Panel calls for office to inspect Nevada juvenile facilities

Saturday, June 19, 2004 | 10:18 a.m.

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Citing problems at Nevada's reformatory for boys in Elko, a legislative panel is calling for creation of an office to inspect and monitor juvenile justice facilities across the state.

The proposal, recommended Friday by the committee studying Nevada's juvenile justice system, was spawned by Justice Department concerns about abuse at the Nevada Youth Training Center.

Committee members said greater oversight is needed to prevent more problems.

They urged the 2005 Legislature to pass bills to create an office to provide oversight and to make their study committee a permanent panel.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, who heads the committee, said the office should operate under the Legislative Counsel Bureau instead of the governor's office.

"I think there's an inherent conflict in the executive branch regulating itself," she said.

A formal settlement to resolve concerns at the Elko facility was announced in February by state and federal officials.

The agreement requires the state to turn over quarterly reports about the center, and outlines steps the state must take to end abuse problems.

State Human Resources Director Mike Willden, who oversees the reformatory, has said the state took all corrective action that was recommended.

He said several employees were fired and several more were reprimanded as a result of the probe into the abuse problems.

Some employees were charged with smashing the heads of youths against doors, slapping and throwing youths to the floor when they didn't follow directions. A teacher also was accused of kicking a boy.

Other civil rights violations included improper use of isolation as punishment, inadequate mental health care, censoring of mail and an ineffective grievance system.

Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said juvenile justice needs a "continuing standing presence" and the study committee should be made a permanent panel.

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Information from: Nevada Appeal