COALITION AGAINST INSTITUTIONALIZED CHILD ABUSE
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Family Speaks Out on DJJ Abuse

April 29, 2007
By Joanne Greene

Mark Caldwell spoke to New Times about his son Justin's claim that staff at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna beat him unconscious. The incident prompted Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Walt McNeil this past Friday to fire the acting superintendent and an officer at Dozier, a high-risk, secure residential facility for 162 boys ages fourteen to 21. The incident was caught on videotape.

Caldwell relayed from his son the following account of the February 11 incident, which Justin said occurred because he briefly hesitated after being ordered to sit down.

"[Staff member Alvin] Speights kicks Justin's feet out from under him, taking him to the floor on his back," Caldwell said. "Speights then puts his hands around Justin's neck and begins beating his head into the floor. Justin starts to fight back, so Speights tells other staff to turn Justin over on his stomach. When they get Justin on his stomach, Speights again begins beating Justin's forehead into the floor. They stand Justin up and walk him towards a steel table. Justin tells them he feels dizzy and then collapses into the table and onto the floor. He was unconscious."

Justin was transported to Jackson County Hospital and treated for lacerations to his forehead.

DJJ spokeswoman Kim Griffin said Speights and his supervisor, acting superintendent John Tallon, were fired for violating standards of conduct. "Let's put it this way," she said, "when you see the tape you'll understand." The video is scheduled for release this week. — Joanne Green

 

 

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