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Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => Straight, Inc. and Derivatives => Topic started by: Anonymous on January 11, 2006, 12:44:00 PM
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Fla. Lawmaker Decries Juvenile Boot Camps
Jan 11 10:17 AM US/Eastern
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla.
A Florida legislator wants the state to close its military-style boot camps for juvenile delinquents after a 14-year-old boy died just hours after entering one of the facilities.
State Rep. Gustavo "Gus" Barreiro, chairman of the House Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee, made his demand over last week's death of Martin Lee Anderson.
"These places are terrible, they have been shown to be unsuccessful, and they should be shut down," Barreiro told The Miami Herald. "I think they should be eliminated."
The state Department of Juvenile Justice's records show that 62 percent of graduates from the several camps around the state are re- arrested after release. The camps are run by county sheriff's offices under contract from the state.
"Boot camps don't work," said Aaron McNeese, dean of Florida State University's College of Social Work, which has done some of the research.
The Department of Juvenile Justice is reviewing all sheriff's office policies for the camps in light of Anderson's death, said spokeswoman Cynthia Lorenzo.
The family filed an intent to sue Tuesday.
Anderson was sent to the Bay County Sheriff's Office camp because of an arrest for grand theft.
He had to be restrained when he became uncooperative following exercises as part of the entry process at the Panama City camp, authorities said. He soon complained of breathing difficulties and collapsed, and died the next day a Pensacola hospital.
The family's attorney says the boy was abused.
"There's a lot that just doesn't add up," attorney Ben Crump said. He said the youngster had a cut lip, bloody nose and an abrasion on the side of his face.
The victim's mother, Gina Jones, said her son was in good physical shape and enjoyed playing basketball. He was about 6-1 and weighed about 140 pounds, she said.
A Bay County sheriff's spokeswoman denied that Anderson was abused. The state gave the camp a good review in a June 2004 quality assurance report.
Sheriff's investigators have not completed a preliminary report on the youngster's death.
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