Boot Camp

[livinganewlife]

By Robert Green

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - A 14-year-old boy who was beaten by guards at a Florida boot camp did not die of an undiagnosed blood disorder as a medical examiner had reported, a doctor hired by his family said on Tuesday.

Martin Lee Anderson died on January 6 at a Panama City boot camp run by the Bay County Sheriff's Office. A surveillance videotape taken that day showed Anderson being beaten by several guards.

"In my opinion, I think he (Anderson) died from what you saw on the videotape," Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner for New York City, told a news conference with Anderson's parents in Tampa.

An autopsy performed by Bay County Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Siebert found that Anderson, an African American, died of internal bleeding from sickle cell trait. One in 12 African Americans has sickle cell trait, which is different from sickle cell disease and does not routinely cause health problems.

The finding outraged Anderson's family and civil rights groups and prompted Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to name Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober to investigate the case.

Ober had Anderson's body exhumed and taken to Tampa for a second autopsy on Monday by Hillsborough County Medical Examiner Vernard Adams.

Baden, who was hired by Anderson's family and was allowed to observe the autopsy, said he ruled out sickle cell trait and other natural causes for the death.

"I think he (Siebert) made a mistake," said Baden, who based his conclusion on his observation of the second autopsy.

Anderson's mother, Gina Jones, said the guards and a nurse at the camp should be arrested. "The truth is out and I want justice," Jones said.

The official results of the autopsy by Adams are not expected for several weeks. No arrests have been made but the camp has been closed.

The camp, one of five in Florida operated by county sheriffs departments under contract with the state, served as an alternative to jail for juveniles. Anderson was sent there for stealing a car.

After following this story for the past few weeks: I have a question

Should Christians send their children to Boot Camp or to other alternative behavior programs?

Why or why not?

[Grace]

The majority of the kids sent to bootcamps are not sent by their parents, but by th ecourt system. When it gets to this place the parents have no choice. when kids sent there its a mandate by the court. Matter of fact in cases like this where the kid has committed a offense the parents have little to no say so.

[Jasmine]

So true Grace.

I was a freshman in highschool, when I worked as a clerical aide for the Department of Parole and Probation. I worked for a Probation officer, who allowed me to attend court preceedings. I witnessed several youths (including a friend) sentenced to serve time in boot camps. This was the alternative to sending the individual to Juvenile or Jail.

Parents have no say. These kids have committed an offence, are brought before a judge and sentenced to serve time in boot camp, versus going to jail. While working for P&P, only the youth who had "potential" to be rehabilitated, or youth with first offenses were sentenced to boot camp.

Back in those days Boot camps did work, they were not allowed to touch or even strike a youth with any of the gear that they wore unless there was a direct threat to their life. Boot camps were to be set up like an actual Military boot camp. There is no hitting, there is no beating, there is no using your sticks to discipline peopl. They are allowed to stand within inches from you, point fingers in your face and talk trash, and etc.

As the years go on, you have people who hold positions in such camps, that have no business being there. Power hungry, unjust motives..they need to do better screening of some of the "animals" they are placing in these facilities to help, rehabilitate somebody's child.

[Grace]

there is a boot camp in California that is doing wonders with those who are sent there. Unlike most boot camps, which attempt to rehabilitate those sent their through intimidation and structure. The camp in California teaches the individual a skill that they can turn around and use in the world when they get out. This bootcamp teaches the individual how to fight forest and brush fires which occur often the the California area. They are trained, tested and certified in different areas to work as a fire fighter in the forestry unit.
i watched a documentary on it, very interesting, with the training and certification they are actually qualified to work in a forestry unit.