Lawsuits Allege Excessive Force and Cover-up at Florida Youth Facility

Strategic Insights -

Troubled teens and former staff members of the Hastings Youth Academy in St. Johns County, Florida, have filed lawsuits against G4S Youth Services, the company that contracts with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice to run the facility. The suits claim that staff members repeatedly used excessive force against the youth and conspired to cover up the incidents. One of the lawsuits, filed this month, alleges that an employee, Kutanna Woods, shattered a 16-year-old boy's shoulder in February 2008. The incident was captured on surveillance video, which shows the employee throwing the youth to the ground and sitting on him as he writhed in pain. The boy, now 18, continues to suffer physically and psychologically from the injury. Another lawsuit was filed by a former employee, Helen Hayes, who claims she was fired in February for reporting violations, including excessive use of force against youth and falsified forms. Hayes alleges that program managers failed to report incidents of excessive force against youths, despite state requirements to do so.

Key Takeaways:

  • Multiple lawsuits have been filed against G4S Youth Services, alleging excessive force and conspiracy to cover up incidents at the Hastings Youth Academy in St. Johns County, Florida.
  • One lawsuit claims that an employee, Kutanna Woods, shattered a 16-year-old boy's shoulder in February 2008, and that the incident was captured on surveillance video.
  • The boy, now 18, continues to suffer physically and psychologically from the injury.
  • Another lawsuit was filed by a former employee, Helen Hayes, who claims she was fired in February for reporting violations, including excessive use of force against youth and falsified forms.
  • Hayes alleges that program managers failed to report incidents of excessive force against youths, despite state requirements to do so.
  • The facility has received a rating of 80 percent in its most recent inspection, but this has been widely criticized as inadequate.
  • G4S officials claim that the employee who broke the youth's shoulder was immediately fired and that the facility has taken steps to improve its practices.

Statistics:

  • The facility has received a rating of 80 percent in its most recent inspection.
  • The boy, now 18, has not fully recovered from the injury, which has left him with lasting physical and psychological scars.
  • The whistleblower suit claims that the facility ignored past problems with excessive force and failed to properly protect its employees.
  • The facility was previously under scrutiny by the state, but was removed from a takeover notice in July 2008.
  • G4S has won a new contract to run the facility in December 2008.

Sources:

  • The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
  • McClatchy-Tribune Information Services