Injuries in Md. Juvenile Justice Facilities Spike in 2008
In response to a restraint programming change in late 2007 newspapers are reporting that — Injuries in Maryland Juvenile Justice Facilities Spike in 2008. http://somd.com/news/headlines/2008/9036.shtml
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that based on an 88% increase in the number of injuries and a 20% increase in the number of assaults that staff might be just a little slow to intervene using the restraint programming change that let to the spike in injuries and assault rates in the first place.
Now administration is blaming staff stating that staff used the correct technique but the technique was ineffective and the workers were simply overpowered by the boy who started the disturbance. Exactly how is the administration’s failure to provide adequate training a “staff failure?” http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/displayUpdate.htm?storyID=91197
Related Story:
Maryland’s biggest juvenile facilities face high levels of violence, large escapee incidents and monthly overtime budgets of over $100k.
Eleven escape incidents involving 30 youths, including the most recent at Cheltenham Youth Facility in August, revealed poor security and staff supervision, according to a report by the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit, an independent unit hired by the state to oversee the state’s Juvenile Services Department.
The report read, “It is this monitor’s judgment that the amount of overtime being worked by staff jeopardizes staff health and efficiency and, as a consequence, endangers the safety and security of youth within the facility.” The high level of violence indicates that 144 youth cannot be housed safely at BCJJC.”
Even after the monitor made its recommendation, overtime has continued to slowly increase from 2,793 overtime hours, costing the state $77,812, to 3,415 overtime hours costing almost $105,000 monthly.
Tags: juvenile dangerous, maryland juvenile escapee, maryland juvenile violent, physical restraint, prone restraint