I was a juvenile lifer. 4241 Williamsborough Drive, Sacramento, CA 95823, United States. The California School Directory contains information about California public schools, . Below is a list of Youth Authority Facilities in California that you can browse, rate, review or contact to deal with all education affairs and issues related with studying.We provides basic and advanced information about Youth Authority Facilities and similar high schools including name, address, phone number, school district and detailed contact information to both the school management and . At Fire Camp, somebody stole my shoes and money, and nobody would admit to it. It was so hard working. DJJ, formerly known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), has a long history of scandal, horrible conditions, terrible outcomes and excessive spending. Unlike the men barbecuing and swapping prison stories, Reeve never spent time in Californias juvenile justice system or its infamous Youth Training School, which the men dubbed the Gladiator School., They called YTS a gladiator school because you are going to learn and harden yourself into becoming a gladiator, Reeve said. At Ventura, half of the unit is for guys and half of the unit is for ladies. The California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), previously known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), . The room was baby blue and the lights stayed on. I was with the heavy hitters in La Eme. 1997-2005 I remember my YA #81160 without any effort. NRCC in 1996. Below is an account of photographer David Reeve's "Gladiator School" project, a collection of portraits and stories of the daily lives of the boys now, adult men who spent time inside one of the most notoriously violent lockups run by the California Youth Authority: the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility, known as the . And that meant there were no rules. Santa Cruz, CA 95060. I wasnt afraid. Where (children) are pitted against one another and beaten like animals by public [], Did my tour 03 to 08 cya 88605 was in hall e and f then went to hall c and. Every weekend, homies would come through from their visits. . I never lived in the neighborhood. I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. In the morning, thered be a piece of paper on your cell window. There was an older guy named Wino who had recently come out of YTS. I was walking in slow motion, like a zombie. I got a black hand tattoo across my chest. Youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back. If I could change time, I would have never done what I did. They took the teardrop off of my face with a laser. David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. This army of Men of God started rising up there. With the juvenile system changing in California, he said its important to remember these stories so they arent repeated. C. Hood 64961. Remember what they taught us? I looked at him and he looked at me, and I didnt even care. This has repercussions throughout the whole youth authority, statewide. Something started happening with me. There was no right or wrong. Have faith. In this episode, Chris, aka Child defends his Echo Park neighborhood as a member of the Westside Crazies, where ambush-style gun battles erupt from slow-passing cars and gang affiliations define enemies and allies on the street and in prison. Now, the state's 58 counties must each designate a local . Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton, California (209) 944-6444. I knew how to speak Nahuatl. I had a meeting with all the Chicanos, but they didnt admit to it. If I wanted to buy beer, I could go to the bar and put it on his tab. I even went back to his cell to pay respect and to let him know I new what happen. When youre a Black Hand in the Mexican Mafia, you cannot theres no rape. It's called Gladiator School for a reason, when the worst of the worst kids are too young for Prison they are sent to Youth Authority. She just disappeared one day. You cant just have this tattoo; you have to earn it. I didnt have any life skills or money. My body was burning with pepper spray. Key findings of the survey include: 9-in-10 young people say mental health is a priority, but only 4-in-10 rate their own mental health highly. Never had a criminal record before. School Type: Youth Authority Facilities: Educational Program Type: Information Not Available I would take the city bus or ride my bike down to the neighborhood. We were teenagers then. When I got out of ADX Colorado, they gave me an ATM card and flew me to South America. I wasnt embarrassed. In this episode, Adrin (not his real name) ascends the ranks of La Eme The Mexican Mafia as he trades violence as currency in seeking shelter from the swelling corruption he witnesses within the California Youth Authority. Had that wall heater in the room that they said didnt work. I walked into that bus in shackles, chained up. He would leave me money. My experiences while in YTS gave me the edge that I needed to want more then I grew up with. CEA Santa Cruz Co. School. I used to get love letters and stuff like that. I didnt suffer anymore because I saw the way that Fire Camp was run. Ill give you the toilet paper when I want to, not when you need it., I was a little bit scared. The release said the attacker will be sent to the local facility as the previous state-run facilities, the California Youth Authority and the Department of Juvenile Justice, were closed. The High School at N.A.Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton was stripped of its accreditation in May 2005 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. And he died on Friday, Aug 13, 2021. My Dad came every weekend and every holiday. In 1941, the state legislature created the California Youth Authority (CYA) as a "completely new method of dealing with youthful criminals," according to the Healdsburg Tribune, Aug. 13, 1943. Fortunate enough to not get an L. To be dead on truthful, if you was playing politics and living that life style, then you were bound to get caught up in a mess. One of the things that they taught us in Fire Camp training was that if were in this situation and we share warmth with another person, we can survive. Im a retired U.S. Army Ranger and I served seven combat tours. It went from a handful of us in that unit to 30, 40 of us. "Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS" an oral history of life inside California's most notorious juvenile prison. Gavin Newsom has announced the proposed closure of the state's three youth detention centers including the one in Ventura County in the . Good counselors and creepy . 3 201 waterman rd ione ca 95640. I refused to eat. They like to flaunt themselves, and if you get caught peter-gazing, its rough for you. Redemption my brothers! I explained to them the way you talk to us will get you killed and me in prison for the rest of my life. This is how it works: there was this white girl and my roommate used to tell me the security officer would allow for her to go inside the mens bathroom and have sex. These changes to the system are a result of Senate Bill 823, which Gov. I was able to write a book about my experience to help with the PTSD. Distinguishing Characteristics. After a number of violent incidents that included themurder of a counselorin 1996 the state began scrutinizing the prison, he said. A Volkswagen passes by slowly, then takes off. If you dont leave that class, its because you like him touching you!, You have a girlfriend on suicide watch, an officer said. I went to my room and got a toothbrush, put a razor blade on the toothbrush, and went to the laundry room where Sam was. One thing that place taught me was move first or be moved on. He has been married for 25 years and has raised six kids, including a son who became a LAPD officer. I needed some toilet paper to use the bathroom and I knocked on the door, calling for the C.O. 531 Followers. They sent in a psychiatrist who asked, How come youre not eating, Adrin?. But it really hit hard right here in YTS. Contact the California State Archives for more information. Im human. I was in YTS from 1981 to 1988. I went to Camp Karl Holton and it was more peaceful. I did not want to hurt this guy. . And he cried because even tim could see what that place had done to me. I went to my room and got a toothbrush, put a razor blade on the toothbrush, and went to the laundry room where Sam was. A source told the outlet that producers tried to rectify the situation but they . Youth Authority: California: Directed by Gabriel London. My husband went through nearly every program through out CA and to be honest all it did was made him a better criminal not nurturing or love was given at all he is finishing his 27 th year was in pelican bay at 21 and has been to most adult prisons and is finishing his sentence tace in Folsom Prison as we speak 6 months from his out date and the only person that helped him was himself (oh and me ), I did the CYA tour 91-96. When the lights came on the girl was crying. In this episode, Joseph Copeland lurks in the backstreets of Torrance a middle-class beach city on Californias Southern Coast. So sad that Gangs fighting And drugs were more prevalent in CYA and other youth programs . Rafael "Al" Losno Jr. came to prison during the era when phrases like "battle gyms and gladiator schools" were the norm. A2007 reportreleased by the states inspector general found that wards spent 22 hours a day in their cells while wards in the transitional program were not assigned classes, despite being in the unit for three months. Yeah I want to know what all these lawsuits going around where the f*** are our lawsuits I was in that mother f***** for almost 5 years straight I went in a child and came out of man I f****** witnessed and participated in numerous acts of extreme violence all of us even those of us that say man YA saved my life it didnt save your life bro You got m************ Stockholm syndrome all of us for those of you guys that ended up getting raped or for even you m************ that was raping those dudes every single one of us was a victim of f****** abuse and we should be on a f****** class action lawsuit we should be the one saying f*** that s*** if you were in ya in the 90s we experienced the worst prison systems in the United States had to offer second to f****** Louisburg Federal penitentiary back in the 80s. 89 F3738:271, ODC 2:9(3-8) Department of Youth Authority Records Fred C. Nelles School for Boys (Whittier State School) We got so big that the staff started letting us meet for Bible studies.. My Dad had a good job. Follow. I was actually there when that lady got killed and the body was found at the dump. We was back on lock down. As an adult, he was recruited into the top ranks of the Mexican Mafia. Google Map. The C.O. Its 2022 and still feels like yesterday. Some California Youth Authority juvenile prisons were known as "Gladiator Schools" by the wards who were incarcerated there. School: Stark (Herman G.) Youth Training CDS Code: 36 32060 3638459 School Address . She would have sex with guys in exchange for $100 worth of commissary. All youth who have not yet completed a GED or high school diploma are required to attend school. Since publishing the story The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison, survivors of YTS have come forward to tell stories of daily life inside. Youre kind of small. Was there medical experimentation going on at that facility in the 1970s. My body is still burning from the pepper spray. Abuse Reports Cloud Youth Authority. But as the dream fades, his nightmare begins, on a journey destined for YTS. Wed go to church because of the blind spots. A beef had started with Echo Park. It made me very happy because that meant I could stay at Ventura. Criminal Justice Journalism in the Public Interest, a mind-numbing level of controversy and scandal, phasing out the states youth prison system, Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS, signed into law on Sept. 30, legislationto close, What Really Happened To My Kids? Everybody was doing sexual activity. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail (dot) com, DAVID WILLIAM REEVE is a writer + photographer from Southern California who documents the lives of young people at risk. Even with us gone, they still kept coming up pregnant. In 1978 my Mom and Dad reconciled and got back together. An inmate named Sam was a real problem. He brought me pizza and soda; he and my Mom came it was the first time they had been together in over a year. I sliced my wrist and got under the blanket. I dropped out of school. Gang affiliations defined enemies and allies on the street and in prison. Laurence W. Spanne. WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE 1732.8 FOLLOW-UP REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 2004 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, GOVERNOR OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL PAGE 5 ORIGINAL FINDING NUMBER 1: The Office of the Inspector General found that dual-commitment wards are not allowed to attend their annual reviews and parole consideration date reviews and have little contact with the California Youth . He spends his days gazing from the apartments rooftop into the dream-like waters of a koi pond below. They put me in the observation room where there is a camera. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must be at a level of responsibility not less than that of a Youth Correctional Officer or Youth Correctional Counselor. You are going to learn to fight, to make deals and negotiate for survival because many of them were headed towards adult prisons like San Quentin or other hardened prisons.. Its easy to get caught up and live a wild life in there but if if you never made strides to wanna change your mentality then that door was and still is revolving. California Youth Crisis Line cycl@calyouth.org. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail. God must of new I needed an Angel because I demanded to be transferred back to ts or chad. Berge recounts his time at YTS in part 4 of Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS. The project is personal for Reeve, a 49-year-old marketer by day and writer and photographer by night. Was placed with an extremely abusive foster mother who beat me and my foster brother black and blue on a daily basis, to get away from her we committed the above crime. Dec. 24, 1999 12 AM PT. He was there for murder and was 24-years-old. California Youth Authority. You either take mess or you dont. In ts it was gladiator school and in Chad it was known as the battle dome we even had a real goat named billy as a mascot. For more information about records for specific . The judge sentenced me until my 25th birthday. He used to go there every morning and they paid good money. If you had a girlfriend, you were lucky. Report (Technical Assistance) ELO-Program Enrichment Specialist will work with an assigned group of students, student to staff ratio is contingent upon CDC guidelines and grant requirements. If you were a female you went to Ventura. We get into a gun battle. I had authority over other inmates. 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