After doing time in YTS CYA I went right to prison with a LIFE sentence for a gang related shooting and gang enhancements. Had that wall heater in the room that they said didnt work. I felt I wasnt going to see all the violence that I had seen before, but it was worse. 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. Eventually, he was allowed entry in 2017. California Youth Crisis Line cycl@calyouth.org. When a second boy at the Whittier State School died under almost identical circumstances a year later, public demand for change became difficult to ignore. For me, seeing that in Ventura, seeing her shaking, seeing the lights go out thats somebodys daughter. The only thing Im thankful for in YA was for taking my teardrop tattoo off. There was a student aid in art class. Youre kind of small. 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. Your eyes are focused straight ahead. starved and neglected. They would put swastikas on, but there was no Aryan Brotherhood. I had authority over other inmates. I would love for you to contact me at mrs.mimi.loya@gmail.com I truly need help with certain things that are happening under the site of Correctional officers. I remember my mom sent me Tres Flowers Hair Grease because I used to comb my hair back. As reluctant as I was I agreed as a vacation away from ts and chad. I went on a good 6 year tour. In this cup was a little juice and some Thorazine. I grew up in a nice part San Bernardino. Reeve lives 20 minutes from YTS, also known as the Heman G. Stark Correctional Facility. This series will relay and respect their stories: Juvie told by the ones who were there. It took me a while to come to terms with this and the whole evolution that allowed this to happen. They interviewed everybody. I learned So much but got Negatively influenced because all there was is negativity going on around everywhere , Back then CYA was worser than Prison. My Dad had a good job. Find California Youth Authority stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. . My first week at YTS, I have a picture of my Dad who came to visit me. Just before i graduated from Oxnard community College, a number of female wards started coming up pregnant. But it really hit hard right here in YTS. You can always tell who the ringleaders and shot callers are. The California School Directory contains information about California public schools, . He bothered some people. Now the officers turn against me and told another inmate that I was a snitch for what I told the psych. Below is an account of photographer David Reeves 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 Youth Training School (YTS). 2. The next day you go to school and you see a girl wearing Nikes that they dont sell in the commissary, beautiful Air Jordans. By MARK GLADSTONE and JAMES RAINEY. Im sure itll be criticized and debated, but its an attempt.. I was telling the officer that I needed to go to medical, please, please. They cuffed me up and hung me by my feet in the shower. According to . He was a big guy, and he looked at me, a runner that weighed 129 pounds. I didnt want to fight and get more time but I had to do something. An eventful time of my life for sure.got after it the whole time and came thru good as one can be 'I have had three different proposals of marriage over the years . The California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), previously known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), . This is the intermedia. Flag. Yolo I am a rehabilitated productive ex gangmember in society. Tons of memories some good and bad. Finally, in November 2004, a consent decree was ordered as part of the settlement of a lawsuit, Farrell v. Harper, which detailed nightmarishly unconstitutional conditions in the CYA facilities, and laid down a list of mandated reforms. And here comes the Volkswagen. is giving out make-up and shoes. He approached my girlfriend and she wanted some shoes and had to do a sexual favor. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail.com, DAVID WILLIAM REEVE is a writer + photographer from Southern California who documents the lives of young people at risk. It was there that minors would harden themselves for survival, only to be returned to the streets more troubled and volatile than when they arrived. A beef had started with Echo Park. I couldnt see outside, but they can see in. After I took my shower, I couldnt find my hair grease. They were accepting murders. The only types of people that you find in the different joints are victims or victimizers. Staff were so disrespectful that I refused to come out of my cell in fear of hurting one of them. If I could change time, I would have never done what I did. Chaderjian for four years and has been in the California Youth Authority since he was 14, shuttled from one youth prison to another . I was gonna defend myself. Somebody went inside my locker and stole my Tres Flowers! The Captain had been with the department since YTS opened. Youre going to shit when I tell you to shit. Whites didnt have gangs. Less than year faced life as juvenile. Im not eating because theres a lot of things happening, and I dont know who to talk to. I told him everything that Id seen. Remember what they taught us? I looked at him and he looked at me, and I didnt even care. Other State, county, or city-operated 24-hour custody facility. I fought like a man. The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile PrisonWe couldnt show fearRemember what they taught us?How soon will I know?The only way outWe were not afraid to dieThat Hell they put me inFifty-five fightsLost in the HallsPutting in workThe last watchThe white horse. Im looking around, but nobody knows nothing. This cholo guy rushed me and started fighting. If you dont leave that class, its because you like him touching you!, You have a girlfriend on suicide watch, an officer said. An oral history of stories from inside the California Youth Authority is documented by David Reeve (2019-2021). In this episode, Jeff (aka Huerito) is short timing when he leaves the comfort of Ventura Youth Correctional Facility to arrive at Fire Camp. They shot me with this rubber bullet that knocked me to the floor then took me to the hole. They like to flaunt themselves, and if you get caught peter-gazing, its rough for you. Never had a criminal record before. There were brothers there who were very Black but had a little Cherokee in them. 3 Violence was common at YTS. The anger I felt, the violence, the heartlessness, the cages, the smell, the water, the blood, the impact of being shot by beanbag guns, the riots, 1 one 1s, broken hands, the tension in the air just before it kicks off, staff assaults, drugs, alcohol, death. At the end of the grant term, the CYA provided an evaluation to the Board including: #77766 (1996 to 2005) SRCC, Fred C. Nelles, HeMan G. Starks YA BABY !!!! Each tattoo means something to me. I didnt suffer anymore because I saw the way that Fire Camp was run. Dec. 24, 1999 12 AM PT. I sign up for continuation school and as we drive up, I see a bunch of Cholos standing in front of the school. I realized I got hit. I was not the only one. I never lived in the neighborhood. I fell to my knees beside her and could see she was still breathing. I spent Two years in Gladiator School..California youth authority. I was trying to mind my own business. I didnt love myself no more. The California Youth Authority was known as "Gladiator School." You could do all the smashing you wanted to. It became a party house. I would take the city bus or ride my bike down to the neighborhood. The murder that I committed was against some regular person. These men who survived should tell their stories any way they can. In a facility, the Captain, Youth Authority, is responsible for the administration of the security section and security-related activities of facilities where (1) the youthful offender population ranges between 300 and 800, and (2) the security staff is less than 100 employees. I remember crying talking to myself , playing with the ants, playing marbles with peanuts from my lunch. I was with the heavy hitters in La Eme. I went into my classroom and was looking at all these guys in white t-shirts and jeans. I would love to see a lawsuit where we are the victors not the victims of a broke, violent system that should have been extinguished long ago. Chopin it up with the homies on the wire. Criminal status. My body was burning with pepper spray. When I got transferred to YTS, Im with nothing but men and everybody is sizing you up. I was in YTS from 1981 to 1988. 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. Yts 84-87 y+z 42759 Righteous Wood Here Frosty Lompoc, #66150;Definitely a gladiator school. Eventually, my Brother went to the Army; my Sister was married. My deceased husband was at the CYA in Chino in the early 1970s. 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. 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. We get into a gun battle. I did my time from the halls to arc to nelles then to yts. Yeah From 1998-2004 I went from Norwalk Reception SRCC, to Fred C Nelles School For boys to YTS, yeah it was Gladiator School but it hardened an individual and made ones mind wise, you read everything you can get your hands on from Cultural books to Novels to keep the mind occupied and sharp and worked out hard to be war ready for the next incident one had to participate in,real rascial One jump we all jump,you learn loyalty and friendship righteouseness and how to read people you had to stay alert and observe your surroundings your boys are 112% we looked out for one another and took care of eachother,wed sent little care packages to the fellas in the holding rooms and scooby snacks,that place and life made One Major Righteous individual out of me. When you first go in, you have to know the rules and regulations, and theres always somebody willing to give all the information. It made me very happy because that meant I could stay at Ventura. It was there that minors would harden themselves for survival, only to be returned to the streets more troubled and volatile than when they arrived. We had to run a lot. One minute, I was a kid, then I did all this jail time, and I was back on the streets expected to perform as an adult!. The United States is going back in history and, led by conservative politicians, judges and religious groups, is banning women's right to decide about their own bodies. Til this day, I still struggle with it. close and Chad to work with some of coming back to Alameda County Oakland. I heard the door open the heard them cover her mouth and rape her. Wed go to church because of the blind spots. Where was the oversight? At Fire Camp, somebody stole my shoes and money, and nobody would admit to it. Every weekend, homies would come through from their visits. Featured image: Chris (aka Savage) told the story of being sent to The Hole in Gladiator School for hiding a shank under his mattress as a youth, when the prison broke out into a riot. Man what a trip that was, the thought of the smell of mace and tear gas soaked blankets still makes my mouth water.And the thought of warm bologna sandwiches 3 times a day while doing a stretch in the rack at Preston def brings a half cocked smirk filled with a Im bad mutha fu#@#$ attitude to my face! Betty Boothroyd always claimed that she was 'married to the House of Commons'. Thats when they would make us roll up our mattress, blanket, and sheets( roll yo shit up!!!) We had fish sticks. Website. Youre going to be here in the hole. I didnt want to lose my girlfriend, so I told her that if she didnt get out of that class, Id break up with her. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000, United States. My Dad came every weekend and every holiday. 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. CEA Santa Cruz Co. School. If the images or a settlement of some kind because of the abuse us awards went through while there if you have information at all on the lawsuit thats pending or was in the past that I could get compensation for please e-mail me at getrdonehauling@hotmail.com thanks my name is Greg Fawcett, Hello I was in the Californias Authority I was it Preston does a lawsuit going on about four awards that were there and can receive relief. You always look up. We had been out for two days, going from one fire to the next. I was tired. I was a ward of the courts from 1990-1999. Some of the stories about this place were true but not all. ELO-Program Enrichment Specialist will work with an assigned group of students, student to staff ratio is contingent upon CDC guidelines and grant requirements. Everybody from Los Angeles got along. Youre going to sleep when I tell you to sleep. The story begins at a reunion in Yucaipa for former YTS prisoners. 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. After the cops leave, I heard the car come back a second time the Volkswagen again. The Collapsing Circus & California Government Violence and Murder | Christopher Maffei. The core requirement of the Farrell agreement was that CYA must exchange its abusive, and viciously punitive system for a rehabilitative model of working with kids. He had six months to go. I did not want to hurt this guy. I understood that, eventually. It took months of persistent emails and letters to the state corrections department and using his family connection as leverage. Karl Holton Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center, Box 21 '5002, Stockton 95213-9002, (209) 944-6551 . You knock on the door one more time Ill beat your ass. I wanted to show them how to make life work for them like I had done. Working the graveyard shift, he becomes an unlikely father-figure to wards older than himself, as the facility faces closure from mounting costs and corruption. I could write a book right now! He wants to provide former wards, guards, teachers, and administrative staffat YTS the space to tell stories, some of whom have never had that chance, he said. 610), to the Department of Youth Authority in 1943 (ch. He bothered some people. Mexicans vs whites. You didnt talk to Blacks at all. I went to Nrcc when I was 15 (1999)than Preston, Karl Holton, and Dewitt. Among the picnickers who gathered at Yucaipa Community Park in Yucaipa, California for the reunion, was John Berge. The bill requires the state's youth prisons to shut down by 2023 and has stopped allowing counties to send youth to the state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) as of July 1, 2021. I became a shot-caller for the Sureos gang. California Education Authority Kim Rigg, Superintendent of Education P.O. We play for real, they said. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail, The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison, The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison. I tell my Mom, dont even stop. Im gonna get jumped my first day here. You want some Nikes? Report (Technical Assistance) I explained to them the way you talk to us will get you killed and me in prison for the rest of my life. See the Department of Youth Authority Records finding aid at the California State Archives for additional detail. Memories of blood and even my neighbor that died. And absolutely someone should be held accountable. I programmed. He died of colon cancer at 53. I was the drag shovel, meaning I was at the end of the line and I carried the medicine and the toilet paper in a backpack. Pretending to be very concerned to search after a visit for drugs by asking to spread cheeks and take long silent looks speeding my cheeks and not knowing how long or whats he up to. Gavin Newsom signed into law on Sept. 30, legislationto closethe stateDivision of Juvenile Justice, and replace it with local alternatives. 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. Roll up yo shit and had to use tolit paper to lay on the cold steal bed. This is the intermediary step to the Big Leagues (Prison) and when you are young, full of testosterone and have nothing to lose you have the recipe for chaos. This army of Men of God started rising up there. This all coming to light is a long time coming. I want you to know Im in charge.. I didnt have any life skills or money. 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