Originally published January 2 2006
California senator threatens to take action against state's juvenile prison program unless reforms are quickly made
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, heads an initiative to enact reform of California's juvenile prison system by cutting funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation unless officials begin a more serious effort to improve the system.
The state senator most critical of California's troubled youth prisons suggested Monday the Legislature could restrict funding to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation unless its top officials consider stronger reforms to the juvenile system -- or even shut it down.
The department spelled out in a 140-page report last week how it intends to build smaller prisons and put more offenders in rehabilitation treatment programs, but Sen.
``Last year we left the budget alone,'' Romero told prison officials Monday at the Senate Select Committee on the California Correctional System, which she chairs.
``The reorganization of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is over,'' Romero said.
Youth prisons chief Bernard Warner defended his reform proposal, which would limit living units to 38 youths where as many as 80 are currently housed, and consider moving female offenders out of the system.
On July 1, the corrections department underwent a major reorganization; Gov.
Schwarzenegger appointed Warner to take over the juvenile justice division, a position, Romero noted Monday, that still needs confirmation from lawmakers.
Warner finally apologized, saying he was ``not trying to be cagey,'' and added, ``I think we can look at our options for our population.''
Warner also said his reform plan calls for converting the notorious N.A. Chaderjian -- a youth prison in Stockton with a history of violent incidents -- into a specialized treatment facility.
About 20 children, teenagers and young adults affiliated with Books Not Bars, an Oakland organization, attended the hearing in black T-shirts with ``Close CYA Prisons'' spelled on the front.
Several in attendance, including a mother whose child died at Chad, addressed the senators.
Zachary Norris of Books Not Bars took to the witness chair facing Romero, as if to testify directly to her.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml