Fornits
Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform => The Troubled Teen Industry => Topic started by: Anonymous on September 04, 2003, 11:02:00 PM
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http://www.ticotimes.net/newsbriefs.htm (http://www.ticotimes.net/newsbriefs.htm)
Weekly Edition: Vol. VIII, No. 82 - San José, Costa Rica, September 5 - September 11, 2003
Students' Complaints Add to Academy's Woes
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Staff
trogers@ticotimes.net
As Utah native Narvin Lichfield continues efforts to reopen his beleaguered "tough-love" Costa Rican facility for wayward teenagers, eight more former U.S. students of Dundee Ranch Academy filed affidavits alleging abuse suffered at the hands of the former academy's staff.
The affidavits, presented to the Prosecutor's Office by child advocacy group Casa Alianza, tell a story of abuse and neglect at the academy, as well as negligence on the part of the Costa Rican government, which allowed Dundee to remain open for seven months after learning about allegations of misconduct there.
"I have seen many cases of mistreatment and abuse placed towards the students that attend the academy, many of which could have been very easily avoided if the government was doing their jobs and stopping all this nonsense the moment it was brought to their attention," wrote former Dundee student Codi Rouvinen, 14, in an affidavit obtained by The Tico Times. "[The government] chose to claim they were blind."
Located on the isolated pastoral grounds of a former hotel in the Pacific slope town of Orotina, Dundee Ranch was closed last May, following two government interventions to investigate allegations of rights abuse and minors being detained there against their will.
DUNDEE's Lichfield: still confused.
Tico Times/Julio Laínez
The interventions erupted into a chaotic situation of rioting, vandalism and orgies. Several dozen of the 200 mostly U.S. students ran away into the remote cattle farms surrounding the campus, and academy owner Lichfield was arrested for 24 hours on charges of abuse, coercion and human-rights violations (TT May 23, 30).
Lichfield was released from jail the following day on condition that he not leave the country for six months, while Costa Rican authorities investigate the allegations. Lichfield closed the school and all the students, some with the help of the U.S. Embassy, were sent back to the United States or picked up by parents or guardians and taken home. Several dozen students were reportedly transferred to Dundee's notoriously tough sister program, Tranquility Bay in Jamaica. One male student is reportedly still missing in the Los Angeles area, after dodging his pick-up contact at the airport last May.
Dundee Ranch, an affiliate of the Utah-based umbrella organization the WorldWide Association of Specialty Pro-grams (WWASP), was a "behavior modification" program that advertised itself as a "Paradise for Change." Most of the students fit a similar profile: troubled teens who had dropped out of school and who had histories of drug abuse, sexual promiscuity or delinquency (TT, Oct. 25, 2002; Jan. 17, March 14).
The academy - and many of the parents who sent their kids there - claimed Dundee's extreme discipline tactics were necessary to help children with extreme discipline problems. Lichfield summed up the program's philosophy as: "Identify your incorrect behavior, and stop doing it."
Critics, however, claim the program misrepresented itself as an alternative educational environment, and was run more like a prison camp than a legitimate boarding school. Opponents charge that disciplinary tactics such as physical restraint and solitary confinement were abusive and not mentioned in the academy's glossy promotional material. Several former students charge that staff members and "upper-level" students beat those who misbehaved, and that kids were drugged with "morphine" or a "lithium knock-off."
Lichfield denies knowledge of beatings or druggings at his academy, and maintains his innocence.
"What did we do wrong? I am still confused about this," Lichfield told The Tico Times this week during a phone conversation from South Carolina, where the Department of Social Services (DSS) recently banned him from the campus of his other behavior modification program, Carolina Springs, based on allegations of abuse at Dundee. Lichfield, granted special permission from a Costa Rican judge to leave the country on vacation last month, said he will return here next week.
"I never worked with kids, so how could I abuse them?" Lichfield said, adding: "I heard rumors about what staff did, but I can't say because I wasn't there."
Lichfield, who split his time between his facilities in Costa Rica and South Carolina, claims he should be free to leave Costa Rica whenever he wants because he has not been charged with a crime here.
"Why is Narvin Lichfield being held [in Costa Rica]?" Lichfield demanded. "Show me one shred of evidence I abused a kid."
Casa Alianza, meanwhile, claims the evidence of abuse is evident in affidavits presented to the prosecutor this week, along with a criminal accusation that Dundee violated 20 Articles of Costa Rica's Penal Code, Constitution and Children's Rights Code. The accusation charges Dundee of violating individuals' right to free correspondence, torture, abandonment, failure to provide medical assistance to those in need, coercion, cruel and inhumane treatment and international crimes, among others.
The affidavits allege that three Jamaican staff members employed at Dundee without work permits physically and emotionally abused students. The three managed to slip out of the country during the government interventions.
Lichfield is named in the allegations, but is not directly accused of abuse in any of the affidavits obtained by The Tico Times.
Lichfield, who said he has not yet had a chance to study the new accusations, responded to news that they were filed by saying: "Sounds great, but it will all be lies."
In his defense, Lichfield last May paid for half a dozen "satisfied" Dundee students to return to testify in favor of the facility.
WWASP, meanwhile, apparently paid hush money to an unknown number of former Dundee families in exchange for their silence.
The Tico Times this week obtained a copy of a letter from WWASP attorney J. Ralph Atkin to former Dundee mother Shannon McCullough of California, offering her an "indemnification" in exchange for her agreement to not pursue legal actions against Dundee or Carolina Springs. The letter, dated July 30, was enclosed with a check for $16,328 and a note reading: "By cashing the above mentioned check, you are releasing Carolina Springs Academy, Dundee Ranch Academy and all of their owners, operators, managers, agents, employees, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants and hold them harmless from and against any and all legal actions or proceedings that may be instituted as a result of the student's enrollment in the School."
McCullough, whose daughter Codi was enrolled at Carolina Springs and Dundee, said she cashed the check despite the fact her daughter is one of the eight former students to testify against the Costa Rican facility.
As the investigation against Lichfield and Dundee slowly moves forward, the Ombudsman's Office continues to investigate the government's handling of the events leading up to the May 22 intervention and subsequent closure of the school. The Ombudsman's Office last June gave the Child Welfare Agency (PANI), the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and the Drug and Alcohol Institute one week to submit reports detailing who knew what when and what actions government institutions took (TT, June 13).
A spokesman for the Ombudsman's Office told The Tico Times this week that the reports are under study. He said the Ombudsman is expected to make a decision today (Friday) about what government agency will to be held accountable and what actions to take.
Lichfield, meanwhile, maintains that a new and improved Dundee will reopen as soon as he gets permits from the government (TT, July 11). He originally wanted to reopen by the end of August, but now says he hopes to be up and running again by Christmas.
"In Narvin's world, we will have a facility set up where the PANI has oversight and if the staff goes on its own and abuses kids, the government will prosecute the individual and not hold the facility guilty," Lichfield said.
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See! Sensationalism sells! What glossy brochure from any program is going to have restraints and solitary observation in it. If the parents are that stupid, god help them. Thing is, Narvin should have been there and not allowed someone else to run the place. For the tough kids, restraints are a necessary evil - didn't those kids know what would happen and they did it anyway. I suppose they are innocent little bystanders. Hell yes, they'll have 20 or even 30 kids file abuse. Don't they have to keep up the story? What about the 130 others? Why aren't they ALL filing abuse? I just love reporters. NOT!
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On 2003-09-04 20:02:00, Anonymous wrote:
"http://www.ticotimes.net/newsbriefs.htm
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"In Narvin's world, we will have a facility set up where the PANI has oversight and if the staff goes on its own and abuses kids, the government will prosecute the individual and not hold the facility guilty," Lichfield said.
That's just beautiful! So Lichfield can hire child abusers and pedophiles and not be accountable. Then while waiting for prosecution the staff member can just disappear before trial and show up as a staff member at TB or Casa. And Kay and Goulding (or whoever) won't be responsible for the abuse there, either. Can Narvin spell integrity? How about ethics? Narvin's world is a scary, brutal place.
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Child abusers, pedophiles? Are you just making this up as you read? Got some REAL NEWS for ya - You're living in lala land! ::mecry::
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Morseglass.....good work!!!
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the reason the others arent saying anything is because their (loving) parents sent them to other progams, remember they cant speak or theyll end up in O.P
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[ This Message was edited by: KarenZ on 2003-10-18 13:06 ]
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Karen,
Its simple to understand.
If they told the truth, their REFERRAL FEES would diminish.
It's easy to lie and collect their hefty fees received from desperate parents.
While their wealth increases we parents liquidate our assets.All for the benefit of helping our children.
If we had only known the real truth.
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Was Ford responsible when Firestone had their tire mishaps?
Are employers responsible for their employees action while at work?
Regards,
Lee
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On 2003-09-05 08:43:00, turbinekat wrote:
Are employers responsible for their employees action while at work?
Regards,
Lee"
Actually, they are. Lichfield claims he was in the dark about what the people in his pay and under his supervision were doing. Of course, that's a line of shit! These folks were and are doing just exactly what Lichfield pay them to do. They do the same things at all of the other WWASP facilities.
Think about why good ol'e Narvin is so eager to cop to criminal and/or civil negligence. The only reason I can think of is that it's just a shade less bad for him if he can shove some of his culpability off on a handy scapegoat. Yet another benefit to hiring uneducated Jamaican thugs to do your dirty work, I suppose.
Not a place upon earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world, and she has nothing to do but to trade with them.
--Thomas Paine
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Antigen,
My comments were sarcastic in nature. I know they are responsible, as all of us are for our actions.
Who in the hell would work for $2-5 dollars an hour & then accept the liability issues? NOT!!!
These orders are coming from the top & filtering down. The whole concept or process practiced by wwasps has been taken out of text...modified for their exsistence & bottom line profit! Then their "carnival" mode kicks in & poof they are gone...from another closed venture.
Same practice that transpires when people exploit our older generations apart from their life savings for services rendered. Wwwasps has just transgressed down a step to seperate the next generation from their savings & borrowing power.
Welcome to wwasps 101. Stay tuned...don't touch that dial...for the next episode.
Regards,
Lee
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Q: How many WWASP facilitators does it take to change a lightbulb?
A: WWASPs can't change a lightbulb. All they can do is lock it in a concrete room until the lightbulb decides to change itself.
Q: How will Narvin's lawyer make sure he serves as little time behind bars as possible?
A: Try to get the Judge to let him serve his sentence at the Souza Baranowski Correction Center near Boston. Now that defrocked priest John Geoghan has "checked out", his ex roommate is said to be really lonely.
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In other words, in determining the issue of criminal intent, the judge should be guided by that favorite maxim "you get exactly the results you intend"
Are you suggesting that if the shareholders/officers/directors of a company establish policies and set up an organization that routinely defies immigration laws, sets an operating budget so low as to make sanitation problematic, hires brutal thugs, and shifts employees from one country to another to stay beyond the reach of the federales, that the results obtained thereby could possibly be considered "intentional"?
[ This Message was edited by: scottT on 2003-09-05 11:30 ]
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ScottT,
Can you say Enron/Anderson & Associates...or Worldcom...? Ken Lay...Ken Kay what's the difference?
Regards,
Lee
[ This Message was edited by: turbinekat on 2003-09-05 13:02 ]
[ This Message was edited by: turbinekat on 2003-09-05 13:04 ]
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How can Lichfield claim he didnt know about the abuse going on, when he has been working out silence agreements many months ago.
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Dear Lee,
Interesting case studies to which to compare them. After the debacle of May 25th, I posted an open letter to Mr. Kay on the WWASPs bulletin board drawing exactly the same comparision.
Of course (then as now), the corporate response was we have done no wrong, we're surrounded by assasins who are envious of our success, and its all the fault of that smart ass New York Times Reporter.
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scottT,
What were Bill Clinton's original remarks when first accused of having a relationship with Monica? He denied all of the accusations; all of a sudden he had difficulties with the "American language"? Then was forced to retract all of his twisted statements to later become "guilty"!!! Sound familiar? Ever watched this plot develop?
I can't imagine WWASPS beating their own drum. The facts out weight anything they can post on success, graduation, etc... They don't believe in real numbers...NO ONE has ever seen the actual numbers of students enrolled, the children who were removed, total number of graduates, etc... Because we all know "drop outs" don't exists. Their other side to this coin is the term ?success? & how it differs from one to another? Then again, why were they forced to close 4-5 of their campuses? Their schools are accredited through an association which is compromised of WWASPS flunkies.
The NYT article was not a harsh piece by any means. I believe it was factual in the sense of what the writer intended. He was attempting to enlighten readers concerning our American youth & options parents are choosing to deal with "out of control" children today.
Contrary to WWASPS beliefs, they are their own assassins by allowing these legacies to continue behind their walls. Who cares if it?s Catholic priest, Baptist ministers, or Mormons? Regardless, they ALL need to be prosecuted!!! By all means Ken Lay is just as responsible for Enron; as King Kay is responsible for WWASPS AND all of the LLC's, INC'S, & any other entities they have created to wart off liability. The corporate response, along with the smoke, mirrors, LLC's, Inc's, etc...that they have created & constructed on paper appear to currently protect their back sides.
Only time will tell. I have a feeling that once the dust settles from the initial filing, many so called followers will sober up & become plaintiffs as well.
Regards,
Lee
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hopefully everyone of their schools are shut down and all the owners, operators, directors, and everyone else that knows what is going on, goes to jail!!!
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The U.S. Congress also has taken interest in the Utah-based WorldWide Association of Specialty Programs (WWASP), the behavior-modification umbrella organization to which Dundee belonged.
House Representative George Miller of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Education Committee, last month asked the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to review WWASP's tax-exempt status and investigate whether the organization has received any special tax treatment in the past.
One of Rep. Miller's congressional aides said this week that the congressman also is preparing to ask U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to open a federal criminal investigation into alleged child mistreatment at WWASP programs....