Legislative visit reveals problems at Nevada reformatory

ELKO -- Lawmakers who toured the Nevada Youth Correctional Center say some of the reformatory's problems cited in a federal report appear to be fixed -- but other deficiencies remain.

While concerns about physical abuse of boys at the center, cited in a U.S. Department of Justice report, seem to be resolved, youths said in confidential interviews that verbal abuse continues.

Lawmakers also expressed concern about their interview with Vonetta Menaka, the registered nurse employed by NYTC, who said a dozen boys had recently been taken off psychotropic drugs. Legislators said that was an unacceptable practice.

One DOJ complaint was that youths were often taken off psychotropic medications when admitted to the facility, although the state earlier had denied this practice.

Menaka told legislators the boys had been "weaned off" their medications on orders from a physician who wasn't a psychiatrist and who didn't always have the youths' medical records.

Lawmakers also questioned the facility's ability to handle boys needing special attention.

Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, a former special education teacher, encountered one of her former students, dressed in the facility-standard khaki pants and green golf shirt, during the tour.

The boy told Giunchigliani he'd been placed in special education classes, but his individual education plan hadn't been implemented, and he wasn't given regular access to computers.

Joe Edson, principal of Independence High School inside the facility, said it's an arduous process to determine which youths qualify for special education, and then target them for that educational track.

When youths are transferred to NYTC, he said they rarely have all their criminal, educational and physical records.

Edson said that of the 144 boys in NYTC, just 29 are classified as special education. Giunchigliani said it's more likely that half of the students need special education.

Assemblywoman Sheila Leslie, D-Reno, said the consistent use of "time out" as a disciplinary method also is problematic with special education students. Under "time out," youth are locked in a room and must sit upright on the side of their beds.

Giunchigliani said that under state law, it's illegal for special education students to be treated in such a manner -- but her former student said he had received such punishment repeatedly.

Boys interviewed by lawmakers also said that while staffers generally treat them well, some regularly insult them and try to intimidate them.

"Some of the time I just think they take their job too seriously," said one boy.

The Justice Department's report late last year criticized NYTC for maintaining a "culture of violence," and cited several incidents where excessive force had been used. In one case a boy received a gash on his head for making fun of a guard's sweater.

The youths generally agreed it's no longer a common practice for the staff to "lay their hands" on the boys, although one ward told Leslie he had been assaulted.

During the confidential interviews, staffers said they never witnessed physical abuse. But some lawmakers questioned the employees' candor, since the facility superintendent and other administrators were just outside the interview room.

Lawmakers heard one consistent theme from staffers -- they like their jobs but more employees are needed. During the night hours, one staff member regularly guards up to 30 youths.

Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget proposal includes funding for an additional 23 staff members at the facility.

Legislators agreed additional staff is needed, as recommended in the DOJ report. But some questioned how to implement the increase.

"I'm not going to just give them more people just to do the same thing in the same atmosphere with the same attitude, no way," Giunchigliani said.

Lawmakers also said mandatory child abuse reporting is a problem. While people overseeing the youths must report even a suspicion of child abuse, some staffers who were interviewed lacked an understanding of the requirement.

"They don't have a clue. They have not been properly trained on how to report, what to report, why to report and or what they're responsibility is, and that scares me," Giunchigliani said.

Some employees said they wouldn't report if they only suspected abuse was occuring, while others said they'd only report it to their superiors. Giunchigliani said that under the law, any staffer must report abuse directly to the state Department of Child and Family Services.

Leslie said the Legislature needs to be more directly involved in the activities of the reformatory. She said a committee should continually evaluate NYTC, and report back to the Legislature.

Joining Giunchigliani and Leslie on the trip were Assemblymen Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, William Horne, D-Las Vegas, and John Carpenter, R-Elko. DCFS chief Ed Cotton and his boss, state Human Resources Director Michael Willden also accompanied the lawmakers.