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| Report Finds Host of Problems at New Conn. Juvenile Detention Center |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 07/05/2002 |
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Connecticut's new $57 million juvenile detention center opened only 10 months ago but already has so many problems that staff and youths no longer feel safe, a new state report says. The Department of Children and Families, which runs the Connecticut Juvenile Training Center, released the report June 24. The agency concluded that the center has programs in disarray, severe staff shortages and inadequate clinical help for children. The report says children essentially are being warehoused until they are released, The Hartford Courant reported. DCF Commissioner Kristine D. Ragaglia said the 240-bed facility probably would not qualify for a state license if it were run by a private group. State Child Advocate Jeanne Milstein and an independent consultant previously raised concerns about many of the same problems. The consultant said the school was ''unsatisfactory.'' Since the school opened, eight ounces of cocaine were found in a bathroom, a teacher was fired following an allegation that he sexually abused a 16-year-old boy and a third of the staff recently voted to express no confidence in the superintendent. DCF has already adopted several of the recommendations in the report, including the creation of a consulting team and advisory board to address some of the labor and management problems. The DCF report was based on a two-month review that included onsite observations on all shifts as well as interviews and surveys of administration, staff and youths, both past and present at the school. The report found that: *The majority of the staff and youth do not feel safe from harm *Staff morale is low and staff has little confidence in the current leadership to correct existing problems. *Clinical and therapeutic services, including substance abuse treatment and individual, group and family counseling, are lacking. *Training is poor. Staff members claim they were not thoroughly trained in crisis intervention, behavior management and use of restraints. *The school's mission has not been defined. Staff members are not sure whether the school means to be a prison or rehabilitation facility. |
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