>
>This is what foster care is for - to protect children whose parents
>are unable or unwilling to care for them.
>
>Wojtek
I'll say it one more time. We're not talking about foster care.
>For the past 20 years, conditions inside the California Youth
>Authority have been the source of complaints and concern; youth and
>families have described violence, neglect, and humiliation as
>regular occurrences. In February, 2004, these concerns were
>validated. A series of expert reports conducted by CYA-approved
>researchers revealed the horrific conditions inside CYA and spawned
>a national media controversy.
>
>Here are just some of the abuses detailed in the reports:
> * youth locked in 23-hour-a-day solitary confinement without
> cause - for months on end;
> * youth locked in four-by-four cages during class time;
> * epidemic violence, often instigated by guards (further
> confirmed by the recent video showing guards beating two unarmed young wards);
> * rampant sexual assault and harassment;
> * abuse of pepper spray and mace on wards;
> * virtually non-existent care for wards with mental health or
> substance abuse problems (8- to 19-month waiting periods for service);
> * shocking negligence in medical care, especially emergency care; and
> * an atmosphere of constant intimidation, fear and violence.
http://www.witness.org/index.php?option=com_rightsalert&Itemid=178&task=story&alert_id=5