61
News Items / Re: St. John's Military School - Violence Alleged
« on: March 16, 2012, 07:32:35 PM »
Heard you didn't win any SIA awards...... they need a new category: "major researcher". There's always next year.
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62
News Items / St. John's Military School - Violence Alleged
« on: March 11, 2012, 08:35:50 PM »
http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/03/07/44476.htm
Violence Alleged at Christian Military School
By JOE HARRIS [/b]
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (CN) -
Parents claim in Federal Court that a Christian military school lets students known as "the Disciplinarians" abuse younger students who are bound, gagged, beaten and urinated upon.
Parents of four students sued St. John's Military School, of Salina, Kan., and The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
The plaintiffs claim St. John's has settled nine lawsuits alleging abuse since 2006.
The parents claim the residential boarding school for grades 6 through 12 allows senior students, known as the Disciplinarians, to discipline lower-ranking students.
"Through this model, St. John's hands over to adolescent students the school's obligation to act as parent to each child enrolled at the institution," the complaint states. "These Disciplinarians abuse that power and take their authority beyond any reasonable limits while putting the younger boys in constant fear of physical and mental harm.
"Because St. John's grants its Disciplinarians the authority to discipline the younger boys, it should have heightened security and increased personnel to monitor all activities and protect its children. Yet, in practice, it does quite the opposite.
"St. John's students live in dormitories that even its former president called 'a terrible place.' The dormitories significantly lack monitoring in the form of personnel and cameras. At most, only one adult supervisor remains in the dormitory overnight to monitor the student activities.
"By housing students in facilities with minor supervision, St. John's grants its Disciplinarians carte blanche to do what they wish and inflict harm upon the younger boys."
One student says he was bound, gagged and beaten by multiple students, who took pictures of the assault and posted them on Facebook. This student says he was locked in a locker for 30 minutes, was forced to roll around in the mud in his uniform, then discard his clothes and was urinated on while showering.
Another student claims he witnessed multiple suicide attempts by students, and an attempted rape.
A third student says he was forced to perform physical training until he vomited.
All of the student-plaintiffs claim they were victimized by multiple beatings, including one assault that led to a broken orbital socket and permanent loss of vision.
The plaintiffs say the school encourages students to report abuse - but then tells the Disciplinarians which students made the complaint. Therefore, students who report abuse fear retaliation by the Disciplinarians, the complaint states.
They seek damages for negligent supervision, intentional failure to supervise, intentional infliction of emotional distress or outrage, breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to assault and batter.
They are represented by Daniel Zmijewski, with Miller Schirger, of Kansas City, Mo.
St. John's is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools.
Program's website: http://www.sjms.org/
And....
http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/ ... ry_school/
Parents ‘Very Satisfied’ With Settlement From Salina, Kan., Military School
August 9, 2005
Source: redOrbit (http://s.tt/16cXs)[/b]
Aug. 10–The attorney representing a group of former cadets of St. John’s Military School in Salina said Tuesday the parents of a cadet who lost teeth and had his jaw fractured while being choked unconscious were “very satisifed” by a substantial payment made to settle the case.
Meanwhile, the civil cases filed against the school last fall have resulted in significant changes in policies concerning student conduct and in the school’s admission philosophy, the school’s president said.
The settlement resulted in a dismissal last month of a lawsuit brought by Martin Sure, father of former cadet Michael Shure, now living and attending school in Denver.
The suit was one in a series filed by attorney Patrick Neustrom of the law firm of Achterberg, Neustrom & Angell, 118 S. Seventh. An earlier suit representing another Colorado couple, Michael and Tess McCabe, on behalf of their son, Julian, also was dismissed. The sums of those settlements were not disclosed.
All the alleged incidents took place in 2003 or 2004. Some of the allegations involved beatings with broom sticks and coat hangers.
Two cases remain on file in court. Four others are in talks with the school’s insurance carrier to see if they can be resolved before suits are filed. All the cases could be settled through negotiations, Neustrom said.
“We’re negotiating in good faith with (the insurance company) and they’re trying to resolve these cases for the boys so they can move on,” Neustrom said. “We’re hoping to take positive steps.”
Safer for students Col. Jack Fox, president of St. John’s Military since September 2004, said Tuesday that he and the staff and the board of directors of the school have gone through adjustments to create a safer environment for the students.
Staff members are now required to undergo regular training for dealing with alcohol and other drug problems and anger management.
Cadets who bring discredit to the institution will be dismissed, he said.
This year when the new students, known as “new boys” report on Aug.
26, they will face a zero tolerance policy on hazing, he said.
“If a boy has a history of violence, fighting and fighting again, what I tell staff is don’t bring in any boy that you wouldn’t want your son living with,” Fox said. “We’re not going to take a boy we can’t help. Parents look to us for academics, too. We took a hard look at ourselves, and that’s healthy.”
The Episcopal school, which Fox expects will enroll up to 130 students this fall, serves boys in grades six through 12.
Source: redOrbit (http://s.tt/16cXs)
And....
http://www.ire.org/resource-center/stories/21860/
From Investigative Reporters and Editors
St. John's Military School
Number 21860
Subject Schools
Source KWCH-TV (Wichita, KS)
State KS
Year 2004
Publication Date July 18; Nov. 4, 23; Dec. 3
Summary This KWCH investigation revealed a 10-year pattern of abuse at a Kansas military school. A tip from a former employee of the school prompted the TV station to FOIA police records, which noted 28 cases of abuse including boys being beaten with broomsticks, burned with lighters and kicked repeatedly. A related civil suit alleged staff negligence, and other discussions of abuse were found in an alumni chat room on the Internet.
Category None
Pages 25
Keywords TAPE;TRANSCRIPT;military schools;military academy;military cadets;St. John's Military School
Related Links
Related Video
Ordering info Want to place an order? Email us or call us at 573-882-3364 (Stories are only available to members of IRE. For membership information, please refer to our membership page)
Also...
The Truth About Military Schools:
http://militaryschoolsfacts.webs.com/in ... chools.htm
Violence Alleged at Christian Military School
By JOE HARRIS [/b]
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (CN) -
Parents claim in Federal Court that a Christian military school lets students known as "the Disciplinarians" abuse younger students who are bound, gagged, beaten and urinated upon.
Parents of four students sued St. John's Military School, of Salina, Kan., and The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.
The plaintiffs claim St. John's has settled nine lawsuits alleging abuse since 2006.
The parents claim the residential boarding school for grades 6 through 12 allows senior students, known as the Disciplinarians, to discipline lower-ranking students.
"Through this model, St. John's hands over to adolescent students the school's obligation to act as parent to each child enrolled at the institution," the complaint states. "These Disciplinarians abuse that power and take their authority beyond any reasonable limits while putting the younger boys in constant fear of physical and mental harm.
"Because St. John's grants its Disciplinarians the authority to discipline the younger boys, it should have heightened security and increased personnel to monitor all activities and protect its children. Yet, in practice, it does quite the opposite.
"St. John's students live in dormitories that even its former president called 'a terrible place.' The dormitories significantly lack monitoring in the form of personnel and cameras. At most, only one adult supervisor remains in the dormitory overnight to monitor the student activities.
"By housing students in facilities with minor supervision, St. John's grants its Disciplinarians carte blanche to do what they wish and inflict harm upon the younger boys."
One student says he was bound, gagged and beaten by multiple students, who took pictures of the assault and posted them on Facebook. This student says he was locked in a locker for 30 minutes, was forced to roll around in the mud in his uniform, then discard his clothes and was urinated on while showering.
Another student claims he witnessed multiple suicide attempts by students, and an attempted rape.
A third student says he was forced to perform physical training until he vomited.
All of the student-plaintiffs claim they were victimized by multiple beatings, including one assault that led to a broken orbital socket and permanent loss of vision.
The plaintiffs say the school encourages students to report abuse - but then tells the Disciplinarians which students made the complaint. Therefore, students who report abuse fear retaliation by the Disciplinarians, the complaint states.
They seek damages for negligent supervision, intentional failure to supervise, intentional infliction of emotional distress or outrage, breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy to assault and batter.
They are represented by Daniel Zmijewski, with Miller Schirger, of Kansas City, Mo.
St. John's is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools.
Program's website: http://www.sjms.org/
And....
http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/ ... ry_school/
Parents ‘Very Satisfied’ With Settlement From Salina, Kan., Military School
August 9, 2005
Source: redOrbit (http://s.tt/16cXs)[/b]
Aug. 10–The attorney representing a group of former cadets of St. John’s Military School in Salina said Tuesday the parents of a cadet who lost teeth and had his jaw fractured while being choked unconscious were “very satisifed” by a substantial payment made to settle the case.
Meanwhile, the civil cases filed against the school last fall have resulted in significant changes in policies concerning student conduct and in the school’s admission philosophy, the school’s president said.
The settlement resulted in a dismissal last month of a lawsuit brought by Martin Sure, father of former cadet Michael Shure, now living and attending school in Denver.
The suit was one in a series filed by attorney Patrick Neustrom of the law firm of Achterberg, Neustrom & Angell, 118 S. Seventh. An earlier suit representing another Colorado couple, Michael and Tess McCabe, on behalf of their son, Julian, also was dismissed. The sums of those settlements were not disclosed.
All the alleged incidents took place in 2003 or 2004. Some of the allegations involved beatings with broom sticks and coat hangers.
Two cases remain on file in court. Four others are in talks with the school’s insurance carrier to see if they can be resolved before suits are filed. All the cases could be settled through negotiations, Neustrom said.
“We’re negotiating in good faith with (the insurance company) and they’re trying to resolve these cases for the boys so they can move on,” Neustrom said. “We’re hoping to take positive steps.”
Safer for students Col. Jack Fox, president of St. John’s Military since September 2004, said Tuesday that he and the staff and the board of directors of the school have gone through adjustments to create a safer environment for the students.
Staff members are now required to undergo regular training for dealing with alcohol and other drug problems and anger management.
Cadets who bring discredit to the institution will be dismissed, he said.
This year when the new students, known as “new boys” report on Aug.
26, they will face a zero tolerance policy on hazing, he said.
“If a boy has a history of violence, fighting and fighting again, what I tell staff is don’t bring in any boy that you wouldn’t want your son living with,” Fox said. “We’re not going to take a boy we can’t help. Parents look to us for academics, too. We took a hard look at ourselves, and that’s healthy.”
The Episcopal school, which Fox expects will enroll up to 130 students this fall, serves boys in grades six through 12.
Source: redOrbit (http://s.tt/16cXs)
And....
http://www.ire.org/resource-center/stories/21860/
From Investigative Reporters and Editors
St. John's Military School
Number 21860
Subject Schools
Source KWCH-TV (Wichita, KS)
State KS
Year 2004
Publication Date July 18; Nov. 4, 23; Dec. 3
Summary This KWCH investigation revealed a 10-year pattern of abuse at a Kansas military school. A tip from a former employee of the school prompted the TV station to FOIA police records, which noted 28 cases of abuse including boys being beaten with broomsticks, burned with lighters and kicked repeatedly. A related civil suit alleged staff negligence, and other discussions of abuse were found in an alumni chat room on the Internet.
Category None
Pages 25
Keywords TAPE;TRANSCRIPT;military schools;military academy;military cadets;St. John's Military School
Related Links
Related Video
Ordering info Want to place an order? Email us or call us at 573-882-3364 (Stories are only available to members of IRE. For membership information, please refer to our membership page)
Also...
The Truth About Military Schools:
http://militaryschoolsfacts.webs.com/in ... chools.htm
63
News Items / Re: Spring Creek Academy
« on: March 09, 2012, 09:06:41 AM »Quote from: "maruska"
http://law.justia.com/cases/montana/supreme-court/2012/da-10-0548.html
Cool, thanks for posting this.
64
News Items / Spring Creek Academy
« on: March 09, 2012, 02:44:43 AM »
Montana Supreme Court orders new trial over suicide at Spring Creek Academy
By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian | Posted: Thursday, March 8, 2012 9:30 pm [/b]
THOMPSON FALLS – The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a new trial in a lawsuit that accuses a Utah company and its founder of playing a part in the suicide of a 16-year-old girl here.
A Sanders County jury took less than two hours in October 2010 to decide that World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Inc. and its founder, Robert Lichfield, were not negligent in the death of Karlye Newman.
Newman hanged herself with a sweatshirt on Oct. 7, 2004, after six months at Spring Creek Academy Lodge, a boarding school for troubled teens that was a member of WWASP.
But Montana’s high court said retired Montana Supreme Court Justice John Warner, who was brought in to hear it after the third District Court judge assigned to the case retired, was wrong to bar the jury from hearing evidence outside of what the dead girl knew, witnessed or was within her general knowledge.
“We conclude that the District Court abused its discretion when it limited the evidence concerning negligence to what Karlye knew and what happened to Karlye,” Justice Patricia Cotter wrote for the majority. “The District Court determined it appropriate to admit evidence of what Karlye knew, but exclude evidence of what the defendants knew. This analysis is contrary to our case law.”
***
“It’s good news,” said James Manley of Polson, one of several attorneys representing Karlye’s mother, Judith Newman. “It means we get to retry it with all the evidence in this time.”
That includes, he said, evidence concerning other WWASP schools that were shut down by regulators and investigated for abuses, and information about what happened to other students in the so-called “tough-love” institutions.
Warner’s ruling had said admitting such evidence was “highly prejudicial” against the defendants.
But, Cotter wrote, “Without this information, the jury could not determine whether it was foreseeable to these defendants that Karlye was at risk of injury while a student at Spring Creek.”
That evidence, which will be allowed in the new trial, points to Judith Newman’s contention that WWASP should have recognized what might happen to her daughter if Spring Creek – which closed its doors in 2009 – continued its allegedly harsh treatment and punishments of Karlye, according to Manley.
“The retrial will be a very different kind of case,” Manley said.
***
Judith Newman, who paid $3,000 a month to send her daughter to Spring Creek, filed the original lawsuit in 2006. Through dismissals and out-of-court settlements, a long list of defendants was whittled down to WWASP and Lichfield before it went to trial in 2010.
In the lawsuit, Judith Newman contends the WWASP-affiliated school misled her about her daughter’s progress and condition, ignored signs that the girl had become suicidal, and contributed to her death through a series of harsh punishments that included multiple periods of solitary confinement and refusing to allow the girl to have any contact with her parents throughout her stay.
The defendants, represented by San Francisco attorney William Kronenberg, say Judith Newman failed to disclose previous suicide threats by Karlye before the girl was enrolled in Spring Creek Lodge Academy, and signed off on Spring Creek’s methods prior to enrolling her daughter.
Reports say that WWASP, which is said to have generated as much as $90 million per year from the tuition for the many schools it operated or was associated with, is no longer in business, but still exists on paper so that its insurance company will continue to pay its attorneys.
WWASP is the subject of several lawsuits besides Newman’s. The largest is a federal suit involving 353 parents and former students who accuse the firm of assault, battery, false imprisonment, fraud and racketeering.
Judith Newman is suing for wrongful death, negligence, breach of contract, fraud and deceit. She is asking for unspecified damages, although Manley told the Sanders County jury Karlye’s life was worth at least $5 million, and that other damages could tack on another $1 million.
The 2 1/2-week trial rivaled the 2 1/2 -week incest trial of Douglas Guill in 2008 as the longest in Sanders County history.
Manley said the case will be remanded back to District Court some time in the next 10 days, and Newman will ask for a new judge to be assigned, which either side is allowed to do after a successful appeal.
Reporter Vince Devlin can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at http://missoulian.com/news/local/montan ... z1obSFGMMc
By VINCE DEVLIN of the Missoulian | Posted: Thursday, March 8, 2012 9:30 pm [/b]
THOMPSON FALLS – The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a new trial in a lawsuit that accuses a Utah company and its founder of playing a part in the suicide of a 16-year-old girl here.
A Sanders County jury took less than two hours in October 2010 to decide that World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools Inc. and its founder, Robert Lichfield, were not negligent in the death of Karlye Newman.
Newman hanged herself with a sweatshirt on Oct. 7, 2004, after six months at Spring Creek Academy Lodge, a boarding school for troubled teens that was a member of WWASP.
But Montana’s high court said retired Montana Supreme Court Justice John Warner, who was brought in to hear it after the third District Court judge assigned to the case retired, was wrong to bar the jury from hearing evidence outside of what the dead girl knew, witnessed or was within her general knowledge.
“We conclude that the District Court abused its discretion when it limited the evidence concerning negligence to what Karlye knew and what happened to Karlye,” Justice Patricia Cotter wrote for the majority. “The District Court determined it appropriate to admit evidence of what Karlye knew, but exclude evidence of what the defendants knew. This analysis is contrary to our case law.”
***
“It’s good news,” said James Manley of Polson, one of several attorneys representing Karlye’s mother, Judith Newman. “It means we get to retry it with all the evidence in this time.”
That includes, he said, evidence concerning other WWASP schools that were shut down by regulators and investigated for abuses, and information about what happened to other students in the so-called “tough-love” institutions.
Warner’s ruling had said admitting such evidence was “highly prejudicial” against the defendants.
But, Cotter wrote, “Without this information, the jury could not determine whether it was foreseeable to these defendants that Karlye was at risk of injury while a student at Spring Creek.”
That evidence, which will be allowed in the new trial, points to Judith Newman’s contention that WWASP should have recognized what might happen to her daughter if Spring Creek – which closed its doors in 2009 – continued its allegedly harsh treatment and punishments of Karlye, according to Manley.
“The retrial will be a very different kind of case,” Manley said.
***
Judith Newman, who paid $3,000 a month to send her daughter to Spring Creek, filed the original lawsuit in 2006. Through dismissals and out-of-court settlements, a long list of defendants was whittled down to WWASP and Lichfield before it went to trial in 2010.
In the lawsuit, Judith Newman contends the WWASP-affiliated school misled her about her daughter’s progress and condition, ignored signs that the girl had become suicidal, and contributed to her death through a series of harsh punishments that included multiple periods of solitary confinement and refusing to allow the girl to have any contact with her parents throughout her stay.
The defendants, represented by San Francisco attorney William Kronenberg, say Judith Newman failed to disclose previous suicide threats by Karlye before the girl was enrolled in Spring Creek Lodge Academy, and signed off on Spring Creek’s methods prior to enrolling her daughter.
Reports say that WWASP, which is said to have generated as much as $90 million per year from the tuition for the many schools it operated or was associated with, is no longer in business, but still exists on paper so that its insurance company will continue to pay its attorneys.
WWASP is the subject of several lawsuits besides Newman’s. The largest is a federal suit involving 353 parents and former students who accuse the firm of assault, battery, false imprisonment, fraud and racketeering.
Judith Newman is suing for wrongful death, negligence, breach of contract, fraud and deceit. She is asking for unspecified damages, although Manley told the Sanders County jury Karlye’s life was worth at least $5 million, and that other damages could tack on another $1 million.
The 2 1/2-week trial rivaled the 2 1/2 -week incest trial of Douglas Guill in 2008 as the longest in Sanders County history.
Manley said the case will be remanded back to District Court some time in the next 10 days, and Newman will ask for a new judge to be assigned, which either side is allowed to do after a successful appeal.
Reporter Vince Devlin can be reached at 1-800-366-7186 or at http://missoulian.com/news/local/montan ... z1obSFGMMc
65
The Troubled Teen Industry / Congressional Videos on Youtube
« on: March 08, 2012, 10:29:46 PM »
I have been working on making shorter videos from the Congressional Hearings so the info can be used. I will paste links to the videos I have made here.
2007 Hearings - Wilderness Programs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-3OhUNhAM
2007 Hearings - NATSAP - Jan moss compilation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtQJ8MWINtM
8 Short videos from the 2008 Congressional Hearings. I hope these are more digestible and useful for sending to parents and/or using for other videos compilations. Please rip them and make copies for your own use. Real player has an easy way to download video files.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHk0E_PR8eU
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NxO7zdc4kg
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiIAUAi7hvY
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyfwMm9Xw5Q
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zenmNR1WeI
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uriGr02DTiY
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSjwR1fsXw
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwRfKTjOYCo
Now here is a 2008 compilation of the previous 8 videos I rolled into one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_4z3NIg-fE
Most other video of the Hearings can be found on Youtube, mostly posted by 'edlabordemocrats". Most personal Testimonies were recorded and posted by them, for instance testimonies of parents who lost their children to programs as well as survivors of programs.
2007 Hearings - Wilderness Programs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-3OhUNhAM
2007 Hearings - NATSAP - Jan moss compilation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtQJ8MWINtM
8 Short videos from the 2008 Congressional Hearings. I hope these are more digestible and useful for sending to parents and/or using for other videos compilations. Please rip them and make copies for your own use. Real player has an easy way to download video files.
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHk0E_PR8eU
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NxO7zdc4kg
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiIAUAi7hvY
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyfwMm9Xw5Q
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zenmNR1WeI
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uriGr02DTiY
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fSjwR1fsXw
8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwRfKTjOYCo
Now here is a 2008 compilation of the previous 8 videos I rolled into one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_4z3NIg-fE
Most other video of the Hearings can be found on Youtube, mostly posted by 'edlabordemocrats". Most personal Testimonies were recorded and posted by them, for instance testimonies of parents who lost their children to programs as well as survivors of programs.
66
News Items / Re: Teen on life support after assault at children's home
« on: March 02, 2012, 06:32:35 PM »Quote from: "Froderik"
Quote from: "Reddit TroubledTeens"CINCINNATI -- The grandmother of a boy who was beaten to death at a group home said she believes the teen would have survived if he received medical attention sooner.
He also would not have died if he was never put into a program or "group home" to begin with.
Yep...but Deters is a very well known attorney here so I am sure he will leave no stone unturned.
67
News Items / Re: SPLC Wins Federal Class Action suit
« on: March 02, 2012, 06:11:29 PM »
Comments from first article:
Comments (7)
Subscribe to Comments
Betty on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 10:34.
I don't know who said this but I think it applies here. "Progress is a snail". elected officials should be responsible to the voter that prisons are humane and offer rehab services. it's really more cost effective in the long run.
Reply
Jeff Shelton on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 14:23.
For almost 40 years it has been my privilege to support the Center in its work in behalf of marginalized, disenfranchised people. It is criminal that a state has been supporting through a contractor supporting such brutality in 2012. Thank you for once again achieving justice for those with no voice.
Reply
Joseph L. Williams on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 14:33.
Why do we think we have the 'moral' authority or any other authority to criticize any other nation!
Reply
Michelene Landseadel on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 15:43.
What an embarassment to our country! If anything it proves once again that unchecked capitalism results in human rights abuses. But, thank goodness, for conscientious efforts on part of the SPLC. You deserve a Congressional Medal of Honor for your valorous and sustained battle against the forces of greed and racism in America.
Reply
Mary and Alan S on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:07.
Bravo! Your magnificent work continues to amaze. Especially in the case of Walnut Grove where conditions were beyond shameless and brought shame on all Americans.
Reply
susan hall muelder on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:18.
I am proud to be a supporter of the SPLCi - thank you for standing up for these children.
Reply
M. E. Schwartz-Hanley on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:44.
How is it that America has only 5% of the world's population but 25% of the worlds incarcerated? PRIVATIZATION! Everything directly impacting human lives should have to be not-for-profit or else the incentive is to keep people sick, stupid and in jail!! Thank you SPLC for fighting the good fight for the rights of prisoners, orphans, & immigrants. Ironically, that makes you a more Christian organization than most!
Reply
Comments (7)
Subscribe to Comments
Betty on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 10:34.
I don't know who said this but I think it applies here. "Progress is a snail". elected officials should be responsible to the voter that prisons are humane and offer rehab services. it's really more cost effective in the long run.
Reply
Jeff Shelton on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 14:23.
For almost 40 years it has been my privilege to support the Center in its work in behalf of marginalized, disenfranchised people. It is criminal that a state has been supporting through a contractor supporting such brutality in 2012. Thank you for once again achieving justice for those with no voice.
Reply
Joseph L. Williams on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 14:33.
Why do we think we have the 'moral' authority or any other authority to criticize any other nation!
Reply
Michelene Landseadel on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 15:43.
What an embarassment to our country! If anything it proves once again that unchecked capitalism results in human rights abuses. But, thank goodness, for conscientious efforts on part of the SPLC. You deserve a Congressional Medal of Honor for your valorous and sustained battle against the forces of greed and racism in America.
Reply
Mary and Alan S on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:07.
Bravo! Your magnificent work continues to amaze. Especially in the case of Walnut Grove where conditions were beyond shameless and brought shame on all Americans.
Reply
susan hall muelder on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:18.
I am proud to be a supporter of the SPLCi - thank you for standing up for these children.
Reply
M. E. Schwartz-Hanley on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 16:44.
How is it that America has only 5% of the world's population but 25% of the worlds incarcerated? PRIVATIZATION! Everything directly impacting human lives should have to be not-for-profit or else the incentive is to keep people sick, stupid and in jail!! Thank you SPLC for fighting the good fight for the rights of prisoners, orphans, & immigrants. Ironically, that makes you a more Christian organization than most!
Reply
68
News Items / Re: SPLC Wins Federal Class Action suit
« on: March 02, 2012, 06:08:47 PM »
C.B., et al. v. Walnut Grove Correctional Authority, et al.
Popular Name: Walnut Grove[/b]
Staff members at the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Mississippi abused their authority by selling drugs to the youths in their care, brutally beating them and even engaging in sexual relationships with them. The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal lawsuit against the for-profit prison operators on behalf of the teenagers and young men held at the facility.
The lawsuit describes a facility known for a culture of violence and corruption – a culture perpetuated by Walnut Grove’s management. In addition to the sexual relationships and selling of drugs, handcuffed youths were kicked, punched and beaten. Youths secure in their cells were blinded with chemicals. Other youths suffered multiple stabbings and beatings — including one who will live with permanent brain damage as a result of an attack in which prison staffers were complicit.
Co-Counsel:
Robert B. McDuff and The National Prison Project of the ACLU Foundation
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/c ... -authority
Popular Name: Walnut Grove[/b]
Staff members at the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Mississippi abused their authority by selling drugs to the youths in their care, brutally beating them and even engaging in sexual relationships with them. The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal lawsuit against the for-profit prison operators on behalf of the teenagers and young men held at the facility.
The lawsuit describes a facility known for a culture of violence and corruption – a culture perpetuated by Walnut Grove’s management. In addition to the sexual relationships and selling of drugs, handcuffed youths were kicked, punched and beaten. Youths secure in their cells were blinded with chemicals. Other youths suffered multiple stabbings and beatings — including one who will live with permanent brain damage as a result of an attack in which prison staffers were complicit.
Co-Counsel:
Robert B. McDuff and The National Prison Project of the ACLU Foundation
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/c ... -authority
69
News Items / SPLC Wins Federal Class Action suit
« on: March 02, 2012, 06:04:19 PM »
Groundbreaking Settlement in SPLC Case Protects Incarcerated Children from Abuse in Mississippi
02/27/2012
Children and teens incarcerated in Mississippi will no longer be housed in a privately run prison or subjected to brutal solitary confinement under the terms of a groundbreaking settlement reached in an SPLC lawsuit.
The federal class action suit charged that conditions at the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which houses boys convicted as adults, are unconstitutional. The facility is operated by GEO Group Inc., the nation’s second largest private prison corporation.
“This represents a sea change in the way the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) will treat children in its custody,” said Sheila Bedi, deputy legal director for the SPLC. “As a result of this litigation, Mississippi’s children will no longer languish in an abusive, privately operated prison that profits each time a young man is tried as an adult and ends up behind bars.”
Under the proposed decree, the MDOC will be required to remove boys from the GEO-operated prison and house them at a stand-alone facility governed by juvenile justice, rather than adult, standards. The MDOC will be required to provide them with a broad variety of rehabilitative services and strong protections from sexual abuse and violence. The decree also categorically bars the state from subjecting young people to solitary confinement – the first time a federal court has banned the barbaric practice of housing children in long-term isolation.
“It’s been known for a long time that prolonged solitary confinement causes terrible suffering and psychiatric breakdown even in mature healthy adults – let alone in emotionally vulnerable children and teenagers,” said Margaret Winter, associate director of the ACLU National Prison Project. “Getting these kids out of the greedy hands of GEO is a big step forward, and the ban on solitary confinement in this decree is truly unprecedented.”
The lawsuit, filed in November 2010 by the SPLC, ACLU and civil rights attorney Robert B. McDuff, challenges notoriously abusive conditions in the GEO-run facility. The lawsuit describes the routine practice of GEO staffers peddling drugs to teenagers in their custody, subjecting them to brutal beatings, sexual exploitation and solitary confinement, and failing to protect them from violence at the hands of older, predatory prisoners. One youth suffered permanent brain damage as a result of an attack in which GEO staffers were complicit.
The consent decree will also require the MDOC to protect the adults who will be housed at Walnut Grove from physical and sexual abuse, violence, excessive use of force and prolonged isolation, and will require the MDOC to increase its oversight of GEO.
The consent decree still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves in Jackson.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/n ... om-abuse-i
02/27/2012
Children and teens incarcerated in Mississippi will no longer be housed in a privately run prison or subjected to brutal solitary confinement under the terms of a groundbreaking settlement reached in an SPLC lawsuit.
The federal class action suit charged that conditions at the Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, which houses boys convicted as adults, are unconstitutional. The facility is operated by GEO Group Inc., the nation’s second largest private prison corporation.
“This represents a sea change in the way the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) will treat children in its custody,” said Sheila Bedi, deputy legal director for the SPLC. “As a result of this litigation, Mississippi’s children will no longer languish in an abusive, privately operated prison that profits each time a young man is tried as an adult and ends up behind bars.”
Under the proposed decree, the MDOC will be required to remove boys from the GEO-operated prison and house them at a stand-alone facility governed by juvenile justice, rather than adult, standards. The MDOC will be required to provide them with a broad variety of rehabilitative services and strong protections from sexual abuse and violence. The decree also categorically bars the state from subjecting young people to solitary confinement – the first time a federal court has banned the barbaric practice of housing children in long-term isolation.
“It’s been known for a long time that prolonged solitary confinement causes terrible suffering and psychiatric breakdown even in mature healthy adults – let alone in emotionally vulnerable children and teenagers,” said Margaret Winter, associate director of the ACLU National Prison Project. “Getting these kids out of the greedy hands of GEO is a big step forward, and the ban on solitary confinement in this decree is truly unprecedented.”
The lawsuit, filed in November 2010 by the SPLC, ACLU and civil rights attorney Robert B. McDuff, challenges notoriously abusive conditions in the GEO-run facility. The lawsuit describes the routine practice of GEO staffers peddling drugs to teenagers in their custody, subjecting them to brutal beatings, sexual exploitation and solitary confinement, and failing to protect them from violence at the hands of older, predatory prisoners. One youth suffered permanent brain damage as a result of an attack in which GEO staffers were complicit.
The consent decree will also require the MDOC to protect the adults who will be housed at Walnut Grove from physical and sexual abuse, violence, excessive use of force and prolonged isolation, and will require the MDOC to increase its oversight of GEO.
The consent decree still must be approved by U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves in Jackson.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/n ... om-abuse-i
70
Open Free for All / Re: Should The Practice Of Scientology Carry A Warning Label
« on: February 27, 2012, 01:42:07 AM »
Scientology Church just moved in here in Northern KY this week from downtown Cincinnati. Right down the street from the Creation Museum. This is beginning to get freaky.
This is probably due to the Greater Cincinnati International airport located in the same county.
http://weku.fm/post/scientology-comes-northern-kentucky
This is probably due to the Greater Cincinnati International airport located in the same county.
http://weku.fm/post/scientology-comes-northern-kentucky
71
News Items / Re: MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
« on: February 25, 2012, 03:34:18 AM »
Ex-chief to fight for job after cinnamon prank
By HOLBROOK MOHR
The Associated Press
Posted: 12:41 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
A former Mississippi police chief will fight to get his job back after being fired over a video purportedly showing city employees encouraging a mentally disabled man to eat a mouthful of cinnamon as a prank, his lawyer said Thursday.
Attorney Carlos Moore said he's representing former Tutwiler Police Chief Terry Tyler and that they have asked town officials for an appeal hearing. Tyler claims the "Cinnamon Challenge" was already happening when he arrived and he pointed the man to a water fountain.
The video shows a woman pouring cinnamon into 18-year-old Ted Martin's mouth while people cheered. Martin holds the cinnamon in his mouth for a few seconds before coughing out a plume of the spice and running to a water fountain and then a restroom, apparently gagging. The video was taken at City Hall by one of the officers and posted on YouTube, though it has since been taken down.
The "Cinnamon Challenge" is a prank in which people try to swallow the spice without water. It dries the mouth and usually causes them to cough and spit. There are thousands of videos on the Internet that show people trying it.
The Tutwiler Board of Alderman voted Feb. 14 to fire Tyler, two officers, the town clerk and a court clerk.
Moore said Tyler had been in the building earlier in the day and heard his police officers talking about taking the challenge themselves and Martin volunteered to do it. Tyler left to handle police business and when he returned, Martin had already put the cinnamon in his mouth, Moore said.
"He directed Ted to get some water," Moore said.
Moore said the town attorney verified Thursday that she had received his request for an appeal hearing. Moore said the attorney told him the board will discuss the matter at its regularly scheduled March 6 meeting and decide if and when an appeal hearing might take place.
"Hopefully he will be reinstated and we can avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit," Moore said. "My client was not given due process."
The town attorney, Renetha Frieson, did not immediately respond to a message. Mayor Genether Miller-Spurlock has not responded to numerous messages since news of the firings were made public last week.
Martin's family hired attorney Ellis Pittman, who has said his client was choking because of the cinnamon, but the officials "were all laughing, grinning and having a grand time."
Pittman said there's a separate video that showed a police officer boxing with Martin. He said the former chief wasn't in that video.
The video was taken while Martin was assigned to Tutwiler City Hall to work off fines from a minor criminal charge, Pittman has said.
Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer has said he reported the incident to the FBI and that a joint investigation is under way.
Tutwiler is small town of about 1,300 people in Tallahatchie County in the Mississippi Delta. The area is known mostly for farming and several prisons and jails that employ many of its residents.
___
February 23, 2012 12:41 PM EST
By HOLBROOK MOHR
The Associated Press
Posted: 12:41 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012
A former Mississippi police chief will fight to get his job back after being fired over a video purportedly showing city employees encouraging a mentally disabled man to eat a mouthful of cinnamon as a prank, his lawyer said Thursday.
Attorney Carlos Moore said he's representing former Tutwiler Police Chief Terry Tyler and that they have asked town officials for an appeal hearing. Tyler claims the "Cinnamon Challenge" was already happening when he arrived and he pointed the man to a water fountain.
The video shows a woman pouring cinnamon into 18-year-old Ted Martin's mouth while people cheered. Martin holds the cinnamon in his mouth for a few seconds before coughing out a plume of the spice and running to a water fountain and then a restroom, apparently gagging. The video was taken at City Hall by one of the officers and posted on YouTube, though it has since been taken down.
The "Cinnamon Challenge" is a prank in which people try to swallow the spice without water. It dries the mouth and usually causes them to cough and spit. There are thousands of videos on the Internet that show people trying it.
The Tutwiler Board of Alderman voted Feb. 14 to fire Tyler, two officers, the town clerk and a court clerk.
Moore said Tyler had been in the building earlier in the day and heard his police officers talking about taking the challenge themselves and Martin volunteered to do it. Tyler left to handle police business and when he returned, Martin had already put the cinnamon in his mouth, Moore said.
"He directed Ted to get some water," Moore said.
Moore said the town attorney verified Thursday that she had received his request for an appeal hearing. Moore said the attorney told him the board will discuss the matter at its regularly scheduled March 6 meeting and decide if and when an appeal hearing might take place.
"Hopefully he will be reinstated and we can avoid a wrongful termination lawsuit," Moore said. "My client was not given due process."
The town attorney, Renetha Frieson, did not immediately respond to a message. Mayor Genether Miller-Spurlock has not responded to numerous messages since news of the firings were made public last week.
Martin's family hired attorney Ellis Pittman, who has said his client was choking because of the cinnamon, but the officials "were all laughing, grinning and having a grand time."
Pittman said there's a separate video that showed a police officer boxing with Martin. He said the former chief wasn't in that video.
The video was taken while Martin was assigned to Tutwiler City Hall to work off fines from a minor criminal charge, Pittman has said.
Tallahatchie County Sheriff William Brewer has said he reported the incident to the FBI and that a joint investigation is under way.
Tutwiler is small town of about 1,300 people in Tallahatchie County in the Mississippi Delta. The area is known mostly for farming and several prisons and jails that employ many of its residents.
___
February 23, 2012 12:41 PM EST
72
News Items / Re: MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
« on: February 25, 2012, 03:28:53 AM »
Interesting coincidence:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutwiler,_Mississippi
The town of Tutwiler's economy is almost solely based on a private men's prison called "Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility".
According to reports online, there are roughly 2600 inmates in this prison, twice as many people as the population of the town of Tutwiler.
According to blog reports online, 80 prisoners were sent to "the hole" as a mass punishment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutwiler,_Mississippi
The town of Tutwiler's economy is almost solely based on a private men's prison called "Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility".
According to reports online, there are roughly 2600 inmates in this prison, twice as many people as the population of the town of Tutwiler.
According to blog reports online, 80 prisoners were sent to "the hole" as a mass punishment.
73
News Items / Re: MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
« on: February 24, 2012, 08:37:18 PM »74
News Items / Re: MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
« on: February 24, 2012, 08:14:11 PM »Quote from: "none-ya"
Links contain no video.
The video is on the news page. Plus I haven't copied it to my youtube account yet. I have it but not transferred, should be up in a day or two, I'll post a link here.
75
News Items / MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
« on: February 24, 2012, 07:33:35 PM »
http://www.fox19.com/story/17011310/chi ... abled-teen
MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
Posted: Feb 23, 2012 10:37 PM EST
Updated: Feb 23, 2012 11:51 PM EST
By Janice Broach
TUTWILER, MS (WMC-TV) -
A Mississippi police chief was fired after he and other officers were caught on camera abusing a mentally disabled teen with cinnamon and boxing on city property.
A video shot by a Tutwiler city official in city hall shows 18-year-old Cortez Martin, ordered to do community service for a misdemeanor.
"I have never seen anything or heard of anything where someone was doing something like this to a mentally challenged person," said Clarksdale attorney Ellis Pittman.
Tutwiler is a town of about 1,300, not far from Clarksdale.
In the video, a city worker pours cinnamon down Martin's throat for something called "the cinnamon challenge."
It did not take long for Martin to cough up the cinnamon, as the group roared with laughter. Martin then runs for water and then into the bathroom, where he appears to vomit all while people are laughing.
"This is just sickening," said Pittman.
On a separate occasion, Pittman said another video was shot by a police officer of Martin being challenged to a boxing match with another officer.
The video shows former Tutwiler police officer Jimmy Johnson hitting Martin in the head several times as the officer shooting the video laughs.
In the video, Martin is knocked down a few times.
The teen said he wanted to continue. Then, Johnson hit Martin so hard he fell to the floor.
The town of Tutwiler fired officers Johnson and Bobby Banks, Police Chief Terry Tyler, the town clerk, and another employee.
PIttman said there is also supposed to be video of officers paying Martin $5 dollars to use a taser on him. The district attorney and FBI are investigating.
Officials in Tutwiler were not available for comment.
another source: http://www.wmctv.com/story/17007369/chi ... abled-teen
MS chief fired after video shows abuse of disabled teen
Posted: Feb 23, 2012 10:37 PM EST
Updated: Feb 23, 2012 11:51 PM EST
By Janice Broach
TUTWILER, MS (WMC-TV) -
A Mississippi police chief was fired after he and other officers were caught on camera abusing a mentally disabled teen with cinnamon and boxing on city property.
A video shot by a Tutwiler city official in city hall shows 18-year-old Cortez Martin, ordered to do community service for a misdemeanor.
"I have never seen anything or heard of anything where someone was doing something like this to a mentally challenged person," said Clarksdale attorney Ellis Pittman.
Tutwiler is a town of about 1,300, not far from Clarksdale.
In the video, a city worker pours cinnamon down Martin's throat for something called "the cinnamon challenge."
It did not take long for Martin to cough up the cinnamon, as the group roared with laughter. Martin then runs for water and then into the bathroom, where he appears to vomit all while people are laughing.
"This is just sickening," said Pittman.
On a separate occasion, Pittman said another video was shot by a police officer of Martin being challenged to a boxing match with another officer.
The video shows former Tutwiler police officer Jimmy Johnson hitting Martin in the head several times as the officer shooting the video laughs.
In the video, Martin is knocked down a few times.
The teen said he wanted to continue. Then, Johnson hit Martin so hard he fell to the floor.
The town of Tutwiler fired officers Johnson and Bobby Banks, Police Chief Terry Tyler, the town clerk, and another employee.
PIttman said there is also supposed to be video of officers paying Martin $5 dollars to use a taser on him. The district attorney and FBI are investigating.
Officials in Tutwiler were not available for comment.
another source: http://www.wmctv.com/story/17007369/chi ... abled-teen