I figure I’d pass this rumor on.  The committee put together to examine the Juvenile Detention Center is starting to wrap up.  While the findings are not official yet, the buzz around my worksite suggests that the Detention Center will be brought under the auspices of Juvenile Probation.

But before that happens, I also wanted to share what I learned today:  Not all of the gang bangers in the detention center are in custody.  A client I interviewed today stated, in very plain language, that some of the staff on his section (5 something) harrassed him because he was from a rival gang.  To rephrase:  The staff belonged to one Gang (Vice Lords) and he belong to the Gangster Disciples.  So he was threatened, intimadated and punished for their rivalry.

My client has no reason to lie.  This came up as a tangent, not as a direct line of questioning.  I know that staff has problems with some kids–anyone who works in social services will tell you that you will run into a client that you just don’t click with.  But to have a gang rivalry between residents and staff?  That’s just f-d up.

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