By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The superintendent of the state’s juvenile jail in Albuquerque was removed from his position this week, after a double escape, two escape attempts and a brawl that involved dozens of inmates.
Bruce Langston had led the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center since 2005. Romaine Serna, spokeswoman for the Children, Youth and Families Department, declined to say why he was removed.
“This decision is made consistent with meeting the needs of the agency,” she said Tuesday.
In 20 05, Langston was demoted by then-secretary Mary Dale Bolson, from deputy director of the Juvenile Justice Division to head of YDDC. Langston, who is black, joined several other black and Hispanic CYFD employees in filing racial discrimination complaints against the agency with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
A lawsuit he filed against CYFD for alleged civil rights violations is pending.
Langston was transferred to a job as a policy analyst, his attorney, John Young said. He said it was part of an ongoing pattern of “retaliation” for the complaints and what he said was a difference between Langston and higher-ups about how much supervision inmates need.
Young said Langston had asked that inmates get more supervision, while his superiors told him less was needed.
Serna said she could not comment on Langston’s claims.
Four guards have been placed on administrative leave for their roles in the recent escape and the 35-inmate brawl that broke out during a bingo party, which was held for inmates who exhibited model behavior. One of the recaptured escapees was at the party.
CYFD Secretary Dorian Dodson temporarily moved her office to YDDC after the fight to oversee operations there.
Serna said Dodson has since made a number of changes, such as requiring inmates to wear color-coded uniforms that match them to the unit in which they stay; requiring them to wear a standard uniform to school instead of the street clothes some were allowed to wear; and changing some procedures involving how inmates are allowed to move throughout the jail between classes.
Debra Pritchard, CYFD’s facilities director, has taken over day-to-day operations at YDDC.
Copyright 2009 Albuquerque Journal