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TALLAHASSEE---The military-style boot camps designed to discipline wayward juveniles in Florida have become history in the wake of the death of Martin Lee Anderson, a 14-year-old who died in January by suffocation at the hands of guards at a Bay County boot camp.
The rigid boot camps are being replaced by Sheriff's Training and Respect (STAR) academies under a bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Jeb Bush, called the Martin Lee Anderson Act.
The new law creates STAR academies that provide youth with intensive education, physical training and rehabilitation and requires instances of abuse or misconduct by personnel, including non-law enforcement and law enforcement personnel, at all STAR programs to be immediately reported to the state's central abuse hotline and investigated by the Department of Children and Families.
The STAR program focuses on modifying behaviors without resorting to physical intervention when youth don't comply with directions; provides youth with enhanced access to medical care and examinations; and enhances quarterly program evaluations to ensure STAR academies are operating according to DJJ policies and procedures.
Florida's STAR academies will include intensive educational, vocational and substance abuse services to provide innovative tools that will redirect youth away from delinquent behaviors. Additionally, the measure provides services to ensure youth leaving the program will continue on a path to success.
Last week, Governor Bush signed the 2006-2007 budget, allocating $709 million for the juvenile justice system - an increase of $74.5 million or 11.7%. Additionally, the crime rate among juveniles across the state has fallen by 18% and the rate of juveniles entering the adult system has fallen by 42% since 1999.
Anderson was in his first day at the camp on where he had been sent as punishment for a probation violation Jan. 5 when he complained of breathing difficulties during exercises as part of the entry process into the facility. He collapsed and died. The guards had said in an incident report that they had used the ammonia capsules to keep Anderson conscious.
Reports from the Bay County Sheriff's office said that Anderson was being restrained because he had resisted attempts to get him to complete the exercise and for being "uncooperative".
Charles Siebert, Bay County medical examiner said that Anderson had died a of natural causes as the result lf complications of sickle cell trait, a blood disorder. A second autopsy the findings revealed that the boy had died by suffocation at the hands of the sheriff's officers blocking the boy's mouth as well as the "forced inhalation of ammonia fumes" that caused his vocal cords to spasm, blocking his upper airway.
Anderson's family has charged that a cover-up existed in the boy's death and had the boy's body exhumed for a second autopsy after seeing a videotape showing guards kicking and beating the boy while he was being restrained.
No guards or employees at the boot camp have been arrested or fired but thecamp has been closed. 5-31-06
© 2006 North
Country Gazette
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