Father needs help to expose his son's abuse in the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice - Read boy's diary exposing abuse

Justin Caldwell, an 18-year old boy, has been incarcerated in the Florida Juvenile Justice System since he was 13. What was to be a 12-15 month stay in a residential treatment center to help Justin turned into a 5-year nightmare.

Another child, Christopher Sholly, had very similar experiences. Please see his diary below.

Also, see the article about sexual abuse that occured at Dozier.

Lastly, information that was found on MySpace from someone who allegedly works at Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys.

_______________________

Letter from father:

Please help me and so many others who have children in the Fl. Department of juvenile Justice system, here are copies of emails that I have just sent to Florida Gov. Crist and the FBI, also I have sent copies to the White House, Fl.Senate, Florida DJJ, Florida state Department of Justice, and others etc.

I am starting to get responses back and some are helping, they are starting an investigation March 6, 2007. The Aurthur G. Dozier School For Boys needs to be investigated, the staff abuse the children they are supposed to help, then file false reports tocover tracks and sometimes file charges on boys that committed no offense just to cover up or get rid of them and pass them around to other detention facilities to keep Federal money in Florida department of Juvenile Justice hands, it creates jobs for the abusive animals who are paid to care for our children these are adolesant teens who are already trying to cope with alot of other issues let alone abuse.

Any help at all would be appreciated!!

Thank you for your time!!!

Sincerely, Mark Caldwell

My address personal info is included in this email, and here are 2 links:

http://www.justice4kids.org

http://www.caica.org/Horrors%20of%20the%20white%20house.htm

The 2nd link shows what a man is capable of doing to a young boy and it still goes on,just in other ways!

Again Thank you!!!

_____________________

Dear Mr. Crist,

My son is currently in Arthur G. Dozier School for Boy's he has been incarcerated since he was 13 year's old, he is now 18 years old, my son is being abused as are other's, by staff member's at Dozier, they are falsifying report's and have gotten by with it until now, because I am getting involved, this is an attempt to get your help on this matter, before I seek it elsewhere. There needs to be an investigation, there are many witnesses. The latest abuse of my son included his head being repeatedly banged on a concrete floor 2 time's in 1 week, the 2nd time he lost consciousness and was taken to Jackson County hospital in Marianna Fl. and received a cat scan. There are witnesses to both incidents, of course the staff say he banged his own head on the floor, but ask where the tape is from ISP the night of the second incident, 10 to 1 they do not have it. Now of course there's the superintendent Mr. Timothy Justice, who will definitely butter it all up real nice, I see right through him, he is a liar, Period.There are too many incident's to list, and a lot of false report's, again, this is an attempt to get your support on this dangerous matter, and I will prove it with or without your support, because I will go on up, however, I would rather have your help, I want help!

My only child in this World is in Dozier being abused by the one's who are paid to help him. He should havealready been home but staff member's keep antagonizing him into more time, and nothing else better happen to him,{my son} or I will not stop until Dozier is shut down.I hope you find this to be a serious matter Sir, and thank you for your time!

My son's name is Justin Caldwell and my name is Mark Caldwell, sincerely the same!

______________________

Thursday Feb 22nd 2007


MY CHILD IS BEING ABUSED

FBI :To whom it may concern,

My name is Mark Caldwell, I am the father of Justin Caldwell who is being mentally and physically abused at Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna Florida.He was originally incarcerated at the Elaine Gordon Treatment Facility for Boys, in Broward County Florida for a treatment program lasting for 12 to 15 months this was at the age of 13 [ 2002 ] after approx. one year and an arm broken by a staff member he was transfered to Dozier where he is still incarcerated.

While at Dozier he has had his face smashed into a door by Mr. Miller a staff member who also threatened to kill him twice.My son has been " Choked Out " which means choked from behind until he looses consciousness so many times he does not remember. He has witnessed the abuse of other juveniles as well, and approx 3 weeks ago he had his head banged repeatedly on a concrete floor on 2 different occasions the 2nd of which he had to go to Jackson county hospital for a Cat Scan because he lost consciousness.

The first incident happened in the dinning hall when Justin brushed by a staff member named Mr. Wooten who became irritated and took Justin to the floor put his hands around Justin's neck choked him and began banging Justin's head on the floor, because it happened in the dinning hall there are many witnesses, and a staff member Mr. Spears later told Justin that Mr. Wooten used excessive force.

The 2nd incident occurred in Roosevelt Cottage when a staff member by the first name of Albert ask Justin to stand up, then said are you going to sit down Caldwell, to which Justin replied you just asked me to stand up sir, the staff then grabbed Justin by the throat and kicked Justin's feet out from under him, taking Justin to the floor with his hands around Justin's neck, him being Albert the staff member began banging Justin's head on the concrete floor, staff member then got off of Justin, when Justin stood up he said he felt dizzy and fell into another staff members arms.

He then remembers waking up in the middle of the floor and he heard a staff member ask Albert if he was scared this is when staff was called to take Justin to the hospital.There are many things that happen like this at Dozier frequently, and there are witnesses and there is also a staff member named Latoya Terri that witnessed an incident and the falsifying of reports and she has been fired.

There are to many incidents of abuse to write about you need to talk to Justin Caldwell and the other youth at Dozier. My son and the other youth at Dozier are supposed to receive help and this is abuse instead and it is criminal to treat our children this way!

Please help my son!

Mark Caldwell
Email : caldwell7233@gulftel.com
Phone : 251-947-9477

_________________________

Well my son Justin Caldwell went to court today for his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty, and refused a public defender, which is what I wanted him to do. They set his next court date for April 10th 2007 in Marianna Fl., on the charge of "battery on a detention staff", when in fact the detention staff, Mr. Wooten assaulted my son, now I need help with an attorney, my son is innocent of this cover up charge, and not an attorney from Marianna fl. I believe they are with the judge, or buddy,buddy, my son also said they said he would be facing 5 more years if found guilty, so I need help, my son told me the judge was already shaking his head and saying, no, no, no, when he tried to speak!!!

Sincerely Mark Caldwell

________________________

DIARY FROM CHRISTOPHER SHOLLY

http://justice4kids.org/Documents/Christopher%20Sholly/Diary-Sholly.htm#02/08/2005_Aurther_G_Dozier_School_for_Boys_Another_attempt_to_mess_with_my_time

02/08/2005

Aurther G Dozier School for Boys
Another attempt to mess with my time Aurther G Dozier School for Boys, Marianna FL

Today, Ms. Harvy tried to set me up. She tried to get tobacco dip planted on me. She sent a group of offenders over to me on the rec field. I and Anthony Johnson were sitting under a tree talking. The offenders she sent over to us to post up around us, were: Williams, Brown, McClain, Hammonds, and Nolen. They came around us, and surrounded us. Williams and McClain went behind us poking around on the ground. They dropped something on the ground, then picked it back up and said, "YEAHHHHHH we got you... what this??? I said, "I don't know, what is it?" They all went running over to Ms. Harvy and told her they got it, that we, Anthony and I had it (the dip). This happened around 5:00 pm. Ms. Harvy said, "SHOLLY, YOU HAD THIS???" I told her "NO, I didn't", what is it???" For one, I don't use tobacco in any form, and two, this is just another attempt to mess with my time in a program, and get back at me for telling my Mom about all the abuse they were doing.

06/2003-07/2005

Jackson Juvenile Offenders Center
Dozier ADULT JAIL
Please someone HELP ME

I arrived at JJOCC and the first thing the doctor does is take me off all the meds. I still had to start this program ALL over again too!!! JJOCC is a year program!

I start feeling better physically, and able to think more clearly. The staff there were kind and helpful. This was a TOTALLY DIFFERENT setting here. I felt safe for once. Mr. Odom was a really great staff member and senior supervisor there, Mr. Singletary, and Warren Reeves both Administrators, were kind and helpful to me. Mr. Odom did Navy duty with my father, and knew our family. Small world. I did very well there. This is a State owned facility, not privately run.

In Oct-Nov of 2004 I was transferred to Aurthur G Dozier because there was two or three boys over at Dozier that were flight risks, and they needed to be put in a more secure facility, so I was transferred with ALL MY CREDITS EARNED THIS TIME, and only had till January of 2005 till I was to come home!!! Of course now you all know that NEVER happened.

I started seeing abuse and called my Mother to let her know what this place was doing, and she called in all the abuse [hot line]. Pretty soon I had staff on my back and constantly harassing and provoking me. I was falsely accused of hitting Mr. Wilson, and sent to Adult courts. I ASK YOU NOW, WHY WOULD I HIT ANYONE WITH ONLY 20-30 DAYS LEFT BEFORE GOING HOME? I want to get on with MY life, I want to finish High School, and I want to go to college to be a LAWYER!!! WHY?????????? WHY??????? Can't they let me just go home?????

I was told by my public defender that there was nothing he could do to defend me!!! My mother had more then enough evidence proving that all this is in retaliation for reporting abuse. I just turned 17 on April 23, I've never been able to play sports in high school, never been to a dance, have not seen my home in almost 4 years, and now I am sitting in Jackson County Correctional Center Adult Jail for something I did not do!!! I've been beaten physically so much in my time in custody by total strangers, and very big men, then I have ever endured. I can't take anymore of this, and sometimes feel like I just want to do my self in!! This is NO way for anyone to live. I got into an argument with some adult and got in a fight with him in the same cell block, crazy man. Now I'm sitting in Confinement till Aug 2!!! Please someone HELP ME!! MY mom now can't even help me cause they sentenced me as an Adult. I'm not an adult, I'm just a kid, I want to be home with my family.

I'M SO SICK OF ALL OF THIS!!! HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!! PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!!!!!!

01/29/06
Message to DJJ employees

Yes, my son, Christopher Sholly, is now home but bears many scars physically and emotionally. These Scars are from Acne on his face that was never treated while in custody, he has teeth that need fillings because they neglected to give proper dental care, he is emotionally hurt, and an angry person right now. He was attacked on a daily basis while he served at Indian River Correctional for something he never did. You see, he was accused of hitting a staff member, yet the tape came up missing! At the time he only had approx 20 days left at Arthur G Dozier but since Ed Leeks was close to retirement, he didn't want anything to blacken his record.

Christopher would call me from Dozier weekly and report the abuse that he had witnessed by staff members there. I then alerted DCF, and of course, they made sure Chris was out of Dozier by having him charged as an adult, so he couldn't report to me what was actually going on there. He received 1 year for it, in an adult facility for young men. He was hit in the back of the head by another inmate there with a combination lock, and they neglected to put stitches in it, and he needed them at that time.

This nightmare in 2002 for our family, and its still a nightmare for Christopher. He has been denied any rights. Rights of obtaining an education, the right to go back to school. He has nightmares every night when he is sleeping.

I have one warning to you staff members that see fit to mistreat and hurt our Children in your care: I will find you and see justice brought to you. I am one angry Mother, human being, and am appalled at this State. You Staff, all of you, make me sick coming on here and airing out work-time dirty laundry. Who cares who is sleeping with who??? Who cares if you have to deal with an ass of a boss. Your job is to supervise the kids in custody, and not beat up on them or mistreat them and play head games.

How would you like it if someone treated your own children that way?? What would you do if someone broke your child's arm??? Get over yourselves already. Racism is horrible in these places. My son said that when he was in one of the facilities in route to come home, the staff were walking around with little red balls in their pockets, symbolizing racism KKK. They were beating up the black inmates for no good reason. Then in other places, he said that the Black Staff members would beat up the white inmates for no reason. What the hell is this madness, and who do these people think they are????????

There will one day be a complete judgment on all of you that hurt and abuse your fellow man and children, and I hope it is very soon! Another boy died... well, this seems like the norm now a days in these places. I hope to God that the parents of that child sue this state for everything that its worth, and imprison those responsible for it. Please Parents, if your child has been a victim.. PLEASE call. ~Dawn Chase DawnChs@aol.com 850-983-6777

01/29/06

Christopher Sholly
No. 127087
Department of Corrections
November 2005

Diary compiled by Dawn Chase, Christopher's mother.
Christopher Sholly can be contacted at cantbetouched319@yahoo.com

03/04/2002 Greenville Hills Academy The lawn mower
03/10/2002 Greenville Hills Academy I am not going to give up
09/09/2002 Greenville Hills Academy I will be home soon I know it
10/06/2002 Greenville Hills Academy Yes, he has marks on him
10/08/2002 Greenville Hills Academy I'm going to beat you to a pulp
11/17/2002 Greenville Hills Academy Get him the hell out of there
11/18/2002 Okaloosa Youth Development Center It's a money making business
02/08/2005 Aurther G Dozier School for Boys Another attempt to mess with my time
06/2003-07/2005 JJOC Dozier Adult Jail Please someone HELP ME

07/19/05 DOC Lake Butler I have not lost hope

07/22/05 DOC Lake Butler Thinking of you all always
07/30/05 Postscript
01/29/06 Message to DJJ employees
01/29/06 YAHOO discussion group
02/05/06 Hello..Im christopher sholly
02/05/06 RE: "DJJ's policy and procedures are catered to baby the criminals we call kids..."
02/05/06 "...you can just feel that something bad is about to happen"
05/23/06 Greenville Hills Academy - Post script
Case Study-Christopher Sholly

03/04/2002
Greenville Hills Academy The lawn mower
I was sent to Greenville Hills Academy.
I was sent there for violating probation, and I violated by trying to commit suicide, I am 13 years old at this time. I regret trying to do this now.

When I got to Greenville Hills Academy, I was beat up by the Staff that worked at the cottage, Merit Cottage. I have no idea why the staff beat me up. I was scared and confused. I did the only thing I could think of, I kept my mouth shut and stayed to myself. Well, the next morning I got up and seen some bad things. I seen one boy, by the name of Tylor Clarry, being hit by the staff. I seen other youths being abused also. I went to school and took some tests.

When I went back to the cottage, the staff somehow found out that I could not read or write at the time. The Staff's name was Mr. Jones. The staff started calling telling me to read the posters on the wall, and I couldn't do it. I told him "I can't read that." He grabbed a dictionary and told me to look up a word. I forget what the word was, but I think it was "medical". I took the dictionary and began flipping through the pages. I did this for close to ten seconds before Mr. Jones grabbed the dictionary out of my hands and threw the book on the table and called me stupid and retard. He told me to go and stand in the corner until he told me to sit down. I said "NO", and he said if I didn't do as he told me, he would beat me up. I didn't want to get my tail whooped again, so I did it.

All throughout the day the staff messed with me, called me a white piece of sh**, and poked names and cussing at me. After about 4 days on, another boy kept trying me, so we fought. After the fight, the staff grabbed me and dragged me into a back room, no camera's there. It must have been a weight room cause there were weights in it. The two staff threw me up against the wall and got in my face and said, "why the f*** did you fight, this is my house and I don't take no sh**!. "They both were yelling at me and spit was flying into my face. I was not worried about the yelling, I was worried about them beating me up.

After they were done yelling at me, they threw me on the floor and jumped on my back and held me down. They grabbed my arms, legs, and hands, and restrained me. They bent my legs over my back, all the way until the tips of my feet touched the back of my head. One staff was pulling my legs, the other pulling on my head. The position they put me in was widely called "the lawn mower". It hurt so bad, I thought I was going to pass out.

After they were done, the staff punched me and kicked me a few times each. All the while, I was laying on the ground crying and pleading them to stop. But they wouldn't stop. All throughout my days at Greenville Hills Academy, I went through hell. This that I am going to write below are the things that the staff used to do to me and others there; The Staff used to beat us up everyday. They used to only let us have around a minute of two to eat our food. [This is evident as my son had a significant amount of weight loss while there. DC]

They used to make us wait a very long time to use the rest room,. If we used the bathroom on ourselves, the staff would make us wash our clothes out in a five gallon bucket and no gloves with cold water. Most of the kids there used the bathroom on themselves, because the staff would make us hold it for so long. I, came close to using a number 2 on myself at school. The staff wouldn't let me go to the bathroom. I begged her for like ten minutes and she finally let me go to the bathroom.

The staff used to mentally abuse us as well. They would call us names, and make fun of us. They used to tell us that we youths would never be anything in life.

03/10/2002
Greenville Hills Academy I am not going to give up
As I said during my stay at Greenville Hills Academy, it was hell everyday. I heard nothing but Staff yelling and screaming at us kids, beating up on us, slapping us in the back of the head.

This boy Tylor Clarie had to use the bathroom and the staff would not let him! He held it for an hour and then at the end of the hour he used it in his pants and the staff made him sit on the floor for an hour and a half in it, it was number 2!

I was sitting at this table and these two boys were doing sign language and I was watching them, and I started to do it to. The staff saw me and started to yell at me, I tried to tell them what I was doing, and then Mr. Jones told me to stand up and I did, then he told me to sit back down, when I did, he yanked me up by my shirt collar and threw me against the wall. Then he was choking me and threw me on the ground and pushed my face onto the tiled floor, and sat on me for twenty minutes. Then he got off me and told me to lay completely flat on the ground.

This boy Justin Groover was horsing around and the staff made him stand in the corner for three hours.

The kids in the program are only allowed to take take a number 1 (urinate) two times a day, and you are only allowed to take a number 2 one time a day. You are only allowed to get three drinks of water a day. You have 2 hours of physical training, and if you mess up while your doing it, everyone has to start over again. When you go to dinner, lunch, and breakfast, if you talk at all you have to stand in a corner for half the time you have to eat, until everyone is done eating. When you get out of the corner you only have ONE minute to eat and if you don't eat at least half of your meal you get in to BIG trouble.

When you get back to the cottage, you have to stand in the corner. You only have three minutes to take a shower and if your not done in the three minutes you have to stand in the corner naked. You have to wear a sweater ALL day no matter how hot it is. When we have bathroom breaks you only have 15 seconds to go to the bathroom, and only two minutes to take a number two.

After you get done with 2 hours of PT you only have five seconds to get a drink of water. If you take longer then the five seconds you have to stand in a corner or sit in a chair with your hands on your knees looking straight ahead. If you prop your foot up on a desk in school, you either have to stand in a corner or sit in the chair looking straight ahead with your hands on your knees. If you do something wrong, they will take you back into room and restrain you by making you lay on your stomach with your hands behind your back while they bend your legs toward the back of your head. They will do it for 20 -25 minutes. We also only get 2 minutes to wash and brush our teeth.

09/09/2002
Greenville Hills Academy I will be home soon I know it

Dear Mom,
I have been doing good, and I have been controlling my anger and ignoring my peers. Most of the have stopped because I have been ignoring them, I am doing as I am told to do, and love you very much. Today I got 3 bonus days for making Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That means I am on track. I have been here now for 182 days and right now I have 71 and a 1/2 positive days. I did not get any MALS on Saturday and Sunday and I have not gotten in anymore fights, and it seems like the staff have not had to yell at me that much. My Counselor Denise Grahm, told me that I leave in January to come home! If I make 47 days I think I will come home sooner. How are things at home? I have not been able to call home because my Counselor Ms. Grahm has not been here but she is now and I will call you soon. Please write me back. I am going to try to make my days and come home and be good and do everything you tell me to do, and you can call me too if I do not call you. You can only call me one time a week. It has to be before 9:00 pm, or 8:00 your time there. I love you and miss you. I love all of you, love your Christopher. I will be home soon I know it!! and my Counselor said if I can control my anger I might be able to come home before January and I am going to work hard on that. and I meant that.. and I am not going to give up! Love you all, I think of you all everyday, all day. Call or write. Love your Christopher :(

10/06/2002
Greenville Hills Academy Yes, he has marks on him
I received a phone call from my son Christopher Sholly and his Counselor, Deneice Graham.
My son began by telling me a horrific Story of a Guard there, so called "restraining him" and at the same time delivering blows to his back and head with a closed fist, and choking him, leaving marks around his neck and bruises on his arms and various parts of his body. I was able to speak to his counselor, Deniece Graham, and she then confirmed my question of whether or not there were bruises and marks about his neck, and body. Her answer to me was "yes, he has marks on him".

I immediately called and reported the abuse to the Abuse Hot line for Florida's Department of Human Services. The Counselor on the other end of the phone, took the report and a investigator was sent out. My Son was told that his story was typical and hard to believe, because so many kids have falsely accused the staff in these facilities, just to get back at them. Yet he had bruises. I later found out that the HRS/DCF investigator was related to the staff member that hurt my son.

10/08/2002
Greenville Hills Academy I'm going to beat you to a pulp
I made a phone call to my son at Greenville HIlls Academy to see how he was doing. He explained to me that he was taken into Ms. Thompson's Office who is the Assistant Director, along with the Guard that abused him, and was told by the Guard, in his exact words, "If I have to lay my hands on you one more time, I'm going to beat you to a pulp" this Guard was none other then Rodney Baynard the very Guard with the past criminal history, and lied on his employment application, and the very Man that broke my sons arm almost exactly a month later.

I called the Regional offices about this, and by now they were probably sick of hearing about all the abuse I was reporting and nobody believed me. My son was moved to a different cottage to keep him away from this man, Rodney Baynard. I was told that Mr. Tallon would be making a surprise visit to Greenville Hills and he was going to speak to my son. He did in fact do this. My son then told me, that after the visit with Mr. Tallon, he was then taken into a back office of Ms Thompson and told, that "if he didn't straighten up, keep his mouth shut, he would be sent off to another program and have to start all over from day one of his sentencing with no serve time given!" I had begged for months to have my son moved from all of the abuse going on.

11/17/2002

Greenville Hills Academy Get him the hell out of there
Rodney Baynard broke my sons arm.
The doctors confirmed that much force was used to break the arm in the area that was broke. The x-rays confirmed a break on the upper dorsal section of his left humorous, a Salter 1 fracture, near the growth plate. I called Vicki Burnett and told her what happened, and she acted shocked, and asked me "what can I do?, to make this better" I said GET HIM THE HELL OUT OF THERE, like I've begged you to do now for months. I said he NEEDS to come home now, he has been there way too long! She said I can't do that. He was then transferred out of that program in two days, sent to Okaloosa Youth Development Center OYDC in Crestview FL. NO time served or given, both programs were low risk. It took him getting a broken arm to get transferred out of GHA!!! This is what I mean when I say.. LISTEN TO THE PARENTS!!! THE KIDS TELL US EVERYTHING!!! THEY ARE NOT TELLING FALSE TALES!!!

This incident was investigated by the IG's office, and of course the staff say it was all Christopher's fault, and it was an accident. This man was also guilty of breaking two other boys arms and it was just before my son's arm was broke. I believe the assault was on purpose, this man was not even suppose to have contact with my son, as they had moved him to a different cottage, yet why was he able to have access to him? He also threatened to "beat him to a pulp" a month prior. NO ACCIDENT! NO arrest on Rodney Baynard. It was my understanding that Deniece Graham quite working there as well. During the IG's investigation, the investigator had no idea about Rodney Baynard's criminal past record, that was found out by myself, and I then alerted the IG's office in which they did the investigation on him and found all history to be true.

11/18/2002
Okaloosa Youth Development Center It's a money making businessMy Son was transferred to Okaloosa Youth Development Center (OYDC) after the horrible abuse that occurred at Greenville Hills Academy (GHA).

He was made to START THIS PROGRAM ALL OVER! He only had approximately another 47 days left before he was to leave GHA. Faye Finnigan was the Administrator of OYDC and did a fine job while she was there, my son seemed to adjust quite well there with her as Administrator. OYDC is another privately run facility.

You know the longer these places hol[d] a child there, the more money they can collect from the state. Its a money making business, and they are ripping us off. They pumped him back up on meds stating he was mentally ill, without MY permission. Christopher had only one month left there when we got word that Faye Finnigan was transferring down to south Florida area, due to a personal move as well. As soon as Faye Finnigan left, my Son over heard Staff talking and he heard Mr. Robinson say " now these kids are really going to have some REAL discipline, no more babying them!" That's when all hell started breaking loose.

Mr. Winston would try and provoke my son by making snide sexual comments about me and my daughter, Christopher's sister, stating he was going to F*** us both! My son witnessed another youth by the name of Keith Johnson being picked up over Mr. Robinson's head and literally slammed to the floor, twice. My son was then instructed to clean up Keith's Johnson's blood off the floor without the use of any gloves. This "DRAMA" all started after Faye Finnigan left, and Marvin Bliss took over the position. My Son stated that the staff didn't act this way with Ms Faye Finnigan there as Superintendent.

On April 24, 2003 my son and another client were kidding around while putting up their belongings in the closet. Mr. Winston saw them playing, and went over and yanked my son by the arm with such force, that my son bounced off of him. Mr. Winston then proceeded to try and slam my son face first into the concrete floor, and my son grabbed his shirt to stop from getting injured. Mind you he had a broken arm already! Law Enforcement was called in and now Christopher has another battery charge on him, even after the staff stated Christopher did not intentionally try to strike him, but was only trying to keep from falling. Notice now, all of this and another charge AFTER I REPORTED ABUSE GOING ON.

On May 04, 2003 I visited OYDC and confronted the supervisors on duty for the evening shift, and I now know what is happening in OYDC, and if any of them lay another hand on my Son, I will call the police myself and press charges for assault. Of course the Staff there denied any of the accusations. I've talked with other parents and boys that have since been released from this program, and they ALL tell me basically the same stories. Not everyone is lying. Now that the so called "CAT" has been left out of the bag, and people are becoming aware of what actually is happening under Marvin Bliss, MY SON IS NOW BEING RECOMMENDED FOR TRANSFER to another program and START ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!

Marvin Bliss did not want to hear of the things happening in his new kingdom, and was hateful about hearing the accusations, and denied them happening. He wanted Christopher out of there. MY son has had to be transferred and each time, very close to getting out of these hell holes. Mind you as long as Faye Finnigan was in charge of OYDC, there was no problems. Next stop... Jackson Juvenile Offenders Program. Marianna, Florida, two hours away from home.

02/08/2005

Aurther G Dozier School for Boys Another attempt to mess with my timeAurther G Dozier School for Boys, Marianna FL

Today, Ms. Harvy tried to set me up. She tried to get tobacco dip planted on me. She sent a group of offenders over to me on the rec field. I and Anthony Johnson were sitting under a tree talking. The offenders she sent over to us to post up around us, were: Williams, Brown, McClain, Hammonds, and Nolen. They came around us, and surrounded us. Williams and McClain went behind us poking around on the ground. They dropped something on the ground, then picked it back up and said, "YEAHHHHHH we got you... what this??? I said, "I don't know, what is it?" They all went running over to Ms. Harvy and told her they got it, that we, Anthony and I had it (the dip). This happened around 5:00 pm. Ms. Harvy said, "SHOLLY, YOU HAD THIS???" I told her "NO, I didn't", what is it???" For one, I don't use tobacco in any form, and two, this is just another attempt to mess with my time in a program, and get back at me for telling my Mom about all the abuse they were doing.

06/2003-07/2005
Jackson Juvenile Offenders Center gDozier gADULT JAIL Please someone HELP ME
I arrive at JJOCC and the first thing the doctor does is take me off all the meds. I still had to start this program ALL over again too!!! JJOCC is a year program!

I start feeling better physically, and able to think more clearly. The staff there were kind and helpful. This was a TOTALLY DIFFERENT setting here. I felt safe for once. Mr. Odom was a really great staff member and senior supervisor there, Mr. Singletary, and Warren Reeves both Administrators, were kind and helpful to me. Mr. Odom did Navy duty with my father, and knew our family. Small world. I did very well there. This is a State owned facility, not privately run.

In Oct-Nov of 2004 I was transferred to Aurthur G Dozier because there was two or three boys over at Dozier that were flight risks, and they needed to be put in a more secure facility, so I was transferred with ALL MY CREDITS EARNED THIS TIME, and only had till January of 2005 till I was to come home!!! Of course now you all know that NEVER happened.

I started seeing abuse and called my Mother to let her know what this place was doing, and she called in all the abuse [hot line]. Pretty soon I had staff on my back and constantly harassing and provoking me. I was falsely accused of hitting Mr. Wilson, and sent to Adult courts. I ASK YOU NOW, WHY WOULD I HIT ANYONE WITH ONLY 20-30 DAYS LEFT BEFORE GOING HOME? I want to get on with MY life, I want to finish High School, and I want to go to college to be a LAWYER!!! WHY?????????? WHY??????? Can't they let me just go home?????

I was told by my public defender that there was nothing he could do to defend me!!! My mother had more then enough evidence proving that all this is in retaliation for reporting abuse. I just turned 17 on April 23, I've never been able to play sports in high school, never been to a dance, have not seen my home in almost 4 years, and now I am sitting in Jackson County Correctional Center Adult Jail for something I did not do!!! I've been beaten physically so much in my time in custody by total strangers, and very big men, then I have ever endured. I can't take anymore of this, and sometimes feel like I just want to do my self in!! This is NO way for anyone to live. I got into an argument with some adult and got in a fight with him in the same cell block, crazy man. Now I'm sitting in Confinement till Aug 2!!! Please someone HELP ME!! MY mom now can't even help me cause they sentenced me as an Adult. I'm not an adult, I'm just a kid, I want to be home with my family.

I'M SO SICK OF ALL OF THIS!!! HELP ME!!! HELP ME!!! PLEASE GOD HELP ME!!!!!!!
07/19/05
DOC Lake Butler I have not lost hope
Dear Mom, If you recieved this letter, it means that Lake Butler has come and picked me up from the adult jail here in Marianna. They came to pick me up on Wednesday morning around 2:00-3:00 am in the morning. I will call you as soon as I get a chance. I hope that Mr. Schembrie is still sending out the order to place me at JJOCC or Pensacola Boys Base. I have not lost hope!!! The reason I haven't called you in the past week is because a Man in the same pod told me to shut the F*** up and I told him back to shut up. Then the Man stood up and pushed me in the face, and I just couldn't take it anymore, I snapped and got in a fight with him, he jumped me first!!! I didn't want to fight, but had to try and defend myself from him. I just can't believe the way these grown men act!!! Hateful and mean!!! The jailhouse staff put us both in lockdown the whole week. I was waiting for a response from what the staff were going to do. Then Lake Butler came and picked me up. I hope everything is good at home. Did Ryan come home? (Ryan is his brother, my oldest son) I hope he is. How's Tarah and Wayne doing? Is the wedding still in September? (Tarah is his sister, my oldest child age 22 and in college) I feel really down I can't be there for her wedding. I miss you guys so much. But I know all this will be over real soon. When this is all over, me and Ryan can hang out and catch up just being brothers. Me and you can do a lot of art stuff Mom. Me and Dad can go fishing again!! Me and Tarah can hang out and just talk. I'm looking forward to making a lot up, and having a lot of fun with the best family ever to walk the land of earth. I love and miss you so much. I love all of you So much!! I will get in contact with you as soon as I can. This letter should get to you around 3 days. I love you lots and lots. With a bundle of love, Your Christopher

~Christopher Sholly's letter to mom Dawn Chase 850-983-6777

07/22/05
DOC Lake Butler Thinking of you always
Dear Mom, Whats up Mom? Well, I'm at Lake Butler. Its nothing like I expected. Its ok. If you do what the Staff say, you got no problems. I'm doing good. I got a few people here that I know, that are watching out for me. Nobody's messing with me at all. I hope you got my last letter. I miss you so much Mom. I don't know when I'll be able to call you. But as soon as I can, I will. The Staff are ok. As long as I give them respect, they will respect me. Have you heard ANYTHING from Secretary Schembri? I hope so. So, hows everything at home? I been here since the 20th of July. I talk to my classification officer on Tuesday. I'll let you know what happens. I might have to be here for almost a month. But I really don't know yet. How is Tarah doing? Tell her to write me, and give her my address. Mom, I need some money. I have to buy hygene stuff and envelopes, and paper. Please send me about 40 or 50.00. You can send it by Western Union will get it to me the next day. Try to see if you can contact Cathy Corry or Somebody. I love you so much. The food is ok. I'm gaining weight and working on some weights. I got 115lbs up aobut 8 times. I can lift more. I don't know if they are going to send me to another camp or not. But try to contact Mr. Schembri and see about me going to jjocc or boys base. I miss you so much!!! I want to see you so bad, I am about 5 or 6 hours away. I hate it. But I'll be home soon!!! As soon as I get another envelope, I'll write you back. Tell Ryan I love him so much. You have to write the address exactly as on the envelope. Give it to Tarah too and Ryan. I love you and miss you so very much. Can't waite to se you and hang out. If Can, send pictures of Ryan, Tarah, you and everybody else. Only 3 pictures allowed per envelope. Tell Tarah I said happy Bithday, with love and kisses. Oh Mom, the Harry Potter book has come out. Its called Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince!! Will you see about getting it for when I come home? Thinking of you all always, Your Christopher ~Christopher Sholly's letter to mom Dawn Chase 850-983-6777

07/30/05
In regards to my son Christopher Sholly, I want to thank all of you that have listened, and prayed with us about all the corruption in this system to all our children.

Parents, please, please, make yourselves very aware of what is exactly going on with your children!! Encourage them to tell you everything, and please make your voices heard. My voice has not been heard by DJJ. Mr. Schembri did not exercise his full power on saving my son from an adult system. I was told it is VERY rare that kids above age 16 ever get transferred to a DJJ facility after they have been placed in DOC custody. WHY THEN, even have this Florida Statute? Makes no sense. I was told that Christopher will be sent to a facility for youthful offenders. This state has failed my son, and many other children, and something needs to be done about it.

Thank you again for so much of your support, and those JDO's that are truly caring of our kids, more power to you all to stand for what is right, please help with making a difference. I will continue to keep everyone up to date on Chris, and please continue your prayers for him and all the other children that feel so hopeless. :(
~Dawn Chase 850-983-6777
_________________________
Hi Cathy, here is the link to my boy. He looks so scared and confused in this picture. He is breaking out all over!! [
Here is his address
Christopher Sholly DC# 0-127087
North Florida Reception Center
P.O box 628 I-2207
Lower Lake Butler, FL 32054-0628

I'm in tears right now, as I found his information. I just am so lost and feel so betrayed by my own State and this department. I'm going to try and get him some money to him there as soon as I get my check this month. Thank you, Dawn

01/29/06
Message to DJJ employees
Yes, my son, Christopher Sholly, is now home but bears many scars physically and emotionally. These Scars are from Acne on his face that was never treated while in custody, he has teeth that need fillings because they neglected to give proper dental care, he is emotionally hurt, and an angry person right now. He was attacked on a daily basis while he served at Indian River Correctional for something he never did. You see, he was accused of hitting a staff member, yet the tape came up missing! At the time he only had approx 20 days left at Arthur G Dozier but since Ed Leeks was close to retirement, he didn't want anything to blacken his record.

Christopher would call me from Dozier weekly and report the abuse that he had witnessed by staff members there. I then alerted DCF, and of course, they made sure Chris was out of Dozier by having him charged as an adult, so he couldn't report to me what was actually going on there. He received 1 year for it, in an adult facility for young men. He was hit in the back of the head by another inmate there with a combination lock, and they neglected to put stitches in it, and he needed them at that time.

This nightmare in 2002 for our family, and its still a nightmare for Christopher. He has been denied any rights. Rights of obtaining an education, the right to go back to school. He has nightmares every night when he is sleeping.

I have one warning to you staff members that see fit to mistreat and hurt our Children in your care: I will find you and see justice brought to you. I am one angry Mother, human being, and am appalled at this State. You Staff, all of you, make me sick coming on here and airing out work-time dirty laundry. Who cares who is sleeping with who??? Who cares if you have to deal with an ass of a boss. Your job is to supervise the kids in custody, and not beat up on them or mistreat them and play head games.

How would you like it if someone treated your own children that way?? What would you do if someone broke your child's arm??? Get over yourselves already. Racism is horrible in these places. My son said that when he was in one of the facilities in route to come home, the staff were walking around with little red balls in their pockets, symbolizing racism KKK. They were beating up the black inmates for no good reason. Then in other places, he said that the Black Staff members would beat up the white inmates for no reason. What the hell is this madness, and who do these people think they are????????

There will one day be a complete judgment on all of you that hurt and abuse your fellow man and children, and I hope it is very soon! Another boy died... well, this seems like the norm now a days in these places. I hope to God that the parents of that child sue this state for everything that its worth, and imprison those responsible for it. Please Parents, if your child has been a victim.. PLEASE call. ~Dawn Chase DawnChs@aol.com 850-983-6777

01/29/06
YAHOO discussion group
In my attempt to locate all the family's that have had terrible problems with DJJ abusing their children, I've started a yahoo group. If you are a parent, or a concerned citizen, please feel free to join. This group is for the parents, JDO's that have witnessed abuse, and also anyone that is a representative of DJJ. You may find it here http://groups.yahoo.com/group/abuseinfloridadjj/ ~Dawn Chase DawnChs@aol.com 850-983-6777

02/05/06
Hello..Im christopher sholly
Christopher Sholly Diary entry:
Hello, I'm Christopher Sholly. Yes, I am home now and well. I want to tell a little about what I have been through in life..so people can know of the dangers out in the world. I have been through many DJJ places and have been to prison..i have been beaten and beaten, locked away in cells that were cold enough to make my feet, hands and face blue. I have been there where many kids are at today. The things that I had to go through were not right, I did not, not ask to be treated the way that I was.It was not right for them staff members and C/Os to treat me the way they did. It was wrong. No person deserves to be treated like that..i have seen many things as well. I have seen many things in DJJ and in DOC. The way the staff erase or turn off the cameras. the way they beat up the kids, the way they take the kids mail and throw it away , the way the staff would take pictures of kids mother and rip it up and throw it away. Yes, it's true that they do this. I have seen it with my own eyes and I have had it done to myself.

I remember one time when I had my release papers ripped up right in front of me. It tore my heart apart to see that. I have also been charged with false charges.

I remember when a staff restrained me and beat me up, and then went and said that I had hit him. That's what they do, they go and beat up the kids and then they say that the kid hit them by swinging back or something just to get the boy in deep trouble. When a staff member finds out that you are about to go home, they will pester you and mess with you and beat you up to make you so angry and lose your chances of going home. They get a thrill out of seeing you not be able to go home and be with your family. The staff abused me physically, emotionally and mentally. They will do anything just to make your life horrible. The staff don't care if you go home or stay there. They want you to not go home. I have been jumped by staff, and by the other inmates. You know why the inmates jumped on me? it was because the staff made them do it. They didn't want it to happen but they knew that if they didn't do it, that they would get beat by the staff. I have seen and experienced so much.

I have had nightmares of past moments of staff hitting me over the back with a metal chair. A staff hit me over the back with a metal chair when I was on my hands and knees on the floor. It hurt so bad. Then he kicked me in the head. It hurt and it felt like my life had ended when I was in those places.

The way I was treated made me feel unalive. It made me feel like I was trapped in a spiders web. I was the victim in the web, trapped by the sticky web. The web was the place I was at and the spider was the staff. That's the way I felt. I could feel the hate and the danger around me. I knew that at anytime a staff could walk up behind me and just kick me in the back or punch me while I was walking in line and that did happen to me and to others. I understand and know what it feels like to be treated like a slave, to be tortured and feel like you are in hell. I have been through the hell on earth.

I will have more to type but that is all for now. If you have any [questions] or comments you may email me at cantbetouched319@yahoo.com . Thank you... ~christopher sholly

02/05/06
RE: "DJJ's policy and procedures are catered to baby the criminals we call kids..."
After reading what my Son, Christopher Sholly has gone through, and reading about the boys that have died in custody, you post this idiotic statement?

Obviously you live in a fantasy world, and know NOTHING about what goes on behind the closed doors of these facilities. Read the facts and the stories of the parents and the children that have had to deal with DJJ before you open up your mouth. For all I know by your statement, you could have been one of the staff that hurt my boy! My son was treated far worse then any murderer or rapist, or robber... he was 13 years old when this nightmare began, and he was sent to DJJ for fighting in school!! NORMAL KIDS STUFF!!! It was a bad behavior that should have been given to the parents to deal with, not taken and thrown in DJJ for it!!! He is now 17 years old and just came home for good on Dec 23rd. My son's release papers were ripped up in front of him while he was at that first program Greenville Hills Academy by Mr. Damian Choice. Then when Rodney Baynard broke my sons arm, there at Greenville Hills, DCF WAS called in... guess who the investigator was? Sheila Choice... Damian Choice's sister or reletive!!!!!!!!! There were other relatives working there as well that knew workers at DCF. No wonder the State Attorney never got the report on Rodney Baynard, and the incident was blamed on Chris, a little guy at the time of only about 113 pounds, against a man that was over 200 pounds.

Since my son has been home, things are starting to come out now, names are being named. ~Dawn Chase DawnChs@aol.com 850-983-6777

[Re: 02/04/06 DJJ's policy and procedures are catered to baby the criminals we call kids...]

02/05/06
"...you can just feel that something bad is about to happen"
I am Christopher Sholly.
You know how when you are in a place and you can just feel that something bad is about to happen? Well, could you imagine having that feeling for 4 years ? I did have that feeling for 4 years and it didn't feel good to have that feeling because most of the time the bad thing was going to happen to you.

I remember names of staff at GHA and at OYDC and at Arthur G. Dozier School, and in DOC. First of all, the prison facilities that I was at are: Indian River CI; Lancaster CI; Lake Butler; and CFRC. Those are all the prisons that I was at and boy, did I see something in those places. The names that I can remember of Staff at GHA that abused me and other youths there are as follows: Mr. Jones, Mr. Choice, Mr. Williams, Mr. Mactear, Mr. Baynard, Ms. Dickie, Ms. Hopkins, Mr. Blue, Mr. Joseph, Ms. Thompson, and many more that I cannot remember at this moment. There was so many that would beat us and make us do PTs for hours and hours, while wearing sweat pants and sweat shirts, in 90-100 degree heat, when we did PTs (physical training). We would have to do it for hours, like 3 to 5 hours, if we messed up, we were taken to a back room and then beat up...and restrained, then we were thrown back outside and made to PT again over and over again.

I remember that one time I was throwing up from doing so much PTs, and when I stopped to bend over and throw up, I was kicked in the butt by a staff known as Mr. Choice. I fell over and rolled on the ground, still throwing up, and then he came over and yanked me up by my shirt and tossed me on the ground. I was small at the time, and this man was huge. He was yelling at me and telling me to keep on Running around the field.

I was having trouble doing this, so he got even madder and started to kick me in the side. He then called another staff over and they took me into the back room with weights in it, and they threw me around and punched me and threw me up against the wall and then they put me into the LAWN MOWER. It hurt so bad. I passed out and they woke me up and told me to get outside and start running again. They told me that if I told anyone or called abuse that they would beat my ass and hurt me. The other staff's name was Mr. Jones. When we did PTs, there was no breaks, or getting any water, or using the rest room they even made boys with Asthma do the PTs.

We were running up and down a big steep hill one night and I seen a boy named Tyler Clarry stop at the top of the hill and start to throw up and try to get his breath, and then I seen Mr. Williams kick him in the butt and made Tyler fall over and roll all the way down the hill, getting skinned up. Then Mr. Williams beat him up right outside. We were the only cottage outside at this time of night, so he wasn't worried about being seen. So he just beat Tyler up and then made him run again. There was a lot of kids being beat up that night, including me.

They made me stand up in the corner all night until the next morning. I fell over while standing in the corner, because I was so tired, and you know what happened to me, I was yanked up, and thrown up against the wall and beaten.

After that, the staff choked me. His name was Mr. Joseph. Then he made me go into the bathroom, and he got a small bucket and filled it up with cold water and threw it all over me, in my face and all over my body. He did this like maybe 5 times, 5 buckets full of water, freezing water, thrown all over me. He then made me clean up the water on the floor and then he made me stand in the corner again, still all wet and cold, and very tired.

I had to go through so much, so much pain. I wanted to just die sometimes when I was in there. I felt that if I died, I would escape HELL and go to heaven, and all the pain would go away. The pain that they gave me lasted for a long time, and it is still with me, in my memories and in my dreams, and physically.

This is all that I will write for now. But I will be back and I will tell more. Thank you.

If you would like to contact me, you may at cantbetouched319@yahoo.com thank you very much.

Please, if there is an Attorney here on this board, please contact us at 850-983-6777. I want to stop other kids from this abuse and horror. ~Christopher Sholly cantbetouched319@yahoo.com 850-983-6777

_______________________
November 21, 2006
School aide charged with sex abuse
Alleged victim is sent back to Marion in wake of the investigation.
BY JOE CALLAHAN
STAR-BANNER
OCALA - In February, when a Marion County youth was 15, he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a girl his own age and was sentenced to serve 13 months at a Marianna high-risk facility called the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys.

Four months after he arrived at the Jackson County facility, a female teacher's aide first began performing acts upon herself as he sat alone beside her in the classroom, according to a Marianna Police Department report.

During the summer after the boy's 16th birthday, the 28-year-old woman pulled him into a classroom closet and performed oral sex on him, an arrest affidavit states. The aide later would send seven explicit letters to the boy, promising more sex.

The first six letters were put in the boy's file but disappeared within 24 hours of their discovery. A seventh letter was intercepted, however, and sent in September to the Department of Juvenile Justice, which launched an investigation.

The DJJ immediately found the allegations serious enough to bring in the Marianna police and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Friday, the Chipley Police Department arrested the aide, identified as Sheretha Lavone Paramore, 28, of Chipley, on a warrant charging her with lewd and lascivious conduct, lewd and lascivious exhibition, and unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Paramore could not be reached for comment.
"We immediately investigate any allegations of abuse," said Tara Collins, DJJ spokeswoman, acknowledging the state agency is investigating how its employees handled the situation. "I cannot discuss specifics."

The boy, whose name is being withheld because he is the alleged victim of a sex crime, was transported Monday back to Marion County and is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. today before Circuit Judge Carven Angel. The judge will decide where the teen will serve out his sentence.


The boy's parents were relieved Paramore was arrested.

"We're glad they did decide to transfer him back to Marion County," said the boy's mother. She said it wouldn't be fair to keep him in an institution around employees who were under investigation and could retaliate.

The relationship between Paramore, a Washington County teacher's aide, and the boy came to light when someone mailed the DJJ one of seven provocative letters.

The juvenile facility where the incident occurred sits in Jackson County, but the Washington County School District operates its educational programs.

Washington County Deputy Superintendent of Schools Mike Welch said Paramore remains on paid leave until Dec. 11, when the school board "will choose suspension without pay or termination."

According to police reports, investigators interviewed the juvenile, who acknowledged receiving sexually explicit letters from Paramore, letters that detailed past acts and planned future acts.

The incidents occurred between May and September. Marianna police Lt. Francis Davis said that even though Paramore was arrested he has not closed his case.

"We still have not completed our investigation," Davis said. "There's a lot I can't tell you about right now. It is still under investigation."

The DJJ also continues to investigate other employees.

Investigative reports say Dozier's staff failed to file an incident report about intercepting the provocative letters. They were placed in the boy's file by a cottage overseer but disappeared within 24 hours, the arrest affidavit states.

The relationship was uncovered by a house parent, who sent authorities a copy of the letter and hid the original letter until investigators arrived "because of the disappearance of the other six letters," according to a police report.

Though Marianna police and DJJ officials will not discuss whether other employees are under investigation, the boy's security plan gives some insight. The plan was issued on Oct. 23 by Dozier Superintendent Timothy Justice. It was developed to keep the youth protected during the investigation.

After stating in the document that an investigation was under way, Justice wrote: "There have been several DJJ employees mentioned and all have been removed from any contact from the youth at the facility."

The boy's removal from Dozier came a week after his parents, who live in Silver Springs Shores, argued that their son was being retaliated against by DJJ employees.

Justice did not return phone calls for comment.

"We finally were able to talk by phone with DJJ officials who agreed that he needed to be moved out of Dozier," said the mother, referring to DJJ Regional Director John Tallon and other ranking supervisors.

"It took several phone calls last week, but we succeeded in getting him out of there," said the boy's father. "We just want him to be in a safe place."

Senior Reporter Joe Callahan may be reached at joe.callahan@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4113.

________________________

Article re drugs and Dozier:

http://www.ablechild.org/newsarchive/child_advocates_fear_drug_danger%206-20-04.htm

Child advocates fear drug dangers
By Megan O'Matz
Staff Writer
June 20, 2004

For years, attorneys who represent children, along with parents and some legislators, have said that too many juvenile offenders in the state's custody are prescribed potentially dangerous antidepressants and other mental health drugs.

Children's advocates say they fear some youths are medicated to make them more docile and easily controlled while in Department of Juvenile Justice programs.

Their concerns were heightened in March when the federal Food and Drug Administration asked manufacturers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Serzone, Wellbutrin and other antidepressants to include a warning label stating that children taking the drugs should be watched closely for suicidal tendencies.

The Department of Juvenile Justice did not issue advisories to make their program operators, guards and medical professionals aware of the increased risk of suicide linked to the antidepressants, even though 80 children attempted suicide within the department in the first six months of this year.

Department spokeswoman Catherine Arnold said the child's physician or the program's licensed medical provider is responsible for weighing FDA pronouncements.

But some critics contend that the department needs to take a greater role in evaluating whether children in its custody are properly diagnosed, treated and monitored for adverse side effects.

A strict policy proposed within the department in early 2003 to better regulate the administration of psychotropic drugs was never fully implemented. Records show that department leaders received complaints from program providers that the policy was too burdensome and costly.

On any given day, the Department of Juvenile Justice does not know how many of the roughly 8,500 children in the state's more than 150 detention and residential programs are on prescription drugs for mental illness, department spokesman Bob Finch said. That information, he said, is kept in each child's medical file but not reported to Tallahassee.

The only study that has been done indicates the number could be large. Nearly half of the 1,031 girls and 21 percent of the 5,278 boys in the department's residential programs were taking some sort of mind-altering prescription between November 2002 and April 2003, the department reported in a federally funded review. It did not look at the state's detention centers.

Broward Juvenile Court Judge Larry Seidlin said some young offenders write to him, saying they don't want to be on psychotropic drugs. Seidlin said he sets up hearings to review their concerns. Some of the youths, he said, appear "sort of in a semi-coma."

Walter Honaman, Team Child project attorney for the Legal Aid Service, Inc. of Broward County who represents delinquent girls, said he has seen children on the wrong medication, on too much medication and taken off medication improperly.

"There are some kids who end up in the system, and they're probably on more medication than they need to be," he said. "It's in part because the facilities' staff want compliant and sedated children."

Dr. Robert Wray, psychiatrist at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys and Jackson Juvenile Offender Correctional Center in Marianna west of Tallahassee, two Department of Juvenile Justice programs for 1,000 teenage boys, agrees that too many children within the department are put on psychotropics.

"Unlike many of the DJJ facilities I hear about, our facility here is very conservative," Wray said. "For literally 15 years, we've been, at first, routinely taking all boys off all psychotropics when they come in. Now we just have a philosophy of me seeing them first before we discontinue the medication. But we almost always discontinue."

Wray said most of the boys they observe were prescribed medications without a proper diagnosis.

"As far as we're concerned, the use of psychotropics in the community ... is grossly abused," he said.

Among those calling for greater accountability is state Rep. Walter "Skip" Campbell, a Tamarac Democrat who has pushed the Department of Children & Families, which provides foster care, to address the same issue.

"It seems the same questions we have asked of DCF should be asked of DJJ," Campbell said. "Because you don't want to overmedicate these kids to the point they become zombies and to the point that they have suicidal events."

In November, DCF Secretary Jerry Regier told a Senate committee that one of every 10 children in DCF custody -- about 5,100 kids -- are on drugs to treat depression, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. About 550 children age 5 and younger were prescribed potent medications such as Valium and Ritalin.

In response to the FDA warning, DCF sent an alert to its mental health and child welfare staff. The department also set up a "MedConsult" hotline through the University of Florida's College of Medicine to provide free advice on psychotropic medications to physicians, judges, caseworkers and foster parents.

Legislators this spring, however, turned down bills that would have authorized the University of Florida to create a Center for Juvenile Psychotropic Studies that would collect and track information on how many juvenile delinquents and foster children are prescribed psychotropics.

"All we were trying to do was gather what we considered was accurate information to be able to come up with good public policy," said Ocala Republican Rep. Larry Cretul, the legislation's sponsor in the House. A companion piece in the Senate also stalled.

Cretul said some legislators objected to amendments that prohibited school personnel from recommending psychotropics for children and DCF and DJJ officials worried that the bill would pose added costs to the agencies to collect the desired information.

Cretul said the Department of Juvenile Justice's lack of accountability from its contractors is "somewhat scary."

A strict policy for psychotropic drug use that the department considered implementing in the winter of 2003 would have required operators of detention centers and residential programs to monitor the dosage and side effects of drugs regularly, justify the use of one or more drugs in writing, obtain written permission from parent, and inform parents over the phone by a physician of the benefits and risks of the medication.

The potential side effects of psychotropic drugs, according to the aborted medication policy, include in part: depression, tremors, irritability, increased appetite, anxiety, slurred speech, drooling, vision problems, chest pain, crying and hallucinations.

Records available through the department's Web site show that the proposed regulations generated widespread complaints from some operators of the state's juvenile lockups. Among their objections: it would be too costly and cumbersome to force doctors to call parents.

"Our contracted medical professionals have already informed us that this responsibility is not a requirement and that they do not have the time to make all these calls (and in several instances have told us they won't do it)," Peter Plant, a vice president of Securicor New Century, a private juvenile corrections company that contracts with the state, wrote in response to the department's solicitation for public comments. "Even if they agreed, the additional costs would be considerable."

____________________

This was found on a public MySpace account that has since been changed to a "private" account:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=66764805

Ash's Companies
Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys
Marianna, Florida US
Chief of Security Operations
Operations
1997 to Present

Ash's Blurbs
About me:
Call me "lewy" and I'll Bitch slap you into oblivion!!

Feb 23 2007 12:55P - post from friend:
Hello!!! WE are coming home this weekend!!! So I am getting drunk at work right now. I told momma I smoke, she actually took it very well.