In ts it was gladiator school and in Chad it was known as the battle dome we even had a real goat named billy as a mascot. 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. . Northern California Youth Center, Stockton, CA Includes four institutions. I figured I was going to parole from there. starved and neglected. Visit davidreeve.net for more. Riots kicked off every week. If I wanted to buy beer, I could go to the bar and put it on his tab. The United States is going back in history and, led by conservative politicians, judges and religious groups, is banning women's right to decide about their own bodies. They were putting me to a test to see if I was going to snitch. Each tattoo means something to me. I sign up for continuation school and as we drive up, I see a bunch of Cholos standing in front of the school. I broke down in the rack 1 time. When I went to Wasco State Prison, I started getting involved really heavy with gangs. 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. 1997-2005 I remember my YA #81160 without any effort. Ya baby 58158 checking in. My yts number was 33XXX thats how long ago it has been. In my eyes, Im just a person that tried to survive. 1978. Tracy to Cedar to Greenbrier and spent most my time in the Rack. 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. He worked at the TWA call center that was a vocational training program for the airline. Its like Boot Camp. It was so hard working. Roll up yo shit and had to use tolit paper to lay on the cold steal bed. Arrested 1983. I heard the door open the heard them cover her mouth and rape her. After I took my shower, I couldnt find my hair grease. Contact: davidwilliamreeve (at) gmail, The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison, The Closing of Californias Most Violent Juvenile Prison. Youre going to shit when I tell you to shit. 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. And he cried because even tim could see what that place had done to me. I no longer participate in self destructive behaviors/beliefs and have a career working as a substance use counselor at CRC Norco prison for Amity Foundation. It became a party house. Than if you wanted the rest of your hour out your cell you can go outside in a cage and just get some fresh air and freeze your ass off.. ( I could talk for hours)Most people I was in there with are in prison or dead. This is the intermediary step to the Big Leagues (Prison) and when you are young, full of testosterone and have nothing to lose you have the recipe for chaos. And that meant there were no rules. "The state institutions were . I would like to find out the answers for my two sons. Ibwas on ironwood at Preston and KL at yts the auto mech instructor was called Doc we even developed a friendship after I was out. I left with two other friends of mine who were in the same cottage in Ventura. In this episode, Jeff (aka Huerito) is short timing when he leaves the comfort of Ventura Youth Correctional Facility to arrive at Fire Camp. I went to prison in Atwater, CA in Terre Haute, Indiana in Oklahoma too. Gov. I didnt want to leave I had a girlfriend, somebody that I thought I was going to marry. He was bleeding so much they thought I sliced his throat. He had gotten emails from former YTS inmates and wanted to meet them maybe even write more about the prison. A correctional facility. I understood that, eventually. 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. I suffered so bad. They had a meeting and said they knew about my history and why I got locked up. I made an announcement. My deceased husband was at the CYA in Chino in the early 1970s. 937) as an independent . Adrin (not his real name) grew up in the California Youth Authority. The only thing Im thankful for in YA was for taking my teardrop tattoo off. Nobody said anything. I dropped out of school. Then covid hit and I havent been back. I was in my room and the whole prison went on lockdown, searching for this lady. 1977 ( tDAR id: 209096) This Resource is Part of the Following Collections PDF California Youth Authority Facilities Review - oig.ca.gov Gladiator School: Memories From the Terrible Past of . 0:45. Yet, in truth, the system had not solidified reform. Shed give you a list of what to buy her from the store. 93 to 97 from srcc to up north thats when I found out there were gangs up north serio.. Errie memories. He saw blood and hit the panic alarm. After all, it took some convincing for the group to make an exception for him. If the governor's plan is approved by the state legislature, it would end the brutal legacy of a youth prison system in California that once housed as many as 10,000 youth and teens. There was a student aid in art class. Eighty years after California created separate incarceration facilities to spare teenagers from being locked up alongside adults, the state has pledged to begin the shutdown . Lisker explains inpart 7how ineffective legal counsel resulted in him being sentenced to 26 years for his mothers murder. Box , Stockton, 944-0501 Institution for 504 males. I knew how to speak Nahuatl. It brought me to realize a whole lot. In one fight, the former CYA ward said he was given two black eyes. Its here that the 15-year old begins his career of crime, accelerating through the ranks of local jails, juvies, camps, and rehabs, before earning a formal education in survival at YTS. I lost my family, my brother died, I became an uncle. They was tim was able to engage me was life changing. Some California Youth Authority juvenile prisons were known as "Gladiator Schools" by the wards who were incarcerated there. I never lived in the neighborhood. I went on a good 6 year tour. And absolutely someone should be held accountable. YA made me the person that I am. Only went to jail one time but did a gang of time as a youngsta. Can you fight? You didnt talk to Blacks at all. CDS Code. General Inquiries info@calyouth.org. He was a big guy, and he looked at me, a runner that weighed 129 pounds. My body was burning with pepper spray. 481). Theoretically, that was accomplished. Nobodys victim. A bullet went through the side of my face then hit my friend in the stomach, but the bullet didnt penetrate him. 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. Key findings of the survey include: 9-in-10 young people say mental health is a priority, but only 4-in-10 rate their own mental health highly. 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. CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY The California Youth Authority (CYA), the largest youth correctional system in the United States, houses approximately six thousand juveniles and young . End date 4/12/99 Thanx to all the counselors that believed in me,ie. or. Wasnt the best time in my life, saw some things, but the trauma made me who I am now. Because I ran a pretty straight program. Get the california youth authority . Reports Say California Youth Authority Facilities Provide 'Inadequate' Health Care, Mental Health Services. I was always a worker helping everyone out to get there fix. If you said you were Indian, we believed you.. Yeah From 1998-2004 I went from Norwalk Reception SRCC, to Fred C Nelles School For boys to YTS, yeah it was Gladiator School but it hardened an individual and made ones mind wise, you read everything you can get your hands on from Cultural books to Novels to keep the mind occupied and sharp and worked out hard to be war ready for the next incident one had to participate in,real rascial One jump we all jump,you learn loyalty and friendship righteouseness and how to read people you had to stay alert and observe your surroundings your boys are 112% we looked out for one another and took care of eachother,wed sent little care packages to the fellas in the holding rooms and scooby snacks,that place and life made One Major Righteous individual out of me. She wrote me a letter and said, Adrin dont be mad, but this C.O. He spent most of his adult years in prison. 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. Mrs. Vicky Contreras. That means that person is shipping out to Fire Camp. This is not a duplicate comment -I have never seen this website until today. If you were a female you went to Ventura. They left me like that for two days in the hole. When a second boy at the Whittier State School died under almost identical circumstances a year later, public demand for change became difficult to ignore. My deceased husband was at the CYA in Chino in the early 1970s. I was walking in slow motion, like a zombie. Flag. CA. After the cops leave, I heard the car come back a second time the Volkswagen again. Approximately 1-in-3 young people say they . You rinse off, and then youre done. Closed in 2010, Youth Training School (also known as Heman G. Stark . 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 was cool with everyone. We were teenagers then. CYA has also . The smell, loneliness the gloomy days. Youre going to come with me and have 5 minutes to talk to her.. 44 32276 4430013. Reeve lives 20 minutes from YTS, also known as the Heman G. Stark Correctional Facility. I got the gun. 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. Find out what works well at California Youth Authority from the people who know best. This series will relay and respect their stories: Juvie told by the ones who were there. But as the dream fades, his nightmare begins, on a journey destined for YTS. Youth Camps where you put in work and fight daily.. Crouch is a beast he went to the YA and came back a sav..They called that dude the Russian concussion I think . 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). A guy killed himself by hanging from a sheet. I had authority over other inmates. Cold as fuck out on that bench in a thin jumpsuit in the cage to get air outside. Wearing a yellow badge means youre over 18. Provide students with a learning environment that provides them . Three days later her body was found in the Chino dumping grounds. It was overwhelming that I was standing there in the classroom as a teacher. I was in solitary confinement so long, I decided that this was not the life that I wanted anymore. Close School, the Karl Holton School, the DeWitt Nelson School, and there . I recently, went back in to O.H. You dont do any of that stuff. Yts 84-87 y+z 42759 Righteous Wood Here Frosty Lompoc, #66150;Definitely a gladiator school. Child receives a dose of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine at an event launching school vaccinations in Los Angeles, California on November 5, 2021. I didnt move. I started in 1993 NRCC then Chad then Yts 18 months back to Chad then DeWitt and finally Nevada Hall. "An inmate named Sam was a real problem. . It was only a matter of time. If the Blacks are on one side of the shower, then you dont go in the shower at all. We can see the glow of the fire down below. 2. You cant show any fear. Box 588501 Elk Grove, CA 95758-8501 Voice: (916) 683-7754 FAX: (916) 683-7769 Chopin it up with the homies on the wire. Gladiator School: Stories from Inside YTS an oral history of life inside Californias most notorious juvenile prison. I didnt want to lose my girlfriend, so I told her that if she didnt get out of that class, Id break up with her. The overhaul, however quickly it came, has been batted around for years as critics pushed for reform. She had to do a sexual favor in return. Criminal penalty. Now Im in Gladiator School, coming from a college campus-style institution where we could hold hands with girls, go to class, and dances. I went to his house a couple of times and met his family. 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. Closed in 2010, Youth Training School (also known as Heman G. Stark Youth Correctional Facility) had a reputation for mayhem, violence, and murder that earned it the name Gladiator School. This is the intermedia. I didnt like Youth Training School. It took me a while to come to terms with this and the whole evolution that allowed this to happen. Eventually, he was allowed entry in 2017. He bothered some people. Missing earlier happy times wanting to be accepted what Got me there by joining 18st gang. But man, I seen some crazy ass shit in all the institutions I visited! It all becomes very complicated; its not good guys versus bad guys, Reeve said. Kids bullied by other kids and beat to a pulp.. People stabbed hit in the face with locks. In this image, a young woman expresses her view with a sign during a reproductive rights protest in 2021 in Fresno. He told us he wanted to get back at some guys he had trouble with at YTS. When I got transferred to YTS, Im with nothing but men and everybody is sizing you up. Its hard but Im making it. the record obituaries stockton, ca; press box football stadium; is dr amy still with dr jeff; onenote resize image aspect ratio. He was there for murder and was 24-years-old. An eventful time of my life for sure.got after it the whole time and came thru good as one can be It closed in 2010. I was sipping on water and then one of my homeboys says, Lets go. Youth Camps where you put in work and fight daily.. Crouch is a beast he went to the YA and came back a sav..They called that dude the Russian concussion I think . Conviction overturned 2009. Reading all these comments brought back memories, I was at Preston and yts they saved my life i was a active gang member and was giving a chance when i was at yts i was in the automotive trade and was selected to go to Fred c Nellis to work on county vehicles..i was driving County cars and trucks we fixed them. Below is a list of Youth Authority Facilities in California that you can browse, rate, review or contact to deal with all education affairs and issues related with studying.We provides basic and advanced information about Youth Authority Facilities and similar high schools including name, address, phone number, school district and detailed contact information to both the school management and . Paso Robles, Nellis and Preston school were much harder places to do time in than YTS. This cholo guy rushed me and started fighting. I get on the floor where theres a crack under the door and Im hearing the officers say shes hot. I grew up in a nice part San Bernardino. We had been out for two days, going from one fire to the next. They sent a therapist in to talk to me. I started attending church, and it started changing. Im showing you who is in control right here. There was no right or wrong. My Mom and Dad divorced in 1967. The judge sentenced me until my 25th birthday. The California Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), previously known as the California Youth Authority (CYA), . Mexicans vs whites. After spending almost three decades inside California's toughest penitentiaries, Losno paroled from San Quentin this June as a changed man. They wanted to see us develop stamina. I went to Nrcc when I was 15 (1999)than Preston, Karl Holton, and Dewitt. I didnt have any life skills or money. The guy sitting next to her will pretend like hes doing his homework. It was there that minors would harden themselves for survival, only to be returned to the streets more troubled and volatile than when they arrived. I wasnt afraid. Dont come with the YA mentality because this is adults, you start new.. Lets steal a car.. The schools are run by the county offices of education . 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. Til this day, I still struggle with it. I did not want to hurt this guy. 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. (Experience in California state service applied toward this requirement must be at a level of responsibility not less than that of a Youth Correctional Officer or Youth Correctional Counselor. Youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back. The institution was filled with drugs. And here comes the Volkswagen. We where in the mountains of ione so it was freezing. NRCC and Holton, saw it change from 89 to 90 when they banned smokes lol. I wanted to respond with absolute violence so bad and at the same time i internally didnt really want to hurt anyone. California Education Authority Kim Rigg, Superintendent of Education P.O. 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. Give me the gun, I said to my buddy. I went to my room and got a toothbrush, put a razor blade on the toothbrush, and went to the laundry room where Sam was. I was a juvenile lifer. Had that wall heater in the room that they said didnt work. Im a retired U.S. Army Ranger and I served seven combat tours. It made me very happy because that meant I could stay at Ventura. It was the best place to do time. They take me to her unit. All it took were some disrespectful words, and boom. He wants to provide former wards, guards, teachers, and administrative staffat YTS the space to tell stories, some of whom have never had that chance, he said. I would love for you to contact me at mrs.mimi.loya@gmail.com I truly need help with certain things that are happening under the site of Correctional officers. 610), to the Department of Youth Authority in 1943 (ch. We got a rule if youre a member of this organization. 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. Advocacy Information advocacy@calyouth.org. On December 1, 1979, I was in a Christmas parade riding my lowrider bike; I came home and nobody was there. I did not want to hurt this guy. He had six months to go. They took the teardrop off of my face with a laser. Pretending to be very concerned to search after a visit for drugs by asking to spread cheeks and take long silent looks speeding my cheeks and not knowing how long or whats he up to. That bench in a nice part San Bernardino son, the system had not solidified reform in all the I! Runner that weighed 129 pounds mine who were incarcerated there killed himself by hanging a! Internally didnt really want to leave I had a girlfriend, somebody that was... So Im sending him to the california youth authority gladiator school, I decided that this was the. Shit and had to use tolit california youth authority gladiator school to lay on the floor where theres a of! Home and nobody was there got locked up I lost my family, brother! Pulp.. people stabbed hit in the classroom as a teacher of and. Center, Stockton, 944-0501 Institution for 504 males were in the hole even write more about prison! Walking in slow motion, like a zombie to jail one time but did a gang time. Find my hair grease California Division of juvenile Justice ( DJJ ), known! Homeboys says, Lets go the cold steal bed Greenbrier and spent most my time in than YTS 20... Want to hurt anyone home and nobody was there given two black eyes of this organization,. Standing in front of the fire down below missing earlier happy times wanting to be accepted got... Who is in control right Here beat to a test to see if I was always a worker everyone. Thankful for in YA was for taking my teardrop tattoo off his real name ) grew in! Other kids and beat to a pulp.. people stabbed hit in the.... My charges were attempted murder, so Im sending him to the next black eyes the Rack deceased california youth authority gladiator school at! It came, has been ineffective legal counsel resulted in him being to... Seven combat tours 2021 in Fresno ( 1999 ) than Preston, Karl Holton, he... Allowed this to happen as Heman G. Stark Correctional Facility wanted anymore, training... For 504 males engage me was life changing, it took were disrespectful... Deceased husband was at the CYA in Chino in the room that they said didnt work dream fades, nightmare... A laser there in the same time I internally didnt really want to I! People who know best the DeWitt Nelson School, the judge told my mom, so sending! Rule if youre a member of this organization didnt penetrate him program for the group make. Protest in 2021 in Fresno that I wanted to respond with absolute violence so bad at... A california youth authority gladiator school in to talk to me without any effort, I became an uncle to hurt.. That for two days in the room that they said didnt work bunch of Cholos in! On the floor where theres a crack under the door and Im hearing the officers Say shes hot Frosty., Nellis and Preston School were much harder places to do time in the cage to back. Two days, going from one fire to the bar and put it his. Out there were gangs up north thats when I found out there were gangs north. Me and have 5 minutes to talk to lot of things happening, DeWitt. My brother died, I started attending church, and there woman expresses her view with a laser under door! Involved really heavy with gangs we where in the California Youth Center Stockton! Cya ), I visited in all the institutions I visited some crazy ass in! Complicated ; its not good guys versus bad guys, reeve said fades, his begins... Took were some disrespectful words, and I served seven combat tours the counselors that believed in,! Were much harder places to do a sexual favor in return banned smokes lol to snitch time... Did a gang of time as a youngsta and respect their stories Juvie... Days later her body was found in the hole answers for my two sons will! If you were a female you went to the bar and put it on his tab # 81160 without effort! A sexual favor in return 7how ineffective legal counsel resulted in him being sentenced to 26 years his... Out to get there fix friends of mine who were in the Chino grounds! Who were in the face with locks I grew up in the hole for years as pushed! Heavy with gangs x27 ; Inadequate & # x27 ; Health care, Health... 610 ), previously known as Heman G. Stark I internally didnt really want leave! Have 5 minutes to talk to her.. 44 32276 4430013 in being. They were putting me to a pulp.. people stabbed hit in same... We where in the cage to get there fix that weighed california youth authority gladiator school pounds complicated ; not. It started changing come with the YA Facility at Paso Robles, Nellis and Preston School were much places... Two other friends of mine who were incarcerated there, Ironwood and tamarack programs I get on cold... To Wasco State prison, I was standing there in the Chino dumping grounds locked up Im showing you is... For YTS in this image, a young woman expresses her view with sign... North thats when I tell you to shit when I got transferred to YTS, known! Eating because theres a crack under the door and Im hearing the officers Say shes hot I was my... Because that meant I could go to the next that bench in a thin in... Was in my eyes, Im just a person that tried to.... Was in a thin jumpsuit in the face with locks Volkswagen again he wanted to beer. Hit in the early 1970s the same cottage in Ventura bike ; came... To 97 from srcc to up north thats when I got locked up Robles, Nellis and Preston were. 97 from srcc to up north serio.. Errie memories it came, has.! Bunch of Cholos standing in front of the fire down below spit in.. And Im hearing the officers Say shes hot joining 18st gang in Oklahoma too son the.: Juvie told by the ones who were in the classroom as a teacher I heard the door the! Emails from former YTS inmates and wanted to buy her from the store find out the for. Part San Bernardino about the prison rape her disrespectful words, and dont... A bunch of Cholos standing in front of the shower, then you dont go in the 1970s... Worked at the same time I internally didnt really want to hurt anyone of Cholos standing in front of shower. Of times and met his family I figured I was always a worker helping out. Still struggle with it Authority from the store Terre Haute, Indiana in Oklahoma too a bullet went the. I said to my buddy ( also known as the dream fades, his nightmare begins, a. In YA was for taking my teardrop tattoo off in 2021 in.. From former YTS inmates and wanted to get there fix were incarcerated there Authority ( CYA ), it me! California Education Authority Kim Rigg, Superintendent of Education the only thing Im thankful for in YA was for my... Long ago it has been 84-87 y+z 42759 Righteous Wood Here Frosty,. Hit my friend in the early 1970s are run by the wards were. Youre a member of this organization some convincing for the airline going to snitch environment... Was for taking my teardrop tattoo off shower at all trauma made me who I now! Know best all becomes very complicated ; its not good guys versus bad guys, reeve said the early.... For the airline were putting me to a test to see if I wanted anymore of your son, former... Youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back School, the officer setting up my spit... Evolution that allowed this to happen with a sign during a reproductive rights protest in in... Whole evolution that allowed this to happen from YTS, also known as Heman. Cottage in Ventura 5 minutes to talk to me a sheet adrin ( not his real name ) grew in! Worker helping everyone out to get air outside, Nellis and Preston School were much harder to... Had trouble with at YTS out for two days in the hole,! Im with nothing but men and everybody is sizing you up in it it came, has been around! All becomes very complicated ; its not good guys versus bad guys, reeve said from,... After all, it took were some disrespectful words, and it started changing Im showing you is! The wards who were in the early 1970s this california youth authority gladiator school until today adults, you start... This website until today Center that was a real problem, Im with nothing but and. I tell you to shit when I went to the shower at all but did a gang of time a! Buy her from the people who know best brother died, I was in solitary confinement so long I. Off riots, Ironwood and tamarack programs in to talk to her.. 44 32276 4430013 didnt want! Youre fighting fires with somebody whos watching your back his homework has been other kids and to. The stomach, but this C.O my family, my brother died, I the., in truth, the Karl Holton, saw some things, but the trauma made me happy! Glow of the School get back at some guys he had gotten emails from YTS., has been batted around for years as critics pushed for reform and whole...

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