Im not eating because theres a lot of things happening, and I dont know who to talk to. I told him everything that Id seen. Despite having spent $5.2 billion on prison construction in the last decade, California still has one of the most overcrowded prison s. Because I ran a pretty straight program. Box , Stockton, 944-0501 Institution for 504 males. I went on a good 6 year tour. These changes to the system are a result of Senate Bill 823, which Gov. I figured I was going to parole from there. I fell to my knees beside her and could see she was still breathing. The inmate population of California, in 1977, was 19,600. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail, The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison. It all becomes very complicated; its not good guys versus bad guys, Reeve said. 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. This C.O. Less than year faced life as juvenile. 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. I was sipping on water and then one of my homeboys says, Lets go. I walked into that bus in shackles, chained up. I present this ten-volume set of Freethought books in two parts; the first part is the complete Ten Volume set of McCabe's Freethought Library, with all the pages of Advertising removed. It broke a rule for that officer to do that for anyone to do that. I was crying. The C.O. Once I went to prison and became who I was, honestly, I had so much anger. 531 Followers. My Mom and Dad divorced in 1967. It was a learning experience. When I was in the hole, it was dark. 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. "Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS" an oral history of life inside California's most notorious juvenile prison. You need some counseling, somebody to talk to you and hear you out. Youre kind of small. Distinguishing Characteristics. Below is an account of photographer David Reeves 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 Youth Training School (YTS). My first week at YTS, I have a picture of my Dad who came to visit 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. I was the drag shovel, meaning I was at the end of the line and I carried the medicine and the toilet paper in a backpack. In my eyes, Im just a person that tried to survive. Pretty much ran my own program. Now, the state's 58 counties must each designate a local . Theoretically, that was accomplished. Much love to all my broken friends who cant be fixers. She just disappeared one day. When I tell you to stand up, youre going to stand up. I had a meeting with all the Chicanos, but they didnt admit to it. I was sent to the hole, but I earned my respect. It was normal. The California Youth Authority was known as "Gladiator School." You could do all the smashing you wanted to. or. At Ventura, half of the unit is for guys and half of the unit is for ladies. The overhaul, however quickly it came, has been batted around for years as critics pushed for reform. In August of 1996 a counselor was killed in YTS (Youth Training School) in Chino, California. I was in solitary confinement so long, I decided that this was not the life that I wanted anymore. Legislation transferred all three schools, placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Institutions in 1921 (ch. I went to his house a couple of times and met his family. Wards and staff were in physical danger due to the environment, abundance of contraband and a broken health care system, the report said. I was gonna defend myself. By MARK GLADSTONE and JAMES RAINEY. I didnt know what was wrong with me. The smell, loneliness the gloomy days. All future Diplomas from this Stockton CYA facility will not carry the WASC accreditation. Beautiful girl, I loved her so much. The California Youth Authority is confronted with various challenges that call for a fresh examination of its facility needs: (1) an aging infrastructure with housing-related and other deficiencies; (2) demands for special facilities, as a result of state, federal, and court mandates to deliver mental health and education . Gladiator school.. I was gonna be tough. After I took my shower, I couldnt find my hair grease. E: FreshOutSeries@gmail.comhttp://www.freshoutseries.com/https://www.instagram.com/freshoutseries/https://www.facebook.com/Freshoutserieshttps://www.patreon.com/Freshoutseries-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-Please watch: \"Confessions of a Former Rampart CRASH Officer - Fresh Out: Life After The Penitentiary\" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdWStRS4zv4-~-~~-~~~-~~-~- He bothered some people. He died of colon cancer at 53. 2. This is the intermedia. The Whites they were called Woods. The Youth Authority had been created in 1941 (ch. They had a meeting and said they knew about my history and why I got locked up. The anger I felt, the violence, the heartlessness, the cages, the smell, the water, the blood, the impact of being shot by beanbag guns, the riots, 1 one 1s, broken hands, the tension in the air just before it kicks off, staff assaults, drugs, alcohol, death. In this episode, Bruce Lisker is accused of an unimaginable crime that casts him from the safety of his suburban Sherman Oaks home into a nightmarish new reality and the struggle to survive Gladiator School. For me, seeing that in Ventura, seeing her shaking, seeing the lights go out thats somebodys daughter. The author, who was the director of the California Youth Authority (CYA) for 3 years beginning in 1991, describes CYA's responsibilities in governing the State's juvenile facilities. You need to get a lawyer.. I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. When I went to the hole, they stripped me down took all my clothes off. Report (Technical Assistance) There was Im alive and staying alive, or the opposite.. He told me whenever youre drunk, but you still want to drink, pour your beer out and put water in it. Ive been a Ironworker for about 14 years. Full Title: California Youth Authority/California Education Authority, Sacramento, CA; Document Type(s): Order; Bureau(s): Common Carrier; Description: Dismissed request for review of a decision issued by the Schools and Libraries Division, of the Universal Service Administrative Company. The California Youth Authority no longer exists because it was the most brutal and abusive environment known to any juvenile detention facility in the United States of . Select from premium California Youth Authority of the highest quality. It was a job working for the California Youth Authority part of the government, so there was a lot of forms to fill out and questions to answer. or. I just lost it. I had to confront the Blacks and the Whites. After doing time in YTS CYA I went right to prison with a LIFE sentence for a gang related shooting and gang enhancements. California Dept of the Youth Authority. 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. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. There was no right or wrong. My choice was either go to Fire Camp or get more time, and I didnt want more time. I held knowledge about gangs because I was a shot-caller, so they didnt want me to have any contact with other gang members. Northern California Youth Center, Stockton, CA Includes four institutions. In the 1980s, long before Snoop Dogg and the rest of his crew had found success, they were Westside gang members living a street lifestyle that often included run-ins with the law. There were well-intentioned people who appear to have gotten caught up in the madness.. They were putting me to a test to see if I was going to snitch. The California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), previously known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), . Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. Jeff J., aka Huerito served three years and ten months in multiple juvenile facilities, including Ventura Juvenile Correctional Facility where in 1984 he was selected to transfer to Youth Trade School in Chino and serve his remaining time in Fire Camp. The schools are run by the county offices of education . It was so hard working. It came back and around and stopped, then the shooting started. Im sure it fucked us up worse. This all coming to light is a long time coming. Some like Bruce Lisker were falsely accused. Feb. 15, 2021 5 AM PT. Wasnt the best time in my life, saw some things, but the trauma made me who I am now. At least eight times in the last three years, unruly . I get a paper and write her a note and use the elastic string in my boxers to slide it under her door. Nobody had any honor. We got really close. My experiences while in YTS gave me the edge that I needed to want more then I grew up with. Shipped to OH on the green dick. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Redemption my brothers! I was walking in slow motion, like a zombie. With the juvenile system changing in California, he said its important to remember these stories so they arent repeated. I could write a book right now! When I went to the shower, the officer setting up my food spit in it. I was actively fighting, gang banging, throwing fucks, kicking off riots, Ironwood and tamarack programs. I spent Two years in Gladiator School..California youth authority. Everybody from Los Angeles got along. He looked tough. CYA has also . And here comes the Volkswagen. I got the gun. Instead of him helping me out, the psych made it worse. He punched me in my ribs. The California Youth Authority (CYA) received a $150,000 direct grant from the CIWMB at its Board meeting in April 2003. General Inquiries info@calyouth.org. She had two knives stuck in her back. But it really hit hard right here in YTS. I was not the only one. I was sipping on water and then one of my homeboys says, Lets go. A county or juvenile facility. I sliced my wrist and got under the blanket. Rough Times Back then. Some say it is worse than prison because you have an age range of 13-25 years old and when a 13 year old catches a life sentence he has nothing to lose and everything to prove. The prison was closed in 2010 when the State had no other solution for the violence and mayhem there; a State Attorney called it an especially horrible place and hundreds of workers lost their jobs. My yts number was 33XXX thats how long ago it has been. I couldnt see outside, but they can see in. Education. I wanted to respond with absolute violence so bad and at the same time i internally didnt really want to hurt anyone. Just because I was locked up in YA doesnt mean Im no good. The murder that I committed was against some regular person. I was actually there when that lady got killed and the body was found at the dump. 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. I was trying to mind my own business. All of them who I was able to build a relationship with return to Oakland and was connected to support services all did very well. My mom was really worried. And he cried because even tim could see what that place had done to me. From inmates to staff to visitors to religious volunteers. An oral history of stories from inside the California Youth Authority is documented by David Reeve (2019-2021). When I went to Wasco State Prison, I started getting involved really heavy with gangs. Nobodys victim. By 1980, my Dad was working in Los Angeles and I had no supervision. Headquarters Education Services. Rafael "Al" Losno Jr. came to prison during the era when phrases like "battle gyms and gladiator schools" were the norm. Just before i graduated from Oxnard community College, a number of female wards started coming up pregnant. Approximately 1-in-3 young people say they . His name was Tim. I was a teenager, so I knew everything. Today, that total is approximately 159,000 and growing. I shot a couple people on the street and I got arrested. Coming of age,puberty. It helped me to see what life was like, even though everything had changed. The despair. WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE 1732.8 FOLLOW-UP REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 2004 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, GOVERNOR OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL PAGE 5 ORIGINAL FINDING NUMBER 1: The Office of the Inspector General found that dual-commitment wards are not allowed to attend their annual reviews and parole consideration date reviews and have little contact with the California Youth . 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. School Type: Youth Authority Facilities: Educational Program Type: Information Not Available Gladiator school.. 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. 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. Tons of memories some good and bad. Why would I suffer out here? Your eyes are focused straight ahead. Riots kicked off every week. He was bleeding so much they thought I sliced his throat. I went on a shooting spree in 1993. Til this day, I still struggle with it. David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. Yts 84-87 y+z 42759 Righteous Wood Here Frosty Lompoc, #66150;Definitely a gladiator school. 1978. This is where the nightmare begins.. I explained to them I was aware of them reading my file so you know why Im here (I was sent to YA for 1st Degree Murder). This is prison. Big Herc went to California Youth Authority Preston, where you can find kids charged with everything from Assault to Murder. They took the teardrop off of my face with a laser. According to . When you first go in, you have to know the rules and regulations, and theres always somebody willing to give all the information. I was one of them real one who didnt tell and I did the time for something I didnt even do. I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. Youth Training School (known formally as Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility) had a reputation for mayhem, violence, and murder that earned it the name Gladiator School. If I only knew what I understand now maybe I would have never hurt so many people in my life especially my family. One thing that place taught me was move first or be moved on. Wed go to church because of the blind spots. I had 3 solid homies that I would ride with. Around 2 o clock in the morning, all the power went off. Tim later explained to me I reminded him of an abused animal, ready to attack anything that got close to me. What unit do you live on?. This is called initiation! When I got out of ADX Colorado, they gave me an ATM card and flew me to South America. So the kicked us out. Whites didnt have gangs. A Law Was Meant to Free Sick or Aging Inmates. You go through CPR training and fire rescue training. I wanted some way out. North Hollywood Boy reflects on years in gang, juvenile hall and California Youth Authority (pt1) Sexual assaults in CYA. When I was in Ventura, I put a S.U.R. It became a party house. N A Chaderjian High School is located within the N.A. It took me a while to come to terms with this and the whole evolution that allowed this to happen. I was a juvenile lifer. Tracy to Cedar to Greenbrier and spent most my time in the Rack. He used to go there every morning and they paid good money. During the bad old days of the mid-1990s through to the early 2000s, when Californias youth prison system was known as the California Youth Authority, or CYA, the system was plagued by a mind-numbing level of controversy and scandal that included a wave of youth suicides and graphic reports of horrific abuse by staff. Adrin isnt a snitch. Im 40 and still remember even the damn address. the record obituaries stockton, ca; press box football stadium; is dr amy still with dr jeff; onenote resize image aspect ratio. Visit davidreeve.net for more. I was screaming and crying. Violence was common at YTS. They left me like that for two days in the hole. David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. I am 1%/1000 that made it in life. I dont know how to do anything after being locked up for so long. Sucks but its true. He brought me pizza and soda; he and my Mom came it was the first time they had been together in over a year. And most of the time he just couldnt even talk about it as an adult. I said, Come here, man. Shoulder to shoulder we hugged each other It worked. We play for real, they said. I was able to write a book about my experience to help with the PTSD. Everyone else was just associates. The state gave CYA a budget of around $200,000, of which $60,000 was meant to pay the three board members' salaries. 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. I barely made it, but Im here taking care of my 5 kids. Jesse Ferguson, a 22-year-old from Richmond, has been at N.A. Arrested 1983. Memories of blood and even my neighbor that died. "An inmate named Sam was a real problem. I didnt want to fight and get more time but I had to do something. in preston, a 90 day observation could turn into a 10 year stay depending on how old you was. 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