A federal report released yesterday detailed thousands of examples of reports of abuse in privately run boot camps and residential “treatment” centers for troubled youth.

The report also found that managers of these programs, which are largely unregulated, faced little or no punishment for their actions.

The report, by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, examined the cases of 10 teenagers who died while at programs in six states, finding “significant evidence of ineffective management” and “reckless or negligent operating practices.” The report detailed evidence that teenagers were starved, forced to eat their own vomit, and to wallow for hours in their own excrement.

The term “troubled youth” is a catch-all that may often include adolescents with mental illness or emotional problems.

Other accounts here and here.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 8:26 am and is filed under abuse, emotional disabilities, mental health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post