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http://www.berkeleydaily.org/text/article.cfm?issue=05-16-06&storyID=24152
Berkeley Daily Planet
www.berkeleydailyplanet.com
www.berkeleydaily.com
Edition Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Commentary: Behavior
Modification Facilities Are Not Safe
By Robert Reynolds (05-16-06)
The nation was recently shocked by the beating
death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson in a Florida boot camp.
Sadly, this is not the first case of a death occurring in a
“behavior modification” facility; in fact, there have been three
deaths in such facilities throughout the country since December
2005. Although the camp that Anderson attended has recently been
shut down, many similar ones are still in operation throughout the
country.
You’ve probably seen people from these programs
on daytime TV. They’re the “drill sergeants” that yell at kids until
they break down (at least that’s all they do on live TV). They say
that their version of “tough love” is completely safe, and
effectively treats problems such as defiance and drug use. The
evidence shows otherwise.
One hundred and nineteen deaths have been
reported due to treatment received in these facilities. Many are
caused by asphyxiation due to the use of restraints. These are not
typical handcuff restraints, as you may be thinking. Some of these
cases have involved arms being twisted behind the back to the point
of breaking and staff members lying or sitting on top of the child
for upwards of 30 minutes. Restraints are commonly used to punish
such horrendous offenses as talking out of turn and making eye
contact with another student. It should be noted that restraints
have caused at least 30 of the 119 deaths.
First-hand accounts from students and former
staff members of these facilities are equally disturbing. Their
statements and experiences make these facilities seem less like boot
camps and more like Abu Ghraib. Stress positions, beatings,
hog-tying, humiliation (including making students soil themselves),
and sexual abuse are among the charges.
Fox News ran a three-part expose last year on
one of the main groups of facilities that operates under the name of
WWASPS, or World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools.
The former president of WWASPS admitted under oath, in WWASPS v.
PURE, that abuse “probably” happens. In the same court case the
current president of WWASPS, Ken Kay, stated that most allegations
of abuse are not investigated. He further explained that because
these children are not the typical “college prep type,” sexual
relations between staff members and students may not constitute
abuse. For those who doubt this, the court transcripts are available
at www.isaccorp.org. Much of the other information given above can
also be verified at that site, as well as at www.caica.org.
With all of this
information readily available, one would think that the government
would be investigating these programs or would have legislation
regulating them. However, despite requests from Congressman George
Miller (D-California), the Justice Department has refused to
investigate. Senate and Congressional hearings have not been held,
either. How can steroid abuse in professional baseball warrant a
Senate hearing while the deaths of 119 children and the abuse of
many others is completely ignored?
These facilities are not safe, plain and
simple. Until there is some form of oversight, the abuses will
continue, and the death toll will rise. If you know of a child
enrolled at one of these facilities, do everything in your power to
get them out. Their life may depend on your action.
Robert Reynolds is the president of the
National Youth Rights Association (www.youthrights.org).
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