'Punk Prison' May Close in Michigan
Posted on Mon May 23, 2005 at 08:54:49 AM EST
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The Detroit Free Press has a report on abuse at a privately owned juvenile prison. The Governor is trying to close the facility.
Since its opening in 1999, though, parents of inmates have alleged physical, sexual and mental abuse at the Michigan Youth Correctional Facility in Baldwin. A watchdog agency has accused the Florida-based GEO Group Inc., which owns and operates the prison, of neglecting inmates' health, education and rehabilitation. One sign of trouble, critics say, is the high number of suicide attempts from last October through March.
Now, Gov. Jennifer Granholm wants to yank the state's $18.8-million contract with GEO Group to help trim a projected deficit that could top $770 million. The inmates -- many of whom are from metro Detroit -- would be shipped to adult prisons by Oct. 1.
There has to be a better solution. Juveniles should not be housed with adults. Period.
In one study, youth incarcerated in adult prisons were five times more likely to report being sexually abused than young people housed in facilities for juveniles. Another study concluded that juveniles housed in adult jails were nearly 8 times more likely to commit suicide than those in juvenile facilities.
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