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PEF Warned OCFS Commissioner Carrion's Direction Would Be Costly
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by Rhonda J Mangus | July 26, 2009 at 01:36 pm
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New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) warned that the direction New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS) was taking under Commissioner Gladys Carrion would be costly.
The death of Renee Greco, who was brutally murdered on June 8, 2009, at a privately operated group home in Lockport, NY, is said to have raised the final red flag that the state's juvenile justice system is out of control.
Greco was a counselor at the NYS OCFS licensed facility where 17-year-old Robert Thousand and 18-year-old Anthony Allen, are charged with killing Greco to cover-up a $160 theft that occurred in the home.
Greco's murder was not an isolated incident.
OCFS has been moving juvenile offenders and delinquents out of more secure state-run facilities and into communities.
On June 23, a teenager was arrested for a murder committed May 30 in Brooklyn. The teen was in an OCFS aftercare program and was released from a limited-secure residential facility March 30 despite concerns about his release from staffers.
At the end of May, a dozen youths from the privately operated Randolph Children’s Home in western NY, fought with police and staff, forcing authorities to use pepper spray to quell the melee.
And PEF has received numerous complaints from members who work in OCFS facilities, stating Carrion’s changes have created a breakdown in discipline, causing a violent environment where troubled youths assault staff and gangs intimidate other youths.
“Someone needs to be held accountable for these deaths and the way the juvenile justice system in New York has deteriorated,” said PEF President Ken Brynien.
Lawmakers, community members, youth facility staff and police are pointing the finger at OCFS Commissioner Gladys Carrion.
In the last year and a half, OCFS has closed 13 juvenile facilities and downsized three, as a cost-savings measure. Carrion has stated her focus at youth facilities is to promote recovery, healing and growth. Instead, according to PEF members from the Tryon Residential School for Girls in Johnstown, the new method has resulted in a total breakdown in enforcement of discipline and led to increased violence among the youths and against the staff.
“Through her spokesperson, Commissioner Carrion has implied that facility unrest is due in large part to employees’ intransigence to change from a correctional to a therapeutic environment. This is not only incorrect, it is insulting,” Brynien said. “Our members, including teachers, counselors and psychologists, have dedicated their careers to changing the lives of troubled youths. They now find the environment within OCFS is too unsafe and dysfunctional for them to effectively do their jobs.”
Brynien said Gov. David Paterson needs to hold Carrion accountable for her actions and the direction she has taken OCFS.
“Our goals for troubled youths must be balanced by public safety, safety of staff and safety of the youths. These tragic deaths bring us to the conclusion the commissioner has crossed the line.”
Previous coverage on NowPublic by this Author:
Fixing New York State's Broken Juvenile Justice System
Senator Young calls for state investigation into NYS OCFS
Senator Maziarz calls meetings with NYS OCFS "very disappointing"
Greco's murder triggers tough questions for NYS OCFS
Industry professional describes Greco's murderers as "warehoused"
NYS lawmakers push for answers after murder of youth counselor
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Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 13:48 on July 26th, 2009
This is so insulting - "Commissioner Carrion has implied that facility unrest is due in large part to employees’ intransigence to change from a correctional to a therapeutic environment." Talk about passing the buck...
at 13:52 on July 26th, 2009
I think I have to agree, Amy! Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
at 13:52 on July 26th, 2009
Yeah it's another case of it's them not me. Sad.
at 13:56 on July 26th, 2009
Again, I have to agree! Thank you for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation!
at 16:42 on July 26th, 2009
Your an idiot Amy You dont know what the hell your talking about.This woman has wasted millions of dollars of tax payers money and has shown no results.Get rid of her ass now.Oh yeah of course these people are upset about change you moron these people are not "just Kids" they are convicted fellons.People like you dont care until one of your family members becomes a victim of rape,murder,or robbery with a gun or knife.So before you go running your mouth about how poor Gladys get the facts straight.Tell poor Gladys to go back to running the United way that is where real kids need her help.
at 17:14 on July 26th, 2009
The Voice Of reason, you clearly did not interpret the comment correctly. Furthermore, NowPublic has a CODE OF CONDUCT that you are to follow when commenting anywhere on the site. Written verbal attacks upon any individual is NOT PERMITTED. Thank you.
at 09:26 on August 14th, 2009
The Voice Of reason, I am in total agreement with you that the folks who REALLY don't know, DON'T KNOW. They assume! Fact is, Carrion wanted to make changes just for the sake of it being HER changes/WAY! The so-called "sanctuary-model," in faculities, was Carrion's way to attempt to change the line staff's mentality, from custody and control/correctional, to a so-called thereputic environment. This also was her way to justify closing facilities and placing youth in her words, "closer to home." I know, I work at Brookwood Secure, in Columbia Co., and have been there for almost 10 years. When Carrion did come to Brookwood, she hid like a COWARD amoungst her entourage, because she didn't want to face the irate line-staff and counselors, who were incensed at her changes in policies, and her unrealistic outlook, concerning the saftey and security of residents and staff alike. We have convicted felon armed robbers, murderers, arsonists, drug dealers, hardcore gang members. These are sociopathatic, narcissstic youth who will end up in the pennitentiary! They don't give a damn about about therapy, and will victimize to get their needs met. Carrion has unfortunately allowed the genie to get out of the bottle, and the youth in facilities, aren't about to go back to stuucture and compliance, until the "heavy hitters" figuritively, come in and take back the facilities. The rosey colored sunglasses neeed to come off, this isn't a holding hands and singing cumb-by-ya affair, lives are at stake. We have already lost 2 staff, STOP THE MADNESS!
at 14:20 on August 17th, 2009
I also work at Brookwood Insecure center. The "residents" dictate what they will and will not do. If they want to go to class or recreation they will. If not they will refuse without consequence. If a resident does'nt like his unit than he will refuse program untill they move him to where he wants to go. Several of my co-workers have been assaulted. No one comes to work because we are understaffed and if you show up to work you know you will be stuck for 16 hours. Several summer school teachers have quit because the students do nothing in class but talk to eachother about the hood and what gang they are in. And yet they are awarded with free college classes,haircuts once a month,snacks twice a day,a new movie every friday night,social day once every three months where their "shorties" are bussed in on taxpayers expence, for dancing and food. Can my children go to college for free? Hell NO! Crime does pay!!
at 20:27 on August 17th, 2009
To all my Ocfs brothers and sisters; I encourge you all to get intouch with the State inspector general ,and let them know what is going on at your facility.. I have ! The media can only do so much! It is up to us to let them know how things are ..The gang activity,Assualts , Riots and group disturbances ,as well as the staffing levels and injury's.I'm not talking about the little things(with all do respect Mr. Dolittle). . The state will need to address these complaints, but only if they are made by us!! And to the branches of government in the state . This can be done by E-mail as well, as a phone call . Pass this on to all your Ocfs brothers and sisters .
at 08:43 on August 27th, 2009
In a scathing report/fact-finding body, the US Justice Dept. Civil Rights Division, has named 4 OCFS juvenile detention facilities-Louis Gossett Jr., Lansing, Tryon Boy's( residential centers), and Tryon Girls maximum-secure, as facilities, where resisents were being abused by staff (Dec 07). The staff involved, at least at Tryon Boys (latest info), were arrested for endangering the welfare of a minor/child abuse. How IRONIC/BLATANT, what's NOT in the findings, the increasing number of staff assaults, the deaths and rape of staff, the number of staff out of work on worker's comp, as a result of being injured during restraints, and the amount of money paid out in overtime, in all OCFS facilities, PER MONTH. If there is to be a report, aimed at shifting blame from Carrion' s incompetence, to the line staff attempting to maintain some type of control, within the guidelines, at least bring out ALL THE FACTS, pertaing to ALL the facilities statewide! Bottom line, the report is one-sided and appears to be politically motivated. If the staff in question, went outside the established policies and procedures, then they jepordized the saftey of the youth they were supervising, and their future/freedom. On the other hand, when a youth spits blood on staff, and has the potential to contaminate with HIV, Hepititis, or God knows what-ever, throws a chair, or comes at a staff with a broomstick, then the very health and lives of staff, and their family members are in jepordy. This is simple, the youth is out of control and needs to be restrained per your own policy, Ms. Carrion! YOU authorized us to do this in YOUR documented policy you endorsed! Fact is, the majority of staff don't come to work to brutalize youth, and I personally find it an travesty/insulting to "broad-brush," in a report and in the media, that all we as line staff do is beat the crap/ send a message of physical abuse, to youth in our charge! The feds, do indeed need to take over/oversee all the facilities, but not at the expense of the staff (lose our jobs!) We didn't create this MESS, Carrion, and her buttkissing lackies did, by being unrealistic, dilusional, and unreceptive to the realities, of the day to day situations staff and administration have to deal with. COME ON, this is not rocket science, address the concerns and frustrations of the folks on the front lines, we are not cannon-fodder! WE HAVE CONCERNS. Carrion dosen't care what our concerns are, this is why OCFS/DJJOY is in the predicement it's in, this is why Gov Patterson, and all his cronies WILL BE OUT, come the next election! CSEA President, Mr. Donahue, where are you, why haven't you come to the rescue of the staff in facilities? Sitting in your plush executive chair, smoking a fat cigar, as the head of the union, you are not representing US, the one who diligently, pay union dues, how about we cut you off fat cat, the excrement is rancid, and we the linestaff in facilities, are submerged in it, SOMEBODY throw us a lifeline!