Uneasy Bed-Fellows (There are only 2 reasons for divorce)
L.A. County JCCS and L.A. County Probation have not always made for uneasy bed-fellows. There have been times when the models in place worked well for both JCCS and probation. I remember transferring to Camp Scudder in late 1997, and meeting students who had done a year’s time at Camp Scudder and were in the Work Experience program (W.E.E.) being utilized there. These young men were actually more mature than those incarcerated students I had experienced at Challenger for four-and-a-half-years prior.
But the next thing I knew was…Probation was instituting a 4-step “Phase Plan” to manage their wards: 1) The first step comprised two months in juvenile hall; 2) The second, two-month step, occurred at one-of-the-19-camps; 3) The third step occurred at yet another of the 19 camps for another two months; and, 4) The fourth step was one month at home where the student was to attend a community day school. This plan literally guaranteed 100% recidivism for an incarcerated juvenile — as it flew in the face of EVERYTHING we know about the successful treatment of our population!! There was absolutely no consistency in care-giving; educational treatment; mental health services; or, positive role modeling!
All the Phase Plan allowed Probation to do was to count the same child as two different people in the same fiscal year. During the time of the Phase Plan – the annual incarcerated juvenile offender population jumped from an average of about 4000-per-year, to averaging about 7000-per-year.
Anyone who imagines L.A. County Probation’s motivation for a JCCS takeover is OTHER THAN PECUNIARY is sadly mistaken! I remember when probation officers would brag to me that they made more money than I did: through over-time pay. Then I remember them growing sullen and angry after over-time pay was cut (because they’d bilked their coffers for $28million [as I have already noted]). In one-of probation’s passive/aggressive reactions to-the-loss-of-overtime, I personally recorded 22 AWOLS at Camp Scudder during an 18-month period. One of these AWOLS resulted in the murder of an Asian shopkeeper in Huntington Park.
And “the powers that be” are willing to let this corrupt and dangerous organization educate incarcerated youth?! JCCS Teachers should receive annual medals for surviving the year — not only battling their students – but having to battle probation as well!
Where are the Whistle Blowers?
Anyone who truly believes in education should be shouting from the highest buildings about what is happening here in Los Angeles County JCCS. We essentially have the schoolyard bully (in the person of L.A. County Probation) cowing EVERYONE who should be taking a stand for the victims (our incarcerated youth) into some type of stupor: where we willy-nilly give standardized tests and dog-and-pony-shows in attempts to ensure our survival — despite the beatings the bully inflicts! I tell You (Dr. Robles): that L.A. County Probation IS ONLY CAPABLE OF PERPETUATING THE CYLCE OF ABUSE that our student population is mired in – and here, I understate the gravity of the situation:
Recently, at least one school board member – who seems to have taken courage for us all – accosted Mr. Robert Taylor for his arrogance and temerity — based on what she could see was happening on the surface; (she didn’t realize that she was only scratching the tip-of-the-iceberg). In tonight’s news, the boyfriend of a probation officer was identified as a crack-cocaine kingpin! But, again such allegations are but the tip-of-the-iceberg of the depravity of the institution known as the Los Angeles County Office of Probation. Let me tell you Dr. Robles: the “casting couch” is still alive-and-well in L.A. County Probation.
Dr. Robles, you cannot allow these children – victims of countless and untold abuses — to be turned over to this ilk that is simply in the business of WAREHOUSING children!
We truly need someone to stand up to these schoolyard bullies and save these victims. I have had extended conversations with your predecessors, Dr. Robles. Dr. Gotthold was of-a-mind to “go ahead and let them try.” By the end of his tenure, Dr. Ingwerson was quite “beaten down” by the relentless attacks upon JCCS. And this is the peculiarity of the current dynamic between Probation and JCCS: L.A. County Probation is always on the offensive; they constantly keep their opponents on their heels with their relentless dirty fighting. And, unfortunately, we have succumbed to this style: attempting to block the low blows; the rabbit punches; and, the head butts. We truly need someone to show L.A. County Probation for-what-it-is – to the world. And I dare not use the words to describe PRECISELY what L.A. County Probation is in this missive.
You rescued me from probation’s snare a-while-back, Dr. Robles – I think you are capable of rescuing a few thousand more. We have to fight back with more than standardized tests; the O’Neil curriculum; and video policies – we need to call Los Angeles County Probation on the carpet!