Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Aspen Education Group
Programs In Behrens Study Charged with Abuse
Ursus:
Deseret News
Charges against youth counselors in teen's death dismissed
Published: Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2008 12:00 a.m. MDT
A 3rd District Court judge has dismissed neglect charges against two counselors of a residential youth treatment center in Draper.
Deborah Cole and Jorge Ramirez, from Youth Care Inc., 12600 Minuteman Drive, were charged last October with one count each of abuse or neglect of a child, a third-degree felony. The charges stemmed from the death of California resident Brendan Blum in June 2007.
Blum was having stomach problems and had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhea all night. But rather than contacting the facility's on-call nurse, Blum was given some medicine and placed in a room away from the other boys. The next morning he was found dead on his mattress.
An autopsy later revealed the boy had an obstructed bowel that deteriorated as the night progressed. Police said when they later interviewed the nurse, she said she would have recommended he go to the hospital immediately.
Defense attorneys argued to dismiss the case, noting that Blum suffered from a rare medical condition that presented itself as flu-like symptoms. Prosecutors fought the motion. But in late July, Judge Robert Adkins ordered the charges dismissed, finding no probable cause that Blum was neglected.
Alicia Cook, with the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office, said her office felt it was the right decision to file charges in the case, but that, "We are understanding of the decision (to dismiss). In all fairness, we have to acknowledge the reasons underlying the judge's decision."
# # #
Whooter:
--- Quote from: "Ursus" ---
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Oz girl" ---youth care was where brendan blum died. He complained and they ignored it charges were filed against the staff. His mother researched the place and was lead to beleive he would get top quality care. I wonder if this study was one of the things that convinced her that the poor boy would be in good hands.
--- End quote ---
It was so sad to hear of that boys death and that it could have been so easily prevented. Does anyone know if the two people who did this received jail time?
Oz Girl, The study was released and presented at the APA convention in 2006 so it is possible she read the study prior to placement.
--- End quote ---
Youth Care Inc. was placed on probation but was free to take on new clients. After nine months or so, charges against the two counselors were subsequently dismissed. It's Utah, so... how could anyone be surprised at this point?
--- End quote ---
I am surprised the counselors were not charged, although we dont have all the information. Many of these deaths come down to proper training and the slowness to react because they think the kids are faking. So there is no intent to harm the kids is what I am reading from the lack of prosecution on many of these.
I remember my daughter saying it was tough to get people to realize you were really sick because there were so many kids faking it to get out of chores or school. If you were running a fever or had the flu the kids got to sleep in the nurses office and they would bring you snacks and drinks. I think this may play into why many of the kids are not taken seriously right away and make take a little longer to realize there is a real issue.
...
Anne Bonney:
[quote="Whooter]So there is no intent to harm the kids is what I am reading from the lack of prosecution on many of these.
[/quote]
No, they just assume they're all druggie brats who are faking and they couldn't care less about them.
Ursus:
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Ursus" ---
--- Quote from: "Whooter" ---
--- Quote from: "Oz girl" ---youth care was where brendan blum died. He complained and they ignored it charges were filed against the staff. His mother researched the place and was lead to beleive he would get top quality care. I wonder if this study was one of the things that convinced her that the poor boy would be in good hands.
--- End quote ---
It was so sad to hear of that boys death and that it could have been so easily prevented. Does anyone know if the two people who did this received jail time?
Oz Girl, The study was released and presented at the APA convention in 2006 so it is possible she read the study prior to placement.
--- End quote ---
Youth Care Inc. was placed on probation but was free to take on new clients. After nine months or so, charges against the two counselors were subsequently dismissed. It's Utah, so... how could anyone be surprised at this point?
--- End quote ---
I am surprised the counselors were not charged, although we dont have all the information. Many of these deaths come down to proper training and the slowness to react because they think the kids are faking. So there is no intent to harm the kids is what I am reading from the lack of prosecution on many of these.
I remember my daughter saying it was tough to get people to realize you were really sick because there were so many kids faking it to get out of chores or school. If you were running a fever or had the flu the kids got to sleep in the nurses office and they would bring you snacks and drinks. I think this may play into why many of the kids are not taken seriously right away and make take a little longer to realize there is a real issue.
--- End quote ---
Ah, but the counselors WERE charged; however, those charges were later dismissed. See above article, "Charges against youth counselors in teen's death dismissed," if you don't believe me.
That same article was also published under the following header eleven days later, also by the Deseret News:
Deseret News
Judge drops charges against 2 counselors at Draper center
Published: Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 12:19 a.m. MDT[/list]
Whooter:
--- Quote from: "Anne Bonney" ---[quote="Whooter]So there is no intent to harm the kids is what I am reading from the lack of prosecution on many of these.
--- End quote ---
No, they just assume they're all druggie brats who are faking and they couldn't care less about them.[/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]
There were not many kids at ASR that had serious drug problems. The staff that I had met (and my daughter knew) cared for the kids in their group and many kept in touch long after they graduated. I think the point was that many of the kids would try real hard to get a day in the nurses office to avoid the rigid schedule of program life. So if a kid said he had a stomach ache in a program it may be met with a little more skepticism as compared to a kid in your local high-school saying the same thing and therefore the process to validate the problem may require a few more steps or a longer process.
@ Ursus, what I guess I meant to say was convicted (or served time)
...
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