FEDS PROBE MD'S JUVENILE CENTERS (KKT IN TROUBLE??)

AP ^ | 9/6/02

[Elkiejg]

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating conditions at Maryland's juvenile detention facilities to determine whether the civil rights of young offenders have been violated, officials said.

The Washington Post reported Friday that the state Department of Juvenile Justice received a letter this week notifying them of the probe into jails, medical, mental health and educational services for juveniles.

The state agency is unaware of what prompted the investigation, spokesman Lee Towers said.

Past problems include beatings of teenagers by guards in boot camps and violence by guards in the three largest detention facilities. The boot camps and one of the detention facilities have since closed.

In April, Vanessa Salmeron, 15, hanged herself after being ordered into seclusion at the Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center in Laurel.

In 1995, a national advocate for youthful offenders toured the Cheltenham Detention Center in Prince George's County and declared it one of the worst he had ever inspected.

The civil rights probe is the second investigation by the Justice Department of an agency overseen by Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, who is running for governor.

Since April, a federal grand jury has been trying to determine whether an anti-crime agency under Townsend's control has misused federal funds. She has dismissed it as "political garbage" cooked up by a Republican U.S. attorney seeking to smear her record.

A spokesman for Townsend's gubernatorial campaign said Thursday he was unaware of the latest investigation and wouldn't comment.

A spokesman for her likely GOP opponent for governor, U.S. Rep. Bob Ehrlich, wouldn't comment.

On the Net:

Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice:
http://www.djj.state.md.us/
U.S. Department of Justice: http://www.usdoj.gov/

[Elkiejg]

ATTENTION MD FREEPERS!! Hopefully another nail in KKT's bid for MD Gov.

[Donald Stone]

BUMP !!!!

[aristeides]

The Washington Post story also mentions the connection with KKT. She hasn't been getting good publicity from either that paper or the Baltimore Sun of late. I wonder what's up.

[mssnoop]

A company named Youth Services used to manage some youth detention facilities in Maryland and were large contributors to some politicians.