Texas Youth Commission

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The Texas Youth Commission (a.k.a. the TYC) is a Texas state agency which operates juvenile correctional facilities in the state. The current Conservator (the head of the agency) is Richard Nedelkoff.

Contents

[edit] Criticism

[edit] ACLU lawsuit

On June 13, 2008, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a class action lawsuit against the TYC on behalf of five girls and "all girls and young women who are now or in the future will be confined in Brownwood State School"[1][2] The ACLU charges that the girls are "regularly placed in punitive solitary confinement," that "[u]pon entering or exiting solitary confinement and on other occasions when they have not left the facility - for example, when they finish a work assignment within the prison - girls are subject to invasive strip searches. When girls resist, guards regularly use physical force, pepper spray, handcuffs and leather straps to force them to comply," and that the "treatment the girls have suffered violates their constitutional rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments" as well as articles 3, 19, 23, 34, 37, and 39 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and articles 7 and 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.[3]

In an official press release, Conservator Nedelkoff repsponded to the lawsuit saying he was "disappointed" and that he "look[s] forward to working with the ACLU, along with our Texas advocacy partners, to address all concerns mentioned in this lawsuit," and Ombudsman Will Harrell stated that he was also "disappointed" and that "most of the allegations mentioned are being addressed."[4] Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Treatment Dianne Gadow, ultimately responsible for Youth Rights,[5] made no comment on the matter.

[edit] References and notes

  1. ^ American Civil Liberties Union (2008-06-12). "ACLU Challenges Solitary Confinement And Unwarranted Strip Searches Of Girls Held In Texas Youth Prison". Press release.
  2. ^ K.C. v. Nedelkoff - Plaintiffs' Motion For Class Certification And Memorandum In Support Of Motion For Class Certification
  3. ^ K.C. v. Nedelkoff - Class Action Complaint For Declaratory And Injunctive Relief
  4. ^ Texas Youth Commission (2008-06-12). "TYC Statements Regarding ACLU Lawsuit". Press release.
  5. ^ Texas Youth Commission Organizational Chart. Texas Youth Commission. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.

[edit] External links


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