They shot me with this rubber bullet that knocked me to the floor then took me to the hole. 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. A guy killed himself by hanging from a sheet. This series will relay and respect their stories: Juvie told by the ones who were there. I dont get involved with anything illegal. Sharing stuff, talking, playing cards. Why would I suffer out here? My experiences while in YTS gave me the edge that I needed to want more then I grew up with. In this episode, Jeff (aka Huerito) is short timing when he leaves the comfort of Ventura Youth Correctional Facility to arrive at Fire Camp. You dont peter-gaze, you dont do anything. The murder that I committed was against some regular person. In 2001, I went to Pelican Bay State Prison. Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS is an oral history of life inside Californias most notorious juvenile prison. They put a sign on my door that said I refused to eat. My legs were hurting. N A Chaderjian High School is located within the N.A. I was screaming and crying. Gov. Once I went to prison and became who I was, honestly, I had so much anger. But for the Chicanos, they were already in gangs. The C.O. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton, California (209) 944-6444. Flag. You cant just have this tattoo; you have to earn it. You had to jump in water and get wet for 5 seconds, jump out,, than soap up, than jump back in to rinse off. Here I am 14 years old. I punctured his heart. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail (dot) com, DAVID WILLIAM REEVE is a writer + photographer from Southern California who documents the lives of young people at risk. My mom was covered in blood. The California Youth Authority was known as "Gladiator School." You could do all the smashing you wanted to. Just because I was locked up in YA doesnt mean Im no good. I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. When his desire to fit in with the gang leads to murder, Luis sheds his need for protection by fighting for survival in YTS. The California Youth Authority (CYA), now known as the California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), is a division of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that provides education, training, and treatment services for California's most serious juvenile offenders between the ages of 12 - 25. It took months of persistent emails and letters to the state corrections department and using his family connection as leverage. I got along with gangsters better than people that were my friends. 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. You want some Nikes? Well that was 40 years ago. An oral history of stories from inside the California Youth Authority is documented by David Reeve (2019-2021). 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). You can always tell who the ringleaders and shot callers are. One thing that place taught me was move first or be moved on. 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 . Sucks but its true. Hello I was in the Californias Authority I was it Preston does a lawsuit going on about four awards that were there and can receive relief. 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. I spent my entire youth in the California Youth Authority (14-21). I was cool with everyone. They interviewed everybody. 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. I see this guy who is 24 years old doing sexual activity to this 14-year-old girl. The sweat lodge became the church for people who wanted to self-identify as Native Americans or as indigenous people from anywhere. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000, United States. Ventura School for Girls replaced the name California School for Girls in 1925 (ch. My transition back into society was rough. He died within a minute. Somebody went inside my locker and stole my Tres Flowers! Jeff earned his high school diploma while incarcerated and once paroled, never returned. I would love to see a lawsuit where we are the victors not the victims of a broke, violent system that should have been extinguished long ago. It was in the newspaper. The Collapsing Circus & California Government Violence and Murder | Christopher Maffei. As an adult, he was recruited into the top ranks of the Mexican Mafia. So the Legislature authorized continued building a 1,200-bed youth training school, the O.H. Select from premium California Youth Authority of the highest quality. They wanted to see us develop stamina. Had that wall heater in the room that they said didnt work. . 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. Beautiful girl, I loved her so much. If you knew how old I was at the time you wouldnt believe me. He brought me pizza and soda; he and my Mom came it was the first time they had been together in over a year. I learned about chow, where to sit, and shower time. O. H. Close School, P.O. first pride plant based; how to remove fan oscillation knob without screw; john wesley dean iv; grants for youth baseball organizations; minecraft dungeons return to checkpoint; viva terlingua sticker; nixon high . My Dad bought me anything I wanted. My body is still burning from the pepper spray. Bruce Lisker is a man who at age 17 was wrongly arrested, tried, and convicted for the March 10, 1983 murder of his adoptive mother Dorka, 66, in the family's Sherman Oaks residence. I remember being referred to as a YA baby in prison due to going to CYA and consequently it came with a reputation to live up to. To my brothers, Thats when they would make us roll up our mattress, blanket, and sheets( roll yo shit up!!!) It came back and around and stopped, then the shooting started. They gave him the wrong meds..Staff racking doors so violence could take place, take bets, or giving extra food (burritos from the outs) just to smash someones head. The schools are run by the county offices of education . I didnt have any life skills or money. You always look up. 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. And here comes the Volkswagen. She would have sex with guys in exchange for $100 worth of commissary. This is where the nightmare begins. I felt I needed to go along to get the older gang members approval. Im a retired U.S. Army Ranger and I served seven combat tours. I used to get love letters and stuff like that. David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. Instead of him helping me out, the psych made it worse. I had a lot of good friends who were Nazi Lowriders. It was corrupt, it was horrible, and we continue to inch our way forward into more progressive forms of discipline and rehabilitation, and Im happy to see that, Reeve said. School Type: Youth Authority Facilities: Educational Program Type: Information Not Available After a number of violent incidents that included themurder of a counselorin 1996 the state began scrutinizing the prison, he said. After discovering that his grandfather consulted for the prison, he tried to get a tour. I completed 21 years in prison and because of my age when I was convicted I was given a special BPH Board of Prison Hearings under AB261 and paroled on Life parole. I woke up one morning and saw that little paper in my window. On December 1, 1979, I was in a Christmas parade riding my lowrider bike; I came home and nobody was there. Some California Youth Authority juvenile prisons were known as "Gladiator Schools" by the wards who were incarcerated there. 44 32276 4430013. Now, of course, California leaders are phasing out the states youth prison system, which will be replaced with local supervision and services, as part of a reimagined approach to youth justice. Was there medical experimentation going on at that facility in the 1970s. The High School at N.A.Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton was stripped of its accreditation in May 2005 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. 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 . David William Reeve is an independent writer and photographer who documents the lives of juveniles at risk. Editors Note: Since the Gold Rush, Californias youth prisons or correctional institutions have been characterized by neglect, violence, and abuse, despite attempts at reform. She wrote me a letter and said, Adrin dont be mad, but this C.O. . It broke a rule for that officer to do that for anyone to do that. Without the availability of long term correctional facilities and subsequent programs that I would take advantage of in my adult hood, I would've ended up dead, imprisoned for life and definitely would have continued to victimize my community due to my gang subculture lifestyle. I heard that if youre in for murder, you cant go. Gang affiliations defined enemies and allies on the street and in prison. My choice was either go to Fire Camp or get more time, and I didnt want more time. I didnt love myself no more. They bought a house and things were good. My mom was really worried. I went to prison in Atwater, CA in Terre Haute, Indiana in Oklahoma too. Lets steal a car.. So, it was just my Dad and me. I didnt suffer anymore because I saw the way that Fire Camp was run. There were no rules. Its easy to get caught up and live a wild life in there but if if you never made strides to wanna change your mentality then that door was and still is revolving. At Fire Camp, somebody stole my shoes and money, and nobody would admit to it. You see that the Blacks are in one section; the Whites and Chicanos are on one side. A Volkswagen passes by slowly, then takes off. Friends would come over. Theres so much abuse that Id been through. I sliced my wrist and got under the blanket. Some of the stories about this place were true but not all. Thats rape in my mind. DAVID WILLIAM REEVE is a writer + photographer from Southern California who documents the lives of young people at risk. Now, the state's 58 counties must each designate a local . I had a meeting with all the Chicanos, but they didnt admit to it. Yeah I want to know what all these lawsuits going around where the f*** are our lawsuits I was in that mother f***** for almost 5 years straight I went in a child and came out of man I f****** witnessed and participated in numerous acts of extreme violence all of us even those of us that say man YA saved my life it didnt save your life bro You got m************ Stockholm syndrome all of us for those of you guys that ended up getting raped or for even you m************ that was raping those dudes every single one of us was a victim of f****** abuse and we should be on a f****** class action lawsuit we should be the one saying f*** that s*** if you were in ya in the 90s we experienced the worst prison systems in the United States had to offer second to f****** Louisburg Federal penitentiary back in the 80s. I went to his house a couple of times and met his family. Funny thing about any institution is guys will try you. Remember what they taught us? I looked at him and he looked at me, and I didnt even care. After I took my shower, I couldnt find my hair grease. I said to them, Ten years ago I was sitting in the same place you are sitting.. An oral history of stories from inside the California Youth Authority is documented by David Reeve (2019-2021). I thought I was going to freeze to death. He bothered some people. Preston #81548. Was there medical experimentation going on at that facility in the 1970s. Box , Stockton, 944-0501 Institution for 504 males. We had been out for two days, going from one fire to the next. Today, the former juvenile prison sits empty. I programmed. There were well-intentioned people who appear to have gotten caught up in the madness.. I had to confront the Blacks and the Whites. You cant take care of your son, the judge told my mom, so Im sending him to the California Youth Authority. My charges were attempted murder, so they sent me to the YA Facility at Paso Robles. Every weekend, homies would come through from their visits. We had meat. The women used to rip their pants on purpose and didnt wear panties. When I went to the hole, they stripped me down took all my clothes off. 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. I aint gonna lie. Welcome to a new series of difficult but important testimony. 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. My yts number was 33XXX thats how long ago it has been. DA/FCC #: DA-01-317; Docket/RM: 96-45, 97-21 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! My neighbor who I spent half the night talking to through the vent died that night in his cell. I went to Nrcc when I was 15 (1999)than Preston, Karl Holton, and Dewitt. 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. He saved me he had all girls and he said working at yts gave him all the sons he could ever want. If you had a girlfriend, you were lucky. Even with us gone, they still kept coming up pregnant. Laurence W. Spanne. I wasnt embarrassed. When I got out of ADX Colorado, they gave me an ATM card and flew me to South America. The room was baby blue and the lights stayed on. 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. My body was burning with pepper spray. Northern California Youth Center, Stockton, CA Includes four institutions. There was no right or wrong. We had pizza. "Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS" an oral history of life inside California's most notorious juvenile prison. proposal to construct a training center on about 6 acres of state-owned land at ca youth center to include office space, library, classrooms, residential rooms, computer learning center. They cuffed my legs to the concrete bed with my arms extended. MacLaren has a school on site to help students earn high school and college credits. I got those keys on my belt and felt, my god, how things have changed. Employment Information Due to the fact that I was locked up so many times, its hard for me. I tell my Mom Ill do good, but I want to stay with Dad. Only went to jail one time but did a gang of time as a youngsta. Youre going to be here in the hole. If the Blacks are on one side of the shower, then you dont go in the shower at all. I said, Come here, man. Shoulder to shoulder we hugged each other It worked. Report (Technical Assistance) They would put swastikas on, but there was no Aryan Brotherhood. You knock on the door one more time Ill beat your ass. The processed records of the California Youth Authority are described in the California Youth Authority finding aid. brucelisker .com. 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-~-~~-~~~-~~-~- It was a program at YTS in Units C and D. They train you to be a firefighter verified with the State. I need to use the bathroom; its an emergency.. He refused to take me to medical. He was a big guy, and he looked at me, a runner that weighed 129 pounds. Losno Says Goodbye. He was bleeding so much they thought I sliced his throat. "An inmate named Sam was a real problem. Yts 84-87 y+z 42759 Righteous Wood Here Frosty Lompoc, #66150;Definitely a gladiator school. I went on a shooting spree in 1993. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail. Education. 13575 Empire Grade Rd. The second part, after page 343, is the same complete Ten 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. She couldnt say anything to the teacher because other girls would turn on her and say she was a snitch. He worked at the TWA call center that was a vocational training program for the airline. Lord High School has a similar structure to other public schools, including: A principal, certified teachers, and other support staff. The inmate population of California, in 1977, was 19,600. In this episode, John (aka Cool Breeze) returns to YTS years after his incarceration to find employment there as a schoolteacher. They left me like that for two days in the hole. When you go to YA and get out, its like you went to war. They put me on home probation and said I could no longer live with my Dad. 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. I was actually there when that lady got killed and the body was found at the dump. When members of the gang came out of jail, we always looked up to them. This is prison. Edge that I needed to go to medical, please but california youth authority gladiator school the prison, he was bleeding much. 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