Studies on the Abuse of Youth in Correctional Facilities... Thoughts... Input? You Tube Video

["Cruelty and Death in Juvenile Detention Centers"; as submitted to You Tube by ChelsMarie1111;  December 07, 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eH-TvwbJPlI]

On page B2 of today's [1/8/2010] "Daily Freeman", there is an Associated Press article titled "Report:  Sex abuse high at juvenile centers."

According to this report, based on a recently released government study, in thirteen different juvenile detention and/or correction centers, approximately 1/3 of the incarcerated youth "reported" suffering some form of sexual abuse and/or "victimization" - as perpetrated by staff and/or other youth.

Whereas, on the national level, a recently released Justice Department study found that approximately 12 percent of institutionalized youth [state-run, private and/or local correctional facilities] "reported" suffering some form of sexual abuse, as perpetrated by staff and/or other youth.

All of which would seem to beg the questions:  "What is better...  an abusive family system or an abusive institutional system?" 

Or, better yet, "What the He** is going on?????"

Aren't the staff in such places being screened to the max for prior abuse and/or criminal histories?  Aren't the youth in these facilities getting the supervision they should be?  Has our youth correctional system been covertly [through neglect, cover-up or collusion] allowing this sort of activity to go on?

We have mandated reporters - in regard to child abuse - and that is good.  But if a troubled child gets sent to a facility [whether it is a a temporary shelter, a foster home and/or a correctional facility] - does this "mandate" suddenly [inside of the institution] somehow "disappear?" 

If not, how could these stats climb so high?????

Approximately one out of three... 

Approximately 12 out of 100

Pretty bad, I'd say...

Even more so when one factors in the fact that a lot of youth - according to a number of studies - never speak up about being abused...

And even those that aren't directly abused [this, according to studies related to abuse in the home...] are quite likely - at some level - to know something is going on - and live in chronic fear of it happening to them.  [In an institution a youth in such circumstances might adopt a "tough guy" and/or "crazy" persona - and/or join a gang - in an attempt [quite likely self-defeating in other ways] to stay safe...

Why do youth get sent to correctional facilities?

Chronic truancy.  Petty theft.  Shoplifting.  More serious crimes.  Reasons as noted in the video above...

What do these youth leave "correctional facilities" [especially those that have suffered traumatic abuse within the institution] with?

I've often pondered the dilemma that is presented to the caring person and/or mandated reporter when it comes to abuse issues - because, although these are apparently the latest studies - and just address correctional facilities - this sort of abuse scenerio has been noted as a problem in youth facilities - of all types [including some foster homes] - many a time.

Making one wonder how much incentive there is [generally speaking] for those that are aware of these tragic stats - to report suspected abuse [neglect and or abuse is often a factor for acting out youth already...] - when one fears that the same youth one is trying to get "help" for [if abuse is indeed discovered] might well be sent to live in an abusive institution and/or to an institution that covertly - whether intentional or no - harbors abusers?

Any thoughts on this? 

NS

Fire in Ward 5 - Correction - Questions - Thank You

Photo [Filter Experiment] by NS

According to today's "Kingston Times" a woman and six children / youth [the "Freeman" count on this was three children/youth] were left homeless after a blaze devoured their home on CJ Cole Lane (Ward 5, near Pine Grove Avenue and Summer Street).  Updates [as to how one might be able to help out, if so inclined]  are hopefully pending.  So far the numbers I have accessed for the Red Cross have not been valid.

????? 

This was a very serious fire with the potential for even greater damage - and it would appear that something might need to be done in regard to fire hydrants and/or street width / other safety factors in this area...

I'm not up on fire codes and such - and I don't claim to know much about how calls / responses such as this work...

But I do know that Summer Street - all of Summer Street [two blocks plus?] was totally shut down to traffic for a few hours - that neighboring houses must have been at high risk - and that the firefighters themselves must have been [one was reputedly injured] at high risk.

There is a also a residence that I believe services Cerebral (sp?) Palsy clients located close to where this fire occurred - which brings up additional safety issues and such...

Kudos to the Fire Department personnel involved. 

This question is to you and well as to anyone else...

What would have made your job in this instance safer and easier for all concerned?  Is another hydrant needed?  Stronger water pressure to the hydrants? 

Are there other issues?

Just asking.

This seems like a disaster that could have easily become a much worse disaster...

NS

Fire in Ward 5 [Revised] - Governor Paterson's Webcast 2nd State of the State Address - Blogs, Blogs, Blogs...

Christmas 2009 / Photo by NS

Revised:  According to today's "Daily Freeman", seven people, including three children / youth were displaced as a result of the intense fire in Ward 5 yesterday.  These folks are being assisted by the Red Cross - and I hope to generate a list of the families needs [give me a couple of days...] so that folks can help them out if they so choose / are able.

If anyone is interested in holding a fundraiser of some sort, I am willing to provide free music / karaoke / children's entertainment [in some sort of public venue] for the occassion.

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To watch a webcast [live] of Governor David Paterson giving his 2nd "State of the State Address" - please check in at www.ny.gov/governor at 1PM today.

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I have added a collection of blogs and links to my list - and I will return later to sort these out and remove [if necessary] anything that I find offensive.  More may be added.  Alternative viewpoints - as long as respectful - will be kept. 

Bear with me.  This will be somewhat time consuming.

Thank You,

NS

Freewrite - 2009 - 2010 - Inventory Taking

The Snowman, The President, Santa Claus and The Mouse

Photo by NS

Last year, around this time, I had just finished playing host [with the assistance of MoveOn.Org] for President Barack Obama's local Inauguration Party at the Kingston MuddyCup [a wonderful success!] --- which is now [the Kingston MuddyCup] approximately a year vacant --- and apparently pegged [despite being practically across the street from Rite Aid and just up the street from the up and coming (new) Walgreens...] to become yet another Kingston [no dealers on these corners... lol] drug store.

Last year, around this time, life was tough.  It was cold.  Santa had apparently gone "bottoms up" during his treck through the City skies... 

And, as always --- "the tax man cometh" --- bearing higher rates for the majority of City of Kingston homeowners --- and promising nothing [except for the opportunity to file grievances, which many did...] --- at all.

Hope was in the air though. 

Hope - for some of us - was in the air.

So we did our homework; grabbed on the back of that sled and did a few loop-de-loops; joined activist organizations that supported the Obama Administration and/or our local citizen groups...

And filed those grievances...

For better [usually] or for worse [?].

After all, life is - to some degree - what you make it.

Fun is - to some degree - what you make it.

But it still hurts when you fall...

It still hurts when you fail...

And it still hurts when it (ouch, ouch, ouch...) hurts...

This year, President Barack Obama is no longer a novice...; Santa Claus held his own a "wee bit" better; the snowman lost his theatrical lighting abilities and got his head filled with old pillow "stuff"; and the mouse [never overly talented in any respect] surely needs [and will receive] a bath...

Is this "our moment?"

What got better in 09?

What got worse in 09?

What did you do [it could be as simple as planting a flower...] to try to make a positive impact  in 09?

What might you [I've already beat myself up...] have done better? 

What about 2010?

Ideas?

Potentialities?

Goals?

Dreams?

Hope?

I'm just writing "Stream of Consciousness" kinda' stuff this am...

But taking ones personal inventory is always a good idea --- and it would most likely be a positive undertaking - for groups - business enterprises - and government bodies [don't ya' think?] as well.

After all, in the past --- when the snowman lost his twinkling spinning lights --- I would have trashed him.

But minus his plug [safety issues...] - head stuffed with old pillow fiber (making use of an aged out pillow, as well) he (the snowman...) still looks pretty good...

As does - to me - the rest of the "crew." 

[We really need to remember that 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (which was like skiing downhill on ice at breakneck speeds...) preceded 2009....]

NS