URL: http://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/guest_columns/498365opinion10-04-06.htm

Wednesday, October 4, 2006
State Revamps Policy to Keep Youth in Custody Safe
By Dorian Dodson
N.M. Children, Youth and Families Department
    This is a time of change and challenge for the Children, Youth and Families Department as we seek to improve the Juvenile Justice system with enhanced community driven sites. Our primary goals are to provide the best possible outcome for the children in the system, ensure accountability, and use taxpayer money in the most effective, efficient ways.
    Chief among the changes— and challenges— is the closing of the New Mexico Boys School in Springer, which will result in more appropriate alternate placements for these youth throughout the state.
    Springer is not being closed to save money. It is being closed because it is no longer the optimal way to provide rehabilitative juvenile services to committed youth. The monies used to run Springer are being reinvested in the system to enhance the services for these youth.
    Unfortunately a terrible occurrence happened at the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center (YDDC) in Albuquerque while this transition was unfolding. Incidents of this nature are rare but unacceptable. The safety of the children in our custody is a top priority and we are committed to taking every possible step to protect them.
    To be very clear about what happened at YDDC it should be noted that:
   

All of the youths are screened for any history of sexual offenses;
   

If they have any such history they are not placed with other youth. Period.
   

Such was the case with the youths placed with the alleged victim. They had no history of sexual offenses whatsoever.
    National best practices call for a staff-client ratio of 1-8 during the day and 1-12 during the night. We are meeting those standards and met them on the night of that incident. Best practices call for inspections every 10 minutes and that each and every youth is seen during those rounds. Staff followed that protocol to the letter.
    Finally, YDDC is not at overcapacity. While it is almost full (on the night of the incident we were staffed for 156 youth and had 151 in house), we had not exceeded the facility's capacity. Having said all of that, however, any incident causes us to re-examine our practices and improve upon them. This incident is no different.
    We have a plan to place all of the youths from New Mmexico Boys School and CYFD has systematically been implementing it. Here are the highlights.
   

We have entered into an agreement with the Santa Fe County Juvenile Detention Center for a minimum of 30 beds. This center, with a distinguished track record in working with youth with more serious offenses, has already taken 12 youths and is ready to take three more this week and will take the additional 15 in the next six to eight weeks.
   

Camp Sierra Blanca near Ruidoso, now houses low and medium risk youth, and has taken 30 boys from Springer to date. We will place an additional 18 or more if and only if they progress in their behavior management system and are ready for a more community-based program.
   

We have a new program in Springer for 20 men 18 to 21 years old. This program, which is not part of the boys school, is the first of its kind in New Mexico. It focuses on the unique programming needs for the older youth in our system. Equally as important, it will help separate the older youth from the younger boys, also a recognized best practice.
   

The JP Taylor Center in Las Cruces has 48 medium and high risk youth. It is at its capacity and therefore will not be receiving additional youth.
   

We will continue to enhance our reintegration centers, which also play an important role in transitioning young men back into society. Future plans include the development of other contract programs in different parts of the state so that our youth nearer the communities and families they came from and to which they are likely return.
   

When this transition period is finished all of our facilities, including YDDC, will be at optimal population levels.
    Throughout this period, CYFD has made major improvements to the Juvenile Justice system. The money saved from the closing of Springer is being used to make these improvements, which include increased behavioral health services, more best practices programs, increased educational opportunities, increased numbers of staff and much more.
    CYFD recognizes its responsibility to the safety of its youth, its staff and to the public, and change must be undertaken without sacrificing safety or accountability. We have taken and will continue to take additional security measures during this time of transition and beyond.
    Finally, we recognize the essential role of all of our partners in making this transition and improving the Juvenile Justice system in New Mexico.
    Times of change and challenge require the best of collaboration and communication and CYFD is ready to do both. We invite anyone interested in the future of these youth and the safety of our communities to work with us.
    Dorian Dodson is secretary-designate of the Children, Youth and Families Department.