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Jures hailey lecture_2-21-2017
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- 4. Demographics Conducted 104 semi‐structured interviews with youth at 12 Probation Camps Average youth age: 16.9 years old, Range: 14‐19 years old 88 males, 15 females, 1 decline to answer (at male camp) 59% Latino, 29% Black, 6% Multi‐racial, 2% American Indian, 2% White, and 1% API 70% in their first camp program Average interview time was 70 minutes, 31 seconds
- 5. Living Conditions Dorms & bathrooms are generally uncomfortable, no privacy Food generally reviewed well at open camps, poorly at Challenger Concerns about portion size and available food to eat Water quality concerns at Camps McNair & Onizuka Girls had issues with paper underwear, feminine hygiene pads, & ill‐fitting bras
- 6. Education Most youth liked school, the teachers, and the curriculum Youth at certain camps have access to woodshop, cooking classes, college online courses, and other electives Credit recovery programs made graduating high school a reality
- 7. Programs Mixed reviews of group therapies, seemed to depend on connection with counselors Most youth were indifferent to or critiqued the substance abuse program Youth with jobs generally enjoyed them due to either the work (mainly seen in office orderlies and kitchen patrol) or the perks (extra food, extra phone calls, etc.) Specialized camp programs, FLOW (rapping and music writing courses), and LA Dads were the best reviewed programs
- 8. Support 80% of youth had at least one visit while incarcerated, only 16% indicated weekly visits Phone calls are a weekly occurrence by policy, however length and frequency vary by camp and PO Interestingly, some youth disclosed not wanting family or children to visit as it would destabilize them. Some also indicated lying to younger siblings or children telling them they were on vacation or in boarding school
- 9. Probation Staff 78% of youth had good relationships with their assigned PO 81% of youth had positive experiences with POs in general 63% of youth had negative experiences with POs ranging from minor disagreements to inappropriate behavior to verbal and/or physical assault
- 10. Safety & Discipline 63% of youth felt that the rules of camp were enforced fairly Youth identified unfair practices to include group punishment, favoritism by staff, militaristic practices, and denial of bathroom access Youth discussed fights and riots in the camp as a normal occurrence, but not a frequent one Many youth discussed instances of being pepper sprayed and/or physical aggressiveness by staff after pepper spray use
- 11. Safety & Discipline At the girls’ camps, many youth discussed sexual misconduct as against the rules, but they also discussed couples in the camps and how staff let certain couples get away with ‘sexual misconduct’ 74% of youth had been to the SHU; most stating experiences of indifference as most stayed 24 hours or less Some stated liking the SHU because it was the only private time they ever had It seemed that the girls were sent to the SHU for much longer times, for the reason of ‘punishment,’ and for less serious offenses Later validated by the Probation Department as well
- 12. Social Dynamics 52% of youth made friends in camp and 38% did not, 10% gave mixed responses 23% said they had ‘associates’ or ‘acquaintances’ at camp 28% had friends or family members from the outs in camp with them Race is a leading cause of tension at many camps, both with the youth and the staff. 31% of youth also discussed how gang activity (intertwined with racial dynamics) affected daily life at camp
- 13. Plans After Release 44% of youth wanted to go to college 18% of youth planned to go to a trade school 29% wanted to finished high school, with no plans of further education 9% either had no plans or were unsure of their plans
- 14. Health Services Overwhelmingly, youth like their individual therapists and mental health services 11% were currently or previously on (while under the care of Probation) medication for depression and/or anxiety 31% were currently or previously on (while under the care of Probation) sleeping medication
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- 16. Promoting Dignity for Young Women & Girls in the Probation Camps & Juvenile Halls Motion by Supervisors Mark Ridley‐Thomas & Hilda Solis Asked for updated policies on: Choices for feminine hygiene, including tampons Access to bathroom whenever needed Education strategy regarding health, hygiene, & reproductive health Better quality hygiene in general (soaps, lotions, deodorant) Better quality undergarments Education for pregnant young women around prenatal care, delivery and post‐partum care, maternal‐child education, etc.
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