CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY SUED
By COLLEEN VALLES
.c The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Disability and prisoner-rights advocates sued the
California Youth Authority on Thursday, alleging it inhumanely treats
juvenile and young adult wards of the state.
Between 6,000 and 7,000 wards, age 12 to 25, live in the system's 11
facilities.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento, claims the wards are
kept in filthy, outdated facilities, are frequently drugged and assaulted and
are denied education and mental health care. It also claims that wards with
disabilities are not adequately accommodated.
``Many of more than 6,000 youth live in constant fear of beatings or rapes,''
said Richard Ulmer, attorney with a San Francisco law firm that brought the
lawsuit.
George Kostyrko, a spokesman for the youth authority, said the lawsuit's
allegations are old and the authority has been working to fix any problems.
``It's a priority to ensure the health and safety of the wards in our
institutions and conservation camps,'' he said.
Last year, the state agreed to pay $165,000 to settle a lawsuit by a ward who
alleged that a youth facility teacher kept her as a concubine.
In 2000, the director of the system resigned following a state investigation
that found numerous long-standing abuses at the Stark Youth Correctional
Facility, including the beating and drugging of inmates.
The investigation prompted Gov. Gray Davis to order the authority to review
its policies on the use of force and psychotropic medications.
The lawsuit claims the authority still uses the questioned practices and is
not living up to its mission to rehabilitate wards.
The lawsuit asks that courts order changes in how the authority operates, but
does not seek monetary damages.
AP-NY-01-24-02 2356EST
Copyright 2002 The Associated Press.
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