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Date: April 30, 2024 Tue
Time: 2:59 am
Time: 2:59 am
Results for sexual assault, juvenile inmates
2 results foundAuthor: Calvin, Elizabeth Title: Against All Odds: Prison Conditions for Youth Offenders Serving Life without Parole Sentences in the United States Summary: Currently, more than 2,500 inmates in the United States await death in adult prison, sentenced to life without parole for crimes they committed while they were under the age of 18. Youth offenders serving life without parole enter prison with developmental needs for protection, education, and other services in order to be able to fully mature into adulthood. Yet youth offenders are among the inmates most susceptible to physical and sexual assault during their incarceration, are often placed in isolated segregation, and are frequently classified in ways that can deprive them of access to rehabilitative programs. The United States is the only country in the world with youth offenders serving life without parole sentences, in violation of international human rights law. Against All Odds details the strong evidence that youth offenders serving life without parole are imprisoned in conditions that violate fundamental international human rights law and standards. Based on information from corrections departments across the country and hundreds of youth offenders serving life without parole, the report documents how states fail to protect youth offenders from physical assault and sexual violence, to administer adequate mental health care, or to provide access to age-appropriate services and programs. Despite the fact that the length of their sentence and their youth upon entering adult prison make growth and rehabilitation extraordinarily difficult, some youth offenders sentenced to life without parole do achieve emotional, intellectual, and personal transformation in prison—an extraordinary fact given the hurdles they face. Human Rights Watch calls on the US government to abolish the sentence of life without parole for crimes committed by persons below the age of 18 and to investigate and improve conditions for youth offenders imprisoned across the United States. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 10, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0112ForUpload_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/us0112ForUpload_1.pdf Shelf Number: 123546 Keywords: Juvenile DetentionJuvenile InmatesJuvenile OffendersLife Imprisonment, JuvenilesLife Without ParolePrison Rape, JuvenilesSexual Assault, Juvenile Inmates |
Author: Moss Group, Inc. Title: Systemic Assessment of the Texas Youth Commission’s Sexual Safety Reform Strategies: Final Report Summary: The leadership of the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) engaged The Moss Group, Inc. to assess the application of reforms related to sexual safety that have been implemented over the past three years. Specifically, The Moss Group reviewed the policies, practices, reporting culture, trends, and operational issues related to the prevention, detection, and response to sexual abuse. The outcome of this process was the identification of the strengths of the reforms and the recommendations for further improving the overall sexual safety of the youth under TYC’s supervision. During site reviews of nineteen facilities - ten secure institutions and nine halfway houses - consultants spoke with staff, youth, contractors, volunteers, and advocates and observed operations on all shifts. Overall Findings -- Based on our review, The Moss Group consultant team concludes that the many reform efforts implemented by the agency to ensure sexual safety as a result of Senate Bill 103 and House Bill 3689 have significantly increased the sexual safety of the youth under the care of TYC. Staff and youth with whom The Moss Group consultants spoke have all acknowledged that (1) they understand the zero tolerance for sexual abuse, (2) reporting mechanisms are institutionalized and understood, and (3) immediate responses to all allegations of sexual abuse represent the agency’s policy and commitment to the safety of youth. TYC leadership has placed a high priority on the elimination of sexual abuse in the secure facilities and halfway houses, which is reflected in the culture of each facility. Our team observed consistent and ongoing efforts by the facility leaders to ensure that all staff is trained in their responsibilities for responding to allegations of sexual abuse and that staff value the importance of creating an environment where youth recognize their rights to be free from all forms of abuse. Throughout the course of the project, The Moss Group recognized TYC’s commitment to promptly enhancing operations as demonstrated by their continual improvements during the five month assessment period. Some of these corrective actions or initiatives were influenced by our work and others were a part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to the implementation of best practices. Implications of Facility Culture -- Our assessment process took into consideration the interrelated issues throughout the system, integrating a number of data sets and sources of information. We looked beneath the formal systems that are in place throughout the agency (e.g., policies, procedures, and what is in writing) and considered the individual characteristics of how things operate at the local level. Gaining an understanding of the informal practices and the values and beliefs of both staff and youth enabled The Moss Group consultants to have a deeper understanding of how the reform efforts are taking root at each facility. The importance of shaping staff culture as a strategy for creating safe environments for youth and staff is foundational to sustaining the positive changes realized by the reform efforts. As such, each facility’s strengths and challenges must be taken into consideration as the agency reform transitions into models of best practice in all areas of operations. Details: Austin, TX: Texas Youth Commission, 2010.; 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2012 at: http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about/TYCFinalTMGReport_111910.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.tjjd.texas.gov/about/TYCFinalTMGReport_111910.pdf Shelf Number: 124927 Keywords: Juvenile Detention Facilities (Texas)Sexual Assault, Juvenile Inmates |