4/9/2004:The California Youth Authority (CYA) has long been known to be a disaster of violence and abuse of authority. Several recent events have created a public outcry that could force changes.
In January, two 18-year-olds were found hanged in their cells. The families of the two teenagers filed suit against the state for "denying mental health care and treatment and education to its wards." On April 1st, a video (realmedia | mpeg) was released by a state senator showing an incident in January in which "one youthful inmate at a facility in Stockton is repeatedly pummeled by a correctional officer and another is kicked, after they were subdued and on the ground".
On April 8th, activists and community members rallied (video: 1 | 2) to demand that California Attorney General Bill Lockyer file criminal charges against the guards in the videotape. They are continuing a spring campaign calling for the closure of the CYA with an Alameda County town hall meeting on April 14th.
Books Not Bars | Center on Jouvenile & Criminal Justice | Former Inmate: CYA Is No Mystery To Me | Read More About the CYA on the Indybay Police State Page