NYS OCFS: "A culture of brutality" at Tryon

Very important story.  Troubling,  indeed.

Very troubling and very important, I agree. Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation, smkovalinsky!

In spite of the US DOJ's investigation, on the three limited facilities and girl's secure center, the glaring fact remains that staff are being assaulted, murdered, and raped at OCFS facilities, without even a comment from Carrion the Commissioner. She endorsed the restraint policy and the changes, concerning when staff are authorized 3 (THREE) instances to use physical restraint. I work at Brookwod Secure in Columbia Co., why is it that with all the staff assaults there, and the alarming number of residents refusing to move, or lockdown when directed, Carrion is not coming to the forefront on this and remains indifferent? The number of vicious and malicious gang assaults on peers, and the total disregard for rules and compliance is increasing daily. Take at look at all the staff overtime, and staff out on workers comp, as a result of being injured while PROPERLY CONDUCTING A RESTRAINT. The inquiry is biased and one sided at best, and dosen't relfect the "real issues not only at Brookwood," but all the facilities statewide. As a line-staff who interacts with youth daily, I don't have the mindset to brutalize youth, and the majority of YDA'S (youth division aides) don't want to be the subject of child abuse/ maltreatment charges. This is our livelihood, unfortunately, we are not supported by Carrion and her cronies, and CSEA, the local union. The general public isn't aware that even those youth, that are tried as adults, in criminal court for murder and armed robbery, if under the age of 18, are considered children as it pertains to child abuse. One of my fellow YDA's had his nose fractured, after being struck with a chair, from a 6ft 2 inch 280 lb youth, who happens to be 15 years old. It takes at least 4-5 staff to restrain this individual. The youth happens to be on the mental health unit, and is severely mentally ill, with the mindset of a 6 year old. How do we as staff, contain a struggling and resistive youth this size, without being physical? I hope the feds do come in and oversee OCFS facilities, surely it will be vastly better than the current PASSIVE and very LIBERAL current state of affairs. I didn't sign up for this job to be assaulted physically by these punks, and I'm not going out on a stretcher either(TRUST ME). At one point, we had 6 youth in the Columbia Co. jail, for either assaulting staff or other youth. Everytime I turn around, the OCFS Ombudsman/GESTAPO,  resident legal folks are interrogating a staff, and are looking for inconsistencies, even though there are cameras and recording devices throughout both buildings.The MSP/lockdown unit is a thing of the past since the "pacifier givers" did a tour of our facility. These are dangerous juvenile criminals, who don't give a damn about the next victim, very few when released will lead productive, crime free lives, most will end up in the penitentiary, or dead (FACT). I am not advocating any abuse whatsoever, from anyone, however how do we contain and control these youth, without being labeled by Carrion as "intransigence". This is a insult and a travesty due to Carrion's unrealistic and dilusional perceptions, that's right I said it!  Carrion has has the "reverse midas (mythical Greek mythology) touch," the more changes in facilities, the worst situations become. She has skillfully and willfully, shifted focus on her inadquacies and lack of facility operational expertise (absolutely NONE) to staff not doing things her way. Anyone not on board with her, is terminated. Her  staff (DJJOY) are buttkissing lackies, and are in lockstep with her even though some way not be in agreement with her. THE MADDNESS CONTINUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     

CARRION RUNS THE CHILD ABUSE REGISTER MUCH THE SAME WAY-- THROUGH INTIMIDATION AND WITH INCOMPETENT  SYCOPHANT MANAGERS WHO WILL NEVER CHALLENGE HER, PLACING NEW YORK'S VULNERABLE CHILDREN AT RISK.  OCFS NEEDS AN ENTIRE OVERHAUL OF MANAGEMENT STAFF--HOPEFULLY OUR LEGISLATORS ARE LISTENING AND  IT WILL NOT HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER TRAGEDY TO GET THEIR ATTENTION. 

WOW is what I have to say...Ruben Hughes u said it all ...thank u! I also work in a facility and what a joke....yes thats what it becomes. I wonder when the first juvenile delinquient dies at the hands of another youth, in one of these facilities, whose fault will it be? Let me guess........a YDA for failure to foresee the problem coming. This is what it comes down to blame it on the YDA and the way things are ran. Well Let me tell you something when I sit at staff meetings and listen to the b.s. on how we r supposed to do things NOW as opposed to THEN basically we r held resonsible for every situation . We r supposed to be mental health professionals ,ydas and mind readers. And if we fail to foresee an upcoming disaster with a youth we can also be held accountable. The administartion has no clue they r trying to cover their own butts by putting it in writing that pretty much we r responsible no matter what happens,WHY because they have no clue what they r doing. I have watched a grown man that works at our facility restrain a 15 yr old for having an arm around another youths neck, while he was doing this we had 12 other youth yelling to the yda to let this youth up,. one was within 6 inches of the ydas head,  this yda feared for his life and for his safety at this time while protecting another youth.

Here I go again, in an attempt to dislodge and wake up the (cockroaches) at ocfs hdqts. The latest article I read about the linestaff (YDA's), is that we are resistive to change, due to us " not being particularly well-educated,"  in other words, we are big dumb knuckle-dragging gorillas!This is in reference to a Time magazine news article, referencing juvenile justice, and in particular NYS, and the comments made by Carrion. Dosen't that just beat all common sense, blame all that has occurred in statewide facilities, on staff, who are incapable of comprehending past the sixth grade. Collectively, we should all be appalled at the finger pointing. I said this from day one, where are the shotcallers when there are crisis at facilities, and why haven't they been addressed in a"grass-roots forum? Why, because ocfs hdqts dosen't want to hear from us peons and insignificants, and also because the "headshed folks," happen to be buffered with layers of other folks, who may or may not handle such "trival" matters. The latest at my facility Brookwood Secure, Columbia Co, the Commission on Corrections (COC), is coming through soon, there's a flurry of activity as everyone is running about, with their heads cut off in an attempt to "spruce up the joint." The front entrance step, that hasen't been repaired in at least 3 years is finally being fixed, OH WOW, isn't that special. WHAT ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL MANAGING OF THE FACILITY, AND THE PROBLEMATIC CRIMINALS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH DAILY. FORGET ABOUT WHAT COLOR TO PAINT ALL THE DOORS!!!!!!!!!!!!! If at least, secure facilities come under correctional mandates and standards, it could be ABSOULUTELY NO WORSE THAN IT PRESENTLY IS. Hell, who knows, we might even be better off. A decision has to be made on the restraint policy, and what staff are authorized to do, without any "Monday morning quarterbacking" and second guessing, from the buttkissers and suckups. The current policy on restraints is contradictory and full of vagueness, SPELL IT OUT IN LAYMEN'S TERMS FOR US not well-educated folks.