Schifference
01-27-2019, 05:37 AM
Imagine a family constructs a home and builds an isolation room with bed and toilet where they can lock their child into the room for detention. No TV, phone, nothing. The parents use this when child misbehaves and is grounded. Suppose a couple hours per day for punishment. Hmm would the kids be taken away? Would that be abuse? Parents cannot discipline their children but the government can. If parents did the aforementioned and were caught, would they go to jail? Will any government employees go to jail for treating kids in their custody worse?
Report: Incarcerated kids improperly held in isolation
Pat Eaton-robb, Associated Press Updated 4:24 pm EST, Wednesday, January 16, 2019
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Children confined or incarcerated in Connecticut's criminal justice system are not getting the services they need and some are being illegally held in isolation, according to a report released Wednesday by the state's Office of the Child Advocate.
The report, which comes following an 18-month investigation, found numerous problems inside facilities operated by the state Department of Correction, the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division and a now-closed facility that was operated by the state Department of Children and Families.
Incarcerated children, a disproportionate number of whom are children of color, do not have proper access to education, rehabilitative programs, family therapy or mental health treatment, including suicide prevention, according to the report.
The report recommends numerous changes, including increased programming inside the facilities and standardizing procedures to limit the use of force and the isolation of minors. It also recommends that all staff and contractors in the system be mandated to report suspected abuse and neglect.
"Most of the kids incarcerated in prison in Connecticut are going to get out while they are still very young," said Mickey Kramer, the state's associate child advocate. "We want kids to stay out of prisons, but if they are going to enter the system, we want them to come out with skills that are going to keep them out."
The report found that some children deemed security risks have been illegally kept in segregation at the Department of Correction's Manson Youth Institution for weeks or even months.
Department of Correction officials told investigators their Security Risk Group Program was necessary to combat gang activity in the prisons and for the safety of the staff when kids were deemed to be a safety risk.
But the Child Advocate found the program violates a state law that bans the use of administrative segregation.
"The spirit of (the law) was a prohibition on prolonged isolation," said Kramer. "It is what it is. Kids are spending days, weeks and sometimes months isolated. In any other environment, we would call that harmful. It is harmful in every environment. We need to take that tool out of the toolbox."
The report includes anecdotes of one child who was kept in segregation for all but a half hour each day and another asthmatic child who was improperly retrained and sprayed with a chemical agent, a practice the report recommends be outlawed.
Kramer said the report is expected to lead to some recommendations this week for legislation and policy changes from the Connecticut Juvenile Justice and Policy Council.
She said officials from her office also plan to meet next week with Rollin Cook, the state's incoming corrections commissioner, to discuss changes he can implement to improve the situation.
"With the support of Gov. Lamont, we look forward to working collaboratively across state agencies, with stake holders, and especially with the Office of the Child Advocate to address the concerns raised in the report, with the ultimate goal of improving our criminal justice system for everyone," Cook said in a statement.
Kramer noted the state has been a leader in criminal-justice reform, with fewer children entering the system. The report also notes improvements at the Judicial Branch's detention centers, including an increase in staffing and training.
Gary Roberge, executive director of the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division, said it will work with the Child Advocate to further improve those facilities.
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Report-Many-children-mistreated-in-13538336.php
Report: Incarcerated kids improperly held in isolation
Pat Eaton-robb, Associated Press Updated 4:24 pm EST, Wednesday, January 16, 2019
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Children confined or incarcerated in Connecticut's criminal justice system are not getting the services they need and some are being illegally held in isolation, according to a report released Wednesday by the state's Office of the Child Advocate.
The report, which comes following an 18-month investigation, found numerous problems inside facilities operated by the state Department of Correction, the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division and a now-closed facility that was operated by the state Department of Children and Families.
Incarcerated children, a disproportionate number of whom are children of color, do not have proper access to education, rehabilitative programs, family therapy or mental health treatment, including suicide prevention, according to the report.
The report recommends numerous changes, including increased programming inside the facilities and standardizing procedures to limit the use of force and the isolation of minors. It also recommends that all staff and contractors in the system be mandated to report suspected abuse and neglect.
"Most of the kids incarcerated in prison in Connecticut are going to get out while they are still very young," said Mickey Kramer, the state's associate child advocate. "We want kids to stay out of prisons, but if they are going to enter the system, we want them to come out with skills that are going to keep them out."
The report found that some children deemed security risks have been illegally kept in segregation at the Department of Correction's Manson Youth Institution for weeks or even months.
Department of Correction officials told investigators their Security Risk Group Program was necessary to combat gang activity in the prisons and for the safety of the staff when kids were deemed to be a safety risk.
But the Child Advocate found the program violates a state law that bans the use of administrative segregation.
"The spirit of (the law) was a prohibition on prolonged isolation," said Kramer. "It is what it is. Kids are spending days, weeks and sometimes months isolated. In any other environment, we would call that harmful. It is harmful in every environment. We need to take that tool out of the toolbox."
The report includes anecdotes of one child who was kept in segregation for all but a half hour each day and another asthmatic child who was improperly retrained and sprayed with a chemical agent, a practice the report recommends be outlawed.
Kramer said the report is expected to lead to some recommendations this week for legislation and policy changes from the Connecticut Juvenile Justice and Policy Council.
She said officials from her office also plan to meet next week with Rollin Cook, the state's incoming corrections commissioner, to discuss changes he can implement to improve the situation.
"With the support of Gov. Lamont, we look forward to working collaboratively across state agencies, with stake holders, and especially with the Office of the Child Advocate to address the concerns raised in the report, with the ultimate goal of improving our criminal justice system for everyone," Cook said in a statement.
Kramer noted the state has been a leader in criminal-justice reform, with fewer children entering the system. The report also notes improvements at the Judicial Branch's detention centers, including an increase in staffing and training.
Gary Roberge, executive director of the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division, said it will work with the Child Advocate to further improve those facilities.
https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Report-Many-children-mistreated-in-13538336.php