Treatment Abuse, Behavior Modification, Thought Reform > Lighthouse of northwest florida (fka VCA )/ Rebekah / Roloff )
Felony charge against Reclamation Ranch became misdemeanors
Ursus:
--- Quote from: "DannyB II" ---Well, Ursus, this is what I know you want to believe, so I'll just let you roll with that.
What we do know is, the authorities or Reclamation Ranch have not discussed for what purposes the hand cuffs and shackles were used for. I'm sure there were/are some rowdy boys there and by judging how Preacher Jack looks and acted on TV, I'd say some good ole southern bulls are running around there.
--- End quote ---
Well, why don't we go back in time to when the raid occurred, which was on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008, if I'm not mistaken. Here's a post from the thread Prayer Circle Monday, November 24, 2008 on the Taste of Home forums; from the sound of it, DHS was mostly concerned about the "discipline" methods used:
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Originally posted on 11-24-2008 11:09 AM on tasteofhome.com:
--- Quote from: "shellierinne" ---Mari,
I'm another mom of a young daughter who is involved in this recent developement of Reclamation Ranch in Alabama. If the parents of that young boy would like to contact me, I'd be more than happy to visit with them. Apparently, CPS has decided they dont like the "discipline" methods used at the ranch. I spoke with the CPS of Alabama on Saturday evening, and the things they said they were "concerned" about, were ridiculous in nature. I was aware of their methods of discipline when I left my daughter there and were in full support of their methods. After 6 months, my daughter has made HUGE leaps in progress! She was there for rebelling after her father died, and I recently remarried. We had had her in another local program here in Texas, that actually did more harm than good before we transferred her to Alabama.
We really need to keep Brother Jack Patterson and his staff in our prayers and do all we can to support them. From what I understand, they go to court on Tuesday to see what the judge is going to rule. For now, I believe the boys have actually been put into another program. The girls have been sent back to their home, but were informed that they had "rights" and did not have to listen to the staff at the ranch. I was livid to hear my daughter tell me this! She told me that CPS advised her that she had all these rights (which were against the schools rules), and so of course, her and the other girls quickly developed "attitudes" with the staff. Those poor ladies who have cared for my daughter for the past 6 months, and who have put their lives into this program for more than 20 years, have just had their hands tied by CPS's nonsense. What is worse, is that MOST of the parents who had their children in this program, have the attitude that if CPS says it's bad there, then it must be bad! What they dont realize is that CPS could care less about the children.....I have personal dealings with them, and as a Christian parent, can tell you that they have NO respect for parent's authority (especially Christian parents) who are trying to raise their children as God said. They see all Christians as wackos.
Please let me know if I can be of assistance to this family. I feel like this is one of the last "true Godly" programs out there. We as parents need to stick together on this.
Shellie in Texas
--- End quote ---
Ursus:
NBC13.com
Investigators probing boys ranch abuse claims find shackles
By Jon Paepcke | Investigative reporter
Published: November 25, 2008
Updated: November 25, 2008
A custody hearing was held at the Blount County courthouse for 11 boys taken during Saturday’s raid at the Reclamation Ranch.
Image Credit: Jon Paepcke
BLOUNT COUNTY, Ala.—- Saturday’s raid at Blount County’s Reclamation Ranch led to 11 boys placed in Department of Human Resources custody.
It was prompted by claims from a 17 year old who attended the ranch.
According to prosecutors, the boy accused the ranch of committing serious abuse.
Abuse prosecutors say rises to the level of torture under Alabama law.
Court records show investigators seized hand cuffs and shackles from the ranch.
Roman Lupekha spent 22 months at the ranch before a judge released him today to go home to Modesto, California.
“I got push-ups. It helped me more than it hurt,” Lupekha responded when asked what kind of punishment he saw used at the ranch.
Many of the 11 boys were released to their families like Lupekha during Tuesday’s custody hearing.
It was unclear late Tuesday whether all of them went home with their parents.
Ranch supporters held a rally outside of the Blount County courthouse earlier Tuesday morning.
The ranch claims one of its goals is to help troubled youth through character building and religious education.
“That place was a vessel. All they did was show me the truth and they just helped me out. They gave me a good schooling and worked with my problems. I was going through family problems and all they did was show me scripture,” Lupekha responded.
Prosecutors say statements by other boys supported the original abuse complaint.
While ranch director Jack Patterson wouldn’t comment at the hearing Tuesday, he denies any wrongdoing on the ranch’s web site.
Prosecutors expect to present the case to the grand jury in the next few weeks.
©2010 Birmingham Broadcasting (WVTM-TV), Inc.
Oscar:
--- Quote from: "DannyB II" ---No I would not think so , I was handcuffed and shackled as I was being transported to Marathon House and one more time leaving Marathon House to court and back to Marathon House. (hope that made sense) Why??? Something about the State of Rhode Island in 1973/74 having a law, that all runaways being transported from institutions to court and back must be restrained. Just before they kicked me out of Marathon House they handcuffed and shackled me for at least 2 hours before juvie picked me up, then the whole way to juvie I was restrained the same way.
Ursus, being handcuffed and shackled is not the worst treatment a unruly adolescence could endure.
--- End quote ---
I believe that use of mecanical restraints should be preserved for law enforcement only. I would never use handcuffs on my children and I certainly would not allow some teacher at a boarding school to do that. If the boarding school have problems with my child they can call the police and they are the one who use their professional judgment when they decide whether to use restraints or not.
In relationship with the authorities using restraints, I can understand that that they need to shackle minors who have been sentenced during transport if they only have one staff member available for the transport. I believe that there was an escape by two girls who tried to strangle the driver, but even the worst juvenile killer can be transported without handcuffs by two trained officers. I remember a case about a 15 year old kids up in Aalborg, who killed a man just because the victim could not produce a lighter. The kid hit and kick the victim until the head of the victim burst. In the start the police believed that some kind of weapon had been used until they learned the truth. When this young man was on trial he was not transported in handcuffs because the police knew how be became dangerous. It was drugs. Without drugs he was just another pleasant young man. Here is a link about the case with a photo of him entering the court:
16-year-old Rasmus is hardened violent criminal
Our laws allow only law enforcement to use mechanical restraints (only handcuffs - no leg restraints). Group homes can not use mechanical restraints on minors.
I know that is easier here where there is no place to hide and especially not for a kid like him because part of his crime was to MMS photos of the corpse to his friends, which made the police investigation rather easy.
Ursus:
The Birmingham News
11 boys removed at faith-based Reclamation Ranch
Beating, torture allegations probed
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
KENT FAULK
News staff writer
A faith-based program plans a protest this morning near the Blount County Courthouse where a hearing is to be held on what will be done with a group of boys removed Saturday from one of its facilities by law enforcement officers investigating allegations of severe abuse, beating and torture.
The faith-based program is calling the accusations false and misleading on its Web site. About 11 boys were removed from a Reclamation Ranch facility in Empire on Saturday and, based on court orders, placed into the custody of the Blount County Department of Human Resources, said Blount County District Attorney Tommy Rountree. The pastor and founder of the facility put the number at 17 boys.
Based on a complaint of "severe abuse, beating and torture of a minor child" at the ranch, a search warrant was executed by the Blount County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and the district attorney's office, Rountree said in a press release.
"The search by law enforcement and the questioning of involved minors yielded corroboration of the original allegations and evidence of other instances of mistreatment. The investigation is ongoing," Rountree said in his statement.
No arrests or charges had been filed as of Monday, Rountree said. He declined to give details of the allegations, although he said there had been no allegation of any sexual abuse.
A court hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. in Blount County, which Reclamation Ranch's Web site says will determine whether the boys will be returned to their parents or remain in state custody. The ministry plans to rally near the courthouse.
On http://www.reclamationranch.com, the facility called the allegations false and misleading and said it doesn't condone abuse. "We don't use any corporal punishment," said Pastor Jack Patterson, director and founder of Reclamation Ranch.
According to its Web site, Reclamation Ranch operates two facilities in the Empire area for boys and girls ages 12-17 and one program for men ages 18-35. The girls facility called Rachel Academy is in Walker County about a mile and a half from the boys campus in Blount County.
Girls at Reclamation Ranch were questioned at the Sumiton police station on Saturday but were later released. Patterson said the girls facility was still in operation on Monday and he planned to continue operation of the boys facility.
The Web site describes the program as working with boys and girls who have had problems in different areas that resulted in a family member placing them with the program.
"The Lighthouse for Boys is a minimum one-year program that incorporates Bible teaching, character training and respect for family," according to the Reclamation Ranch Web site. "The boys learn how to obey authority, how to complete chores in a 'Christian' fashion with a good attitude and to complete all they do to the best of their abilities. They are given individual counseling sessions with the superintendents where they are taught how to deal with bitterness, anger and rebellion with the Word of God as our foundation. We keep the boys busy with exercise, school, chores and lots of fun!"
E-mail: kfaulk@bhamnews.com
© 2010 The Birmingham News.
Ursus:
Supporters of Pastor Jack Patterson and Reclamation Ranch protested the boys' removal:
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The News Courier
November 25, 2008
Group protests abuse probe at Empire facility
ONEONTA, Ala. (AP) — Supporters of the Reclamation Ranch in Empire planned to protest near the Blount County Courthouse where a hearing is planned on what will be done with a group of boys removed the ranch.
Law enforcement officers are investigating allegations of severe abuse, beating and torture at the facility. The supporters at Tuesday's hearing call the accusations false and misleading.
District Attorney Tommy Rountree says about 11 boys were removed Saturday from a Reclamation Ranch facility in Empire and placed into the custody of the Blount County Department of Human Resources.
The pastor and founder of the facility put the number at 17 boys.
© 2010 Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
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