children's homes (Tampa Bay Times)
- Indonesia Continues To Shackle Mental Health Patients (Anorak)
- Student Found Dead in Ciamis River After Running Away From Boarding School (The Jakarta Globe)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility should lose their license
A private-run youth prison called Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility is in the spotlight of the media due to a video showing an employee restraining a girl in a very violent way.
In fact had the restraint method used in this incident been used in several other states it would have been a banned method used. The employee placed her body on the top of the 15 year old. It is a move which could restraint the breath of the girl and in some cases it could have led to her death. Restraints are a huge killer in youth facilities and if you look at blogs covering deaths in residential treatment facilities, it is properly the most frequent cause of deaths.
But worse is the fact the facility did not report the incident as soon as possible. Also those who look at the video will notice that other employees don’t seem to care as if restraints of this nature are quite common in this facility.
Dealing with troubled teenager the most important lesson to learn them is to make their complaints verbally rather than physically. Once they are back on the streets there is no need to learn them that all conflicts are solved by the use of force.
Restraints have to be the very last option to solve a conflict.
So there is a reason to be very critical of the management of this facility. The license should be taken away from them. They are teaching these young people the wrong lesson and once released, we should be concern about how they use their experiences from this facility on the streets.
Sources:
In fact had the restraint method used in this incident been used in several other states it would have been a banned method used. The employee placed her body on the top of the 15 year old. It is a move which could restraint the breath of the girl and in some cases it could have led to her death. Restraints are a huge killer in youth facilities and if you look at blogs covering deaths in residential treatment facilities, it is properly the most frequent cause of deaths.
But worse is the fact the facility did not report the incident as soon as possible. Also those who look at the video will notice that other employees don’t seem to care as if restraints of this nature are quite common in this facility.
Dealing with troubled teenager the most important lesson to learn them is to make their complaints verbally rather than physically. Once they are back on the streets there is no need to learn them that all conflicts are solved by the use of force.
Restraints have to be the very last option to solve a conflict.
So there is a reason to be very critical of the management of this facility. The license should be taken away from them. They are teaching these young people the wrong lesson and once released, we should be concern about how they use their experiences from this facility on the streets.
Sources:
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
When the punishment becomes too severe
Eric Perez broke the law. The law dictates that he should go into custody for his parole violation. He had been smoking an illegal kind of tobacco.
But the punishment for smoking marijuana is not death, but death was what he got.
He was denied medical attention for hours when he complained of pain and by the time the staff intervened it was too late to save him.
The question is now whether the authorities are able to cover this story up. After the terrible video of a boy dying in a boot camp a new legislation has been put into place. Now the public can be denied knowledge of what is going on inside prisons, boarding schools or boot camps.
While Eric Perez was an offender he ws also a citizens with some kind of potential if he at some time would deal with his addiction and it is important to know that every drug user has this potential at some point in their life when they are ready. You cannot force a drug user to change his or her life, but you can offer them to come back for help when they are ready.
But Eric Perez was not given the opportunity to reach out for help when he was ready. He was denied life instead and for that someone now has to pay. It is the only option if you want to call a society civil.
Source:
Grand jury to probe teen’s death in Palm Beach County juvenile lockup (by Carol Marbin Miller, The Miami Herald, August 2, 2011
But the punishment for smoking marijuana is not death, but death was what he got.
He was denied medical attention for hours when he complained of pain and by the time the staff intervened it was too late to save him.
The question is now whether the authorities are able to cover this story up. After the terrible video of a boy dying in a boot camp a new legislation has been put into place. Now the public can be denied knowledge of what is going on inside prisons, boarding schools or boot camps.
While Eric Perez was an offender he ws also a citizens with some kind of potential if he at some time would deal with his addiction and it is important to know that every drug user has this potential at some point in their life when they are ready. You cannot force a drug user to change his or her life, but you can offer them to come back for help when they are ready.
But Eric Perez was not given the opportunity to reach out for help when he was ready. He was denied life instead and for that someone now has to pay. It is the only option if you want to call a society civil.
Source:
Grand jury to probe teen’s death in Palm Beach County juvenile lockup (by Carol Marbin Miller, The Miami Herald, August 2, 2011
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