By Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico — A recent brawl at the state juvenile detention facility in Albuquerque during a bingo party held to reward good behavior included a youth who had escaped three weeks ago.
Incidents like the fight, the escape of Adam Landon, 17, and another inmate, and other security breaches are putting the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center under the scrutiny of state officials.
Dorian Dodson, secretary of the state Children, Youth and Family Department, which oversees the YDDC, has temporarily moved her office from Santa Fe to the lockup, department spokeswoman Romaine Serna said.
Landon was allowed to attend the party because he had met teachers’ behavior expectations since his return to YDDC, she said.
“Of course it is of concern that he was there, but we also are taking into consideration that part of any rehabilitation program is recognizing good decision-making on behalf of our kids. That doesn’t mean we ignored his recent escape, but we also can’t ignore strides that he made,” Serna said Monday.
“Should he have been in that gym? That’s a question that will be answered in the full context of the investigation around all of the decision-making that took place that day.”
Serna said Dodson is concerned about the number of serious incidents and wants to scrutinize current policies and practices at YDDC.
“Secretary Dodson believes that as the leadership of this agency, she should guide the staff in making the best decisions and ensuring that kids are safe during their rehabilitation process,” Serna said.
Serna said some YDDC staff members are concerned about the decision to allow a large number of inmates in the gym at one time.
She said about 130 inmates were in the gym for the bingo event, along with 62 staff including guards, teachers and medical personnel. About 35 youth took part in the brawl that broke out after two gang members began f ighting. Minor injuries were reported.
Just about three weeks ago, four male inmates attempted to escape from YDDC and two managed a getaway. One of the escapees, Landon, was in the detention center until his 21st birthday for his role in a gang rape of a 14-year-old in 2006. He was caught and returned about two weeks ago.
And on Saturday, two girls attempted an escape.
They didn’t make it over the wall, but one cut her hand on the razor wire at the top.
This year the department received $400,000 from the Legislature to update YDDC to accommodate a new system called Cambiar (“Change”) New Mexico, Serna said. It would reduce the inmate to staff ratio, retrain staff, focus on rehabilitation and make physical changes to the facilities.
Copyright 2009 Albuquerque Journal