Violence behind bars at Baltimore's juvenile detention center has increased sharply this year, according to data released this week by the juvenile justice monitor, a setback amid efforts to rein in the long-troubled facility.
In the first three months of the year, there have been 155 youth-on-youth assaults and 28 youth-on-staff assaults at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center - up nearly 40 percent from the same period last year. Use of physical restraints is up 68 percent this year compared with this time last year.
"We have seen progress, but it has been slow," Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Donald W. DeVore said yesterday. "It's extremely easy to criticize, but it's very hard to correct."
While acknowledging that the facility needs to change, DJS officials said a mix of better reporting of incidents, broader definitions of "assault" and "restraint," and earlier staff intervention in fights could be making conditions at the 144-bed facility appear worse than they are.
But Marlana Valdez, director of the independent juvenile justice monitoring unit, said the data show indisputable problems.
"Things are rough over there," said Valdez, who reports to the attorney general's office. "That's what's happening."
This year's troubles at the facility follow a steady rise in violence there last year. The total number of assaults has gotten worse every quarter since January 2007, recent monitoring unit reports show.
City police responded to 416 complaints of second-degree assault and 32 allegations of child abuse at the facility last year, according to the monitor.
Valdez and other juvenile watchdogs, including Advocates for Children and Youth, said there are simply too many young offenders at the Juvenile Justice Center. DJS officials said the average daily population this year is about 120, but there have been spikes, including a day in January that saw 152 youths detained.
An assault last December highlights just how dangerous the facility can be.
On Dec. 10, a youth playing cards in the recreation area of a housing unit was attacked from behind by several offenders who had distracted one of two staff members on duty in the area. The victim was kicked, punched and stomped so badly that he needed to be taken to Maryland Shock Trauma, where he was treated for a broken jaw, fractured skull and knocked-out teeth.
