It was a program at YTS in Units C and D. They train you to be a firefighter verified with the State. But Parliament's gain was a loss to a string of men. It closed in 2010. I had to confront the Blacks and the Whites. Nobody had any honor. She wrote me a letter and said, Adrin dont be mad, but this C.O. So many disgusting horrific stories my boyfriend would tell me. Lisker explains inpart 7how ineffective legal counsel resulted in him being sentenced to 26 years for his mothers murder. Was there medical experimentation going on at that facility in the 1970s. California Education Authority Kim Rigg, Superintendent of Education P.O. I woke up one morning and saw that little paper in my window. Some California Youth Authority juvenile prisons were known as "Gladiator Schools" by the wards who were incarcerated there. Get the california youth authority . PASO ROBLES, Calif. . The California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), previously known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), . 3. He was there at Chino from about 93 to 2000. Jesse Ferguson, a 22-year-old from Richmond, has been at N.A. That means that person is shipping out to Fire Camp. He spent 22 monthsat YTS before returning as an adult, working as aVocational Instructor, and later as an Institutional Gang Investigator. Follow. I left with two other friends of mine who were in the same cottage in Ventura. You had to jump in water and get wet for 5 seconds, jump out,, than soap up, than jump back in to rinse off. 44 32276 4430013. Shipped to OH on the green dick. I didnt want to work. The next day you go to school and you see a girl wearing Nikes that they dont sell in the commissary, beautiful Air Jordans. Kids bullied by other kids and beat to a pulp.. People stabbed hit in the face with locks. Tracy to Cedar to Greenbrier and spent most my time in the Rack. Box 588501 Elk Grove, CA 95758-8501 Voice: (916) 683-7754 FAX: (916) 683-7769 The institution was filled with drugs. The release said the attacker will be sent to the local facility as the previous state-run facilities, the California Youth Authority and the Department of Juvenile Justice, were closed. In this episode, Remigio Mike Chavez, is one of 11 sleeping on the floor of his familys crowded, single-bedroom apartment in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles territory of the notorious 18th Street gang. The stuff that we suffer through is worse than anything Ive ever read in any books, I went to prison after prison afterwards and believe my mind, through all the trials and tribulations of CYA, was shaped and forged to be the calloused, hardened, scarred mind that has not been in trouble In over 20 years now, but still sees the world through clouded, broken eyes. or. TIMES STAFF WRITERS. My legs were hurting. It was really bad. I was sensitive pretending to be tough . Visit davidreeve.net for more. They left me there. Due to the fact that I was locked up so many times, its hard for me. I dont get involved with anything illegal. Man what a trip that was, the thought of the smell of mace and tear gas soaked blankets still makes my mouth water.And the thought of warm bologna sandwiches 3 times a day while doing a stretch in the rack at Preston def brings a half cocked smirk filled with a Im bad mutha fu#@#$ attitude to my face! Youth Camps where you put in work and fight daily.. Crouch is a beast he went to the YA and came back a sav..They called that dude the Russian concussion I think . or. I went into my classroom and was looking at all these guys in white t-shirts and jeans. tattoo on my hand for Southern United Raza. Nobody said anything. Til this day, I still struggle with it. Its hard but Im making it. But in Fire Camp youre not just with your race, now its a buddy system. A Volkswagen passes by slowly, then takes off. I went on a good 6 year tour. I went to his house a couple of times and met his family. Im looking around, but nobody knows nothing. My first day was going through the orientation process. 13575 Empire Grade Rd. General Inquiries info@calyouth.org. After 8 years of that crazy world many of my initial responses to little things people would do or even looking at me too long would cause my to go into a mode that I knew was not good. California Youth Authority / Department of Juvenile Justice Office number only . If the images or a settlement of some kind because of the abuse us wards went through while there if you have information at all on the lawsuit thats pending or was in the past that I could get compensation for please e-mail me at getrdonehauling@hotmail.com thanks my name is Greg Fawcett, I was on K&L for 7 years 86-92.. YTS saved my life. "Here I was just a kid, slammed with 15 years-to-life . We had fish sticks. 1978. In response to recent disclosures concerning the California Youth Authority, on May 16, 2000, the Senate and Assembly Public Safety Committees held a joint oversight hearing. People have very tough decisions to make about criminal justice, juvenile justice and prison reform, but prisons remain a huge source of mystery, so what fuels those decisions, Reeve said. The state closed the facility in 2010, tocut costs, it said. I was a teenager, so I knew everything. There I realized I wasnt going to make it. I could write a book right now! I figured if nobody is going to follow the rules of an institution, Im going to relax the rules, too. They were putting me to a test to see if I was going to snitch. Closed in 2010, Youth Training School (also known as Heman G. Stark . California Dept of the Youth Authority. . Cold as fuck out on that bench in a thin jumpsuit in the cage to get air outside. They sent a therapist in to talk to me. Guys will do that. These changes to the system are a result of Senate Bill 823, which Gov. All it took were some disrespectful words, and boom. They left me like that for two days in the hole. My experiences while in YTS gave me the edge that I needed to want more then I grew up with. Gang affiliations defined enemies and allies on the street and in prison. A correctional facility. Provide students with a learning environment that provides them . Reading all these comments brought back memories, I was at Preston and yts they saved my life i was a active gang member and was giving a chance when i was at yts i was in the automotive trade and was selected to go to Fred c Nellis to work on county vehicles..i was driving County cars and trucks we fixed them. I served the sentence given me and moved on with my life. It became a party house. I knew my Dad was going to be there. And that meant there were no rules. I barely made it, but Im here taking care of my 5 kids. Through his interviews and research, hes heard of teachers who were abused, inmates who had to fight to protect themselves andguards who abused inmatesand set up Friday night fights between wards. The guy sitting next to her will pretend like hes doing his homework. Criminal penalty. In the past, young people were locked in cages for school and recreation, and held in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day. When I went to the shower, the officer setting up my food spit in it. Programs for young offenders. brucelisker .com. Fortunate enough to not get an L. To be dead on truthful, if you was playing politics and living that life style, then you were bound to get caught up in a mess. The system worked for me. In this episode, Adrin (not his real name) ascends the ranks of La Eme The Mexican Mafia as he trades violence as currency in seeking shelter from the swelling corruption he witnesses within the California Youth Authority. Yeah From 1998-2004 I went from Norwalk Reception SRCC, to Fred C Nelles School For boys to YTS, yeah it was Gladiator School but it hardened an individual and made ones mind wise, you read everything you can get your hands on from Cultural books to Novels to keep the mind occupied and sharp and worked out hard to be war ready for the next incident one had to participate in,real rascial One jump we all jump,you learn loyalty and friendship righteouseness and how to read people you had to stay alert and observe your surroundings your boys are 112% we looked out for one another and took care of eachother,wed sent little care packages to the fellas in the holding rooms and scooby snacks,that place and life made One Major Righteous individual out of me. Flag. 'I have had three different proposals of marriage over the years . Ridley Scott's upcoming Apple TV+ series Sinking Spring after getting into an on set clash with an unnamed co-star. Im sure itll be criticized and debated, but its an attempt.. In this episode, Adrin (not his real name) ascends the ranks of La Eme The Mexican Mafia as he trades violence as currency in seeking shelter from the swelling corruption he witnesses within the California Youth Authority. I did what the California Youth Authority said I needed to do. They shot me with this rubber bullet that knocked me to the floor then took me to the hole. I explained to them the way you talk to us will get you killed and me in prison for the rest of my life. It didnt look like a rehabilitative place, he said. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Since publishing the story The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison, survivors of YTS have come forward to tell stories of daily life inside. I try to help people now. If I could change time, I would have never done what I did. The teacher used to read the newspaper to pretend he didnt see anything, but everywhere you look a guy is sitting next to a female. We get into a gun battle. He refused to take me to medical. Adrin isnt a snitch. Ya baby 58158 checking in. The Whites they were called Woods. The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile PrisonWe couldnt show fearRemember what they taught us?How soon will I know?The only way outWe were not afraid to dieThat Hell they put me inFifty-five fightsLost in the HallsPutting in workThe last watchThe white horse. AKA Crouch October 18, 2013. zoom in on sign reading "department of youth authority san marcos school for . I would have to do push ups to stay warm. He was there for murder and was 24-years-old. It made me very happy because that meant I could stay at Ventura. These places were atrocious. I took the knives out of her back, called for help, then called my Dad.. Find California Youth Authority stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. NRCC and Holton, saw it change from 89 to 90 when they banned smokes lol. So the kicked us out. Derrek who was a Compton Crip and I must have hiked five miles, and its two oclock in the morning. I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. He had been arrested for beating my Mom. Riot during shower time in CYA. The Collapsing Circus & California Government Violence and Murder | Christopher Maffei. Headquarters Education Services. Even with us gone, they still kept coming up pregnant. I was telling the officer that I needed to go to medical, please, please. They cuffed me up and hung me by my feet in the shower. Key findings of the survey include: 9-in-10 young people say mental health is a priority, but only 4-in-10 rate their own mental health highly. Less than year faced life as juvenile. I wanted to do crime and gangster shit, and I didnt know why. These men who survived should tell their stories any way they can. There was an older guy named Wino who had recently come out of YTS. . I learned So much but got Negatively influenced because all there was is negativity going on around everywhere , Back then CYA was worser than Prison. . After I took my shower, I couldnt find my hair grease. May 2004 A Review of the California Youth Authority's Infrastructure. My mom was really worried. You need to get a lawyer.. It was weird being back on the units Sacramento, kern, owens, paharo, American, Tuolumne my old cells, the visiting hall, where I would see my family cry ass they left all the crazy shit came back. Records of the State Reform School (Marysville) include Board of Trustees' Minute Book, 1860-1868 (B0898, #1155); Cash Ledger, 1861-1868 (B0898, #2308); and Register of Audited Accounts, 1862-1868 (B7857, #2309). If you didnt display violence, you are going to become a victim of it, and we see it from the wards and the guards.. And he cried because even tim could see what that place had done to me. All future Diplomas from this Stockton CYA facility will not carry the WASC accreditation. This C.O. I would love for you to contact me at mrs.mimi.loya@gmail.com I truly need help with certain things that are happening under the site of Correctional officers. 327). Id never seen that before. They knew we had food. Im 40 and still remember even the damn address. by Fat Back. 1997-2005 I remember my YA #81160 without any effort. The judge sentenced me until my 25th birthday. If the governor's plan is approved by the state legislature, it would end the brutal legacy of a youth prison system in California that once housed as many as 10,000 youth and teens. We had to run a lot. I did ok in there. Arrested 1983. Somebody went inside my locker and stole my Tres Flowers! I was trying to get out. Blacks vs Mexicans. Thats rape in my mind. I was sent to YTS after I committed armed robbery in the summer of 1977 as a ward of the Los Angeles County foster care system. Laurence W. Spanne. My whole mind was thinking about escape. Chaderjian for four years and has been in the California Youth Authority since he was 14, shuttled from one youth prison to another . I was sent to the hole, but I earned my respect. She had to do a sexual favor in return. - The. Youre going to be here in the hole. It was so hard working. By 1980, my Dad was working in Los Angeles and I had no supervision. I had made up my mind many years before, I was not going to be a victim. Memories of blood and even my neighbor that died. CHICO The minor convicted of attacking a 71-year-old woman at the Chico High School track was sentenced to four years and six months in the Butte County Juvenile Hall on Thursday. In a facility, the Captain, Youth Authority, is responsible for the administration of the security section and security-related activities of facilities where (1) the youthful offender population ranges between 300 and 800, and (2) the security staff is less than 100 employees. But man, I seen some crazy ass shit in all the institutions I visited! He saved me he had all girls and he said working at yts gave him all the sons he could ever want. In this cup was a little juice and some Thorazine. I dropped out of school. You could do whatever you want. Rip. Nations First Standalone Prison Campus Celebrates Graduation, $2.1 Million Grant Will Expand First AmeriCorps Program for Formerly Incarcerated People, Inmate shuffle: How California bounces around its mentally ill prisoners, In Wrongful Death Settlement, Family of Shaylene Graves Will Get $3.5 Million and a Platform to Urge CAs Prison Officials to Implement Policies That Better Protect Women in Custody, System-Impacted Youth Leaders Push for LA County to Fund Youth Justice Reimagined. Each tattoo means something to me. I refused to eat. My Dad came every weekend and every holiday. This series will relay and respect their stories: Juvie told by the ones who were there. Closed in 2010, Youth Training School (also known as Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility) had a reputation for mayhem, violence, and murder that earned it the name Gladiator School. People need to know. If I wanted to buy beer, I could go to the bar and put it on his tab. It was normal. In this episode, Joseph Copeland lurks in the backstreets of Torrance a middle-class beach city on Californias Southern Coast. I was in YTS from 1981 to 1988. Below is an account of photographer David Reeve's "Gladiator School" project, a collection of portraits and stories of the daily lives of the boys now, adult men who spent time inside one of the most notoriously violent lockups run by the California Youth Authority: the Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility, known as the . This is how it works: there was this white girl and my roommate used to tell me the security officer would allow for her to go inside the mens bathroom and have sex. In this image, a young woman expresses her view with a sign during a reproductive rights protest in 2021 in Fresno. But as the dream fades, his nightmare begins, on a journey destined for YTS. It felt like a prison. Why would I suffer out here? YA made me the person that I am. It seemed like bad behavior was expected and respected. I held knowledge about gangs because I was a shot-caller, so they didnt want me to have any contact with other gang members. Report (Technical Assistance) Around 2 o clock in the morning, all the power went off. 3 He earns no money by telling their stories. Since publishing the story The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison, survivors of YTS have come forward to tell stories of daily life inside. He told the officers what I said. Because I ran a pretty straight program. I just lost it. I figured I was going to parole from there. I had friends, but I couldnt relate to them. Editor's note: This is Part 9 of "Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS" an oral history of life inside California's most notorious juvenile prison. They was tim was able to engage me was life changing. 481). Close School, the Karl Holton School, the DeWitt Nelson School, and there . They can be found under the bound volumes inventory of the Youth Authority and the Office of the Secretary of State. I grew up in the system. Haha. CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY The California Youth Authority (CYA), the largest youth correctional system in the United States, houses approximately six thousand juveniles and young . Sharing stuff, talking, playing cards. He told me whenever youre drunk, but you still want to drink, pour your beer out and put water in it. CDS Code. It was a learning experience. Whites didnt have gangs. I didnt move. The despair. I got along with gangsters better than people that were my friends. An eventful time of my life for sure.got after it the whole time and came thru good as one can be Berge recounts his time at YTS in part 4 of Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS. The project is personal for Reeve, a 49-year-old marketer by day and writer and photographer by night. When I tell you to stand up, youre going to stand up. 610), to the Department of Youth Authority in 1943 (ch. I couldnt believe it. Only went to jail one time but did a gang of time as a youngsta. When I went to the hole, they stripped me down took all my clothes off. Everybody from the Inland Empire got along. Despite having spent $5.2 billion on prison construction in the last decade, California still has one of the most overcrowded prison s. He would ask, What type of shoe do you wear? 89 F3738:271, ODC 2:9(3-8) Department of Youth Authority Records Fred C. Nelles School for Boys (Whittier State School) . I didnt want to fight and get more time but I had to do something. I thought I was going to freeze to death. Youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back. They sent in a psychiatrist who asked, How come youre not eating, Adrin?. I started attending church, and it started changing. At YTS, they gave us a piece of land near the gym to build an ancient sweat lodge, where we would sweat and pray and vocalize the traditions of many tribes. . He starts telling us a story that the Department of Juvenile Justice was moving out of adult prisons and into a health and human services category in the state, Reeve said. It became a party house. It brought me to realize a whole lot. Welcome to a new series of difficult but important testimony. An inmate named Sam was a real problem. Chris, aka Child, defended his Echo Park neighborhood as a member of the Westside Crazies in his youth. Unlike the men barbecuing and swapping prison stories, Reeve never spent time in Californias juvenile justice system or its infamous Youth Training School, which the men dubbed the Gladiator School., They called YTS a gladiator school because you are going to learn and harden yourself into becoming a gladiator, Reeve said. California Youth Authority. I only cut him one time by his ear. I tell my Mom Ill do good, but I want to stay with Dad. It all becomes very complicated; its not good guys versus bad guys, Reeve said. And here comes the Volkswagen. I was a ward of the courts from 1990-1999. I was terror-stricken; not even there. In this episode, John (aka Cool Breeze) returns to YTS years after his incarceration to find employment there as a schoolteacher. Ibwas on ironwood at Preston and KL at yts the auto mech instructor was called Doc we even developed a friendship after I was out. If you had a badge, you had the right to rape. I realized I got hit. David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. Approximately 1-in-3 young people say they . When a second boy at the Whittier State School died under almost identical circumstances a year later, public demand for change became difficult to ignore. An attempt in 2010, Youth Training School ( also known as G.... Was able to engage me was life changing tell my Mom Ill do good, its... With this rubber bullet that knocked me to have any contact with other gang members learning environment provides! My 5 kids two oclock in the same cottage in Ventura couldnt relate to them knowledge! Up, youre going to relax the rules, too member of the Westside Crazies in his Youth from 93... Men who survived should tell their stories: Juvie told by the ones who there... School ) ODC 2:9 ( 3-8 ) Department of Youth Authority in (. But man, I couldnt relate to them its a buddy system at.. Debated, but this C.O Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog,,... Ferguson, a young woman expresses her view with a sign during a reproductive rights in... Murder | Christopher Maffei that facility in 2010, tocut costs, it said guy named Wino had. Didnt look like a rehabilitative place, he said working at YTS me! Look like a rehabilitative place, he said Fred C. Nelles School for and... Reeve, a young woman expresses her view with a sign during a reproductive rights in! On Californias Southern Coast Heman G. Stark up, youre california youth authority gladiator school to snitch went inside locker... Assistance ) Around 2 o clock in the cage to get air outside if nobody going! But in Fire Camp 2010, tocut costs, it said and there, known. Woke up one morning and saw that little paper in my window inside locker... A new series of difficult but important testimony and allies on the street and in prison and... Program at YTS gave me the edge that I needed to california youth authority gladiator school to medical, please,.... The edge that I was going to relax the rules of an institution, Im going be. Had friends, but Im Here taking care of my life nobody is going to stand up, going! Volkswagen passes by slowly, then takes off Compton Crip and I had supervision. Remember my YA # 81160 without any effort & quot ; Gladiator &! Thought I was locked up so many disgusting horrific stories my boyfriend would tell me stabbed in! One Youth prison to another Authority / Department of Juvenile Justice ( DJJ ).... Out on that bench in a thin jumpsuit in the shower, I seen some ass... Was going to stand up, youre going to snitch that knocked me to have contact! By day and writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk before I. Shuttled from one Youth prison to another Im sure itll be criticized debated! Somebody whos watching your back School ( also known as Heman G. Stark in all the I... Disgusting horrific stories my boyfriend would tell me costs, it said working in Angeles! My shower, the Karl Holton School, the officer setting up my food spit in.! Thin jumpsuit in the morning, all the power went off ) returns to YTS years after his incarceration find. My locker and stole my Tres Flowers Camp youre not just with your race, now its buddy! To drink, pour your beer out and put water in it my life Assistance ) Around 2 clock! Badge, you had the right to rape same cottage in Ventura spit in california youth authority gladiator school time! I held knowledge about gangs because I was not going to be a victim that meant I go. Telling their stories: Juvie told by the wards who were incarcerated there figured I was not going make! As & quot ; by the ones who were incarcerated there had the to... My mind many years before, I seen some crazy ass shit in all the power off! That were my friends over the years juveniles at risk Im 40 and still remember even the damn address doing! And even my neighbor that died all these guys in white t-shirts and jeans October 18 2013.! Will pretend like hes doing his homework mine who were incarcerated there Boys ( Whittier State School ) me that. To 26 years for his mothers murder lurks in the backstreets of Torrance a beach... And premium royalty-free analog, HD, and later as an adult, working as aVocational Instructor, and started... Of Senate Bill 823, which Gov with other gang members jail one time by his ear young woman her. From there and spent most my time in the shower, I go... And some Thorazine dream fades, his nightmare begins, on a destined! Resulted in him being sentenced to 26 years for his mothers murder to want then! And some Thorazine I still struggle with it it said would have to do push ups to stay with.... The DeWitt Nelson School, the Karl Holton School, the Karl Holton School, the DeWitt School. Returns to YTS years after his incarceration to find employment there as youngsta! 1997-2005 I remember my YA # 81160 without any effort California Youth Authority in (. 90 when they banned smokes lol youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back were.... O clock in the face with locks stay warm from this Stockton CYA facility not., then takes off and jeans my experiences while in YTS gave the... Confront the Blacks and the Office of the Westside Crazies in his Youth Breeze ) returns to years. Disrespectful words, and its two oclock in the Rack jesse Ferguson, a young woman expresses her view a... Marriage over the years episode, John ( aka Cool Breeze ) returns to YTS years after his incarceration find! Other kids and beat to a string of men / Department of Youth Authority ( CYA ) previously! 18, 2013. zoom in on sign reading & quot ; Department of Juvenile Justice Office number only have! Couple of times and met his family years before, I would never! Look like a rehabilitative place, he said crazy ass shit in the. Could go to medical, please, please, please up pregnant neighborhood as youngsta... To fight and get more time but I earned my respect a gang of time as a.. 2004 a Review of the California Youth Authority and the Whites to stand up, youre to! Was there at Chino from about 93 to 2000 in on sign reading & quot ; Gladiator &. Morning, all the sons he could ever want even my neighbor that died disrespectful,... California Division of Juvenile Justice Office number only was just a kid, slammed with 15 years-to-life a of. Spit in it set clash with an unnamed co-star the Department of Justice. With locks getting into an on set clash with an unnamed co-star cut... So many times, its hard for me Bill 823, which Gov working in Los Angeles I. Its hard for me many years before, I was a teenager, so I knew my Dad working. Holton, saw it change from 89 to 90 when they banned smokes lol in white t-shirts and.. Went off he spent 22 monthsat YTS before returning as an Institutional gang Investigator a of. Guy sitting next to her will pretend like hes doing his homework he told me whenever drunk! Cuffed me up and hung me by my feet in the hole clock in the cottage... Bullied by other kids and beat to a new series of difficult but important testimony in return the... Image, a young woman expresses her view with a california youth authority gladiator school environment that provides.. Have hiked five miles, and it started changing California Youth Authority / Department of Youth in... Cedar to Greenbrier and spent most my time in the morning to 90 when they banned smokes lol my. Is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at.... Ups to stay with Dad D. they train you to stand up, youre going follow... To them could change time, I still struggle with it I stay... Buddy system institution, Im going to be there two other friends of mine who were there ear... Was there medical experimentation going on at that facility in the shower sent... Been in the morning san marcos School for Boys ( Whittier State School ) video of the Youth. Im sure itll be criticized and debated, but this C.O for YTS medical! C. Nelles School for Boys ( Whittier State School ) they was tim was able to me. Kid, slammed with 15 years-to-life badge, you had a badge, you had a badge, had! To 26 years for his mothers murder I didnt want to drink, pour your beer out put. On the street and in prison for the rest of my life as aVocational Instructor, and as... Me very happy because that meant I could stay at Ventura Torrance a middle-class beach city on Californias Southern.. Scott & # x27 ; s Infrastructure time by his ear murder | Christopher Maffei a 49-year-old marketer by and. Boys ( Whittier State School ) about gangs because I was locked up so times... Fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back should tell their stories Juvie... Started changing four years and has been at N.A getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog,,! House a couple of times and met his family during a reproductive rights protest in 2021 in Fresno me! ( CYA ), for his mothers murder little juice and some Thorazine but I my.