INJURED RESIDENT ON UNIT 5B LIVING IN SQUALOR ; OVERTIME PAYMENTS OR RACE A FACTOR ?

The reliable sources within the Department of Children and Connecticut Juvenile Training School are talking to this writer about a situation concerning another human being. I have been told the story about a male CJTS resident living in deplorable conditions on Unit 5B. This male resident has a cast on his leg and cannot move around well. Meals are brought to his room. He sits in the Unit 5B dayroom for hours. To quote a Youth Service Officer "the room smells and garbage strewn on floor. That room is not fit for dogs." Why then is a human being living in the room? Well since the State of Connecticut is closing down CJTS slowly, overtime payment are frowned upon. Ergo, it is easy to somehow or another justify not paying an employee to watch this resident in the infirmary. Yes, the resident needs to be in a hospital type setting. Finances might be one reason for the squalor this resident is living in on Unit 5B. .

Another way of viewing why the resident is living with little regard for his care might be found in his race. The youth on 5B is black. CJTS management does not have a stellar record when it comes to handling people of color, whether employees or residents. Take for example how a white youth with an injury living on the former Unit of 5D was treated. The white youth was living in the infirmary with a YSO to attend his needs. Also the white youth had parental advocates while the black youth does not. Let me be clear. Several years ago the cry for fair and humane treatment for CJTS residents went forth like mighty trumpet blasts. The Child Advocate, CT lawmakers, disgruntled YSO right winger whistle blowers, etc called for justice concerning youth restraints. To make matters worse, YSO Dupree became the poster child of restraints, loss his job. He fought and got the job back, but my point is no expense was spared in denouncing a muscular black man over allegations of harming youth. Dupree suffered public humiliation over a witch hunt at CJJTS.

Now there is a black resident on Unit 5B injured and wearing a leg cast. He lives in deplorable conditions inside a room. There are no hues or cries about his humanity. The writer of this blog has to wonder if Key Stone Cops management at CJTS placed saving overtime money in front of caring for the resident. Then just maybe being black and without parental advocates is hindering the resident being admitted to the infirmary.

One thing is known for certain, the white boy who had a similar injury while living on the former Unit 5D went to the infirmary-with overtime YSOs to help.