|
|
| New violence at youth jails causes alarm |
| By Baltimore Sun |
| Published: 02/23/2004 |
|
A 16-year-old boy in state custody at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center I Maryland was severely beaten last month by five other youths who continued to kick him in the head and face after he fell to the ground "defenseless," according to state police records. It was the second incident in a week to come to light in which a youth was assaulted in a state juvenile detention center. Police said that four staff members at the Cheltenham Youth Facility in Prince George's County were charged with holding down a 17-year-old and striking him repeatedly on Nov. 30. The Cheltenham incident was not disclosed by the state Department of Juvenile Services until 2 1/2 months later, after a state police barracks issued its own news release. The department did not disclose information until last week about the Jan. 29 Baltimore attack, in which five youths were charged as adults with attempted murder. The Baltimore victim was taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center with severe head and torso injuries and a broken leg, according to police charging documents. He has since been returned to the detention center, Juvenile Services officials said. The center's shift commander and another staff member suffered minor injuries attempting to break up the attack. "Our staff jumped on the boys as soon as it happened," said department spokeswoman LaWanda Edwards. "We feel very good about the way it was handled." Edwards said the department, which has been criticized over persistent detention center violence, doesn't routinely alert the public to such incidents. Department officials acknowledge that they have asked state police not to release information about their investigations of such violence without consulting them first. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think