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| State juvenile prisons taking action |
| By Arizona Daily Sun |
| Published: 03/22/2004 |
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In the wake of a CRIPA report, officials with the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections have been scrambling to make the appropriate changes to the state's juvenile prison system. The officials are also working to assure the state's juvenile court judges that the juvenile offenders sentenced to prison will be safe and receive appropriate services Patti Cordova, spokesperson for ADJC, said the recently appointed director, Michael Branham has been meeting with the judges. "We are developing a way to provide the courts information regarding the children they commit to our care," she said. ADJC will be providing individualized treatment plans and periodic updates on the progress of the youths, Cordova said. The director also agreed to provide updates on CRIPA corrective plans. The emphasis will be on "more communication." Cordova outlined the corrective measures taken to date: Physical renovations to two-thirds of the inmate "cottages," or living quarters. The renovations include changing furniture, door hinges, vents, and other components so juveniles intent on suicide do not have anchor points. Total expenditures so far: $1.3 million. Cordova said ADJC started the renovation with the highest-risk cottages -- mental health, intake, substance abuse. ADJC will be continuing renovations. Training on suicide prevention. All direct care staff are to be trained in suicide prevention, Cordova said. "All direct care staff now carry 911 fanny packs," she said. The packs have first aid equipment and an "extraction knife." "So if a youth is committing self-harm, we can react immediately," she said. Internally, a restructured investigations unit. Cordova said ADJC now has an investigations and inspections unit, with a retired law enforcement officer heading the unit that is separate from the administrative function of ADJC. The new unit's first order of business is opening all cases of sexual or physical abuse going back three years to see if the cases have been completed to final disposition, Cordova said. Project Zero Tolerance. The project is a system-wide declaration that ADJC will no longer tolerate any form of abuse. The project also makes it easier to report incidents on the Web, by phone, and even has access to the cell phone of the director. Cordova said ADJC is aware of the oversight task force appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano. "To have an outside body as oversight to our agency, we do welcome that," she said. "We are opening our doors to that." The task force is set to start work in April, Cordova said. Cordova said ADJC is taking the federal recommendations outlined in the CRIPA report seriously, and will be not only making corrective measures, but will be working on future actions to better Arizona's juvenile prison system. To concerned parents with children in or going to ADJC, Cordova said, "We are making tremendous strides. We are not fully there yet, but we have a new director who has set a wonderful tone and direction of standards of professionalism. We are moving in the right direction so that the children are safe, secure and receive the appropriate treatment." |
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