klmno
Active Member
It's the person at the central Department of Juvenile Justice office who's responsible for overseeing local CSUs and their programs that is apparently doing nothing!! The mayor shouldn't have had to step in for this.
I know I've worn the interest out here but I can't help it being such a thorn in my side. Maybe my letters were sent out at a good time though. They should be recceived by the legislation and state agencies today or tomorrow. I'm sure all those in the GA working on juvenile laws and state Department of Juvenile Justice know about this incident. When I send the complaint to the fed DOJ, which is next on the list, I'll certainly refer to this, too, as evidence that they are rec'g fed funding but aren't providing adequate oversight or holding perople accountable for doing what they should. The loophole becomes more obvious everyday. Hopefully stories like this will add credibility to the portion of my letters that indirectly pointed out that when CSU personnel document something or self-report things, it should be verified by higher authorities.
(Underlining was added by me.)
Oh- and here's a headline from last year....
Department of Justice report blasts Virginia's mental health services
The Department of Justice says Virginia needlessly institutionalizes people with developmental disabilities, and that it costs about four times as much as providing mental health treatment in the community.
I know I've worn the interest out here but I can't help it being such a thorn in my side. Maybe my letters were sent out at a good time though. They should be recceived by the legislation and state agencies today or tomorrow. I'm sure all those in the GA working on juvenile laws and state Department of Juvenile Justice know about this incident. When I send the complaint to the fed DOJ, which is next on the list, I'll certainly refer to this, too, as evidence that they are rec'g fed funding but aren't providing adequate oversight or holding perople accountable for doing what they should. The loophole becomes more obvious everyday. Hopefully stories like this will add credibility to the portion of my letters that indirectly pointed out that when CSU personnel document something or self-report things, it should be verified by higher authorities.
From the Richmond Times Dispatch today
Richmond mayor fires head of juvenile detention center
Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has fired the superintendent of the city's embattled juvenile detention center, a week after the state put the facility on probation for the second time in three years.
Dianne Gadow was "relieved of her duties" as superintendent of the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center on Monday, the mayor announced in a statement on Tuesday.
Press Secretary Tammy D. Hawley confirmed that Gadow had been terminated as a city employee after 22 months on the job. The center's acting assistant superintendent, Wayne N. Williams, was transferred out of the department, Hawley added.
Richmond named Jack Scott, executive director of the Crater Youth Commission in Petersburg, as interim superintendent at the center to replace Gadow. The city also appointed Charles Lampkin, a member of its justice services staff, as interim assistant superintendent.
The Virginia State Board of Juvenile Justice put the center on probation Jan. 10 after concerns were raised about the safety of residents and employees at the 60-bed center, as well as lack of documented training for its staff.
The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP raised the concerns with city officials in September on behalf of more than two dozen employees. NAACP Executive Director King Salim Khalfani welcomed Gadow's departure but said the city needs to go further.
"That's one good step, but some more people need to be terminated as well," Khalfani said Tuesday. "She wasn't acting by herself."
Gadow was paid $88,000 annually as of July 1, according to city records.
In November, an investigation by the city inspector general's office confirmed problems at the center that include unreliable locks on the doors of residents' rooms, malfunctioning intercom and video-monitoring systems, inadequate security fencing and procedures, and staff training that couldn't be documented.
Many of the problems had been identified by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice in early 2009, but the inspector general's investigation found that corrective action plans "were not implemented in a timely manner."
"They finally held them accountable," Khalfani said from the state office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The NAACP contends staff have not been properly trained and that training records have been falsified. Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring is investigating the allegation of forgery.
Khalfani said he met with 25 employees of the center over seven weeks to document problems at the facility, built in 1996 on Oliver Hill Way in Shockoe Bottom.
"Everyone in there knows what training they've had and what they haven't had," he said.
The city has submitted a corrective action plan to the state that will be overseen by Chuck Kehoe, director of the Richmond Department of Justice Services.
"Our aim is to get the center in order quickly," Jones said Tuesday. "We want to end our probation as soon as possible and provide the proper care for those in need of services."
"Leadership and management are responsible for getting the center back on track," he added. "We have made the necessary changes for that to be accomplished."
Jones said the city has begun mandatory retraining of the center's staff over the next eight weeks. He said the city also is continuing to make repairs and perform critical maintenance at the center.
Last month, Richmond awarded a $344,000 emergency contract to replace malfunctioning intercom systems, install new computer equipment, and updated video recording and monitoring systems.
Khalfani contends that the center remains unsafe for residents, employees and visitors.
"That place is a tragedy waiting to happen," he said.
(Underlining was added by me.)
Oh- and here's a headline from last year....
Department of Justice report blasts Virginia's mental health services
The Department of Justice says Virginia needlessly institutionalizes people with developmental disabilities, and that it costs about four times as much as providing mental health treatment in the community.
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