10-04) 07:19 PDT STOCKTON, Calif. (AP) --

More California Youth Authority employees at N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility are out on stress leave than at any of the other juvenile prisons in the state, according to records.

About 5 percent of Chaderjian's staff -- a total of 15 people -- didn't show up for work last week at the youth prison housing the state's most violent juvenile offenders, according to data obtained from the California Youth Authority by The Stockton Record.

"It's a place where no one should have to work," said Zack McSweeney, a CYA correctional counselor whose doctor put him on stress leave from Chaderjian a year ago after he was beaten by two wards.

In contrast, less than 1 percent of workers in the general population in the United States fail to show up at their jobs because of stress, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

CYA spokeswoman Nancy Lungren said the number of employees out on stress leave did not seem out of the ordinary, considering the high-risk nature of working in the state's juvenile prison system.

"It's a very, very difficult population," Lungren said.

The ratio of staff-to-wards at CYA facilities is between 1-to-16 and 1-to-25, much too large for effective programming and treatment and contrary to recent federal case law, according to a June 2004 report by the Corrections Independent Review Panel appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The panel recommended, among other things, reducing the CYA staff-to-ward ratio to the recognized standard of 1-to-8.

CYA is a harsh place. I wouldn't work there.

Mark said that he was there and it is "Hell On Earth." I read him this article over the phone and he said: "I'm not suprised, YA is SH***IER than regular prison."

Wow, I would have thought different because the wards are just kids.

Wow, I would have thought different because the wards are just kids.
That is a common misconception. Wards can stay in there until they are 25 years old. Hardly kids. That is one of the biggest problems with it. You have grown men in there with kids.

Oh yeah the CYA is a total 360 compared to the adult state prisons. I took a tour of this facility, Chaderjian otherwise known as "Chad" and it was a whole different world than the adult prisons. I believe it is worse because though the wards range from minors to the age of 25 years old, they are still in that mentality phase where they are trying to make a name for themselves and their gangs. When we walked into one of the housing units at Chad it was so loud and the wards were just yelling gang slurs through their doors at one another.

Oh yeah the CYA is a total 360 compared to the adult state prisons. I took a tour of this facility, Chaderjian otherwise known as "Chad" and it was a whole different world than the adult prisons. I believe it is worse because though the wards range from minors to the age of 25 years old, they are still in that mentality phase where they are trying to make a name for themselves and their gangs. When we walked into one of the housing units at Chad it was so loud and the wards were just yelling gang slurs through their doors at one another.
And the staff that work there have to go into that environment day after day and deal with the physical and mental abuse that is carried out by these "children". Contrary to the public opinion, when force is used on a ward, they are looked at with an "Electron" Microscope by the administration. I'm sure that the staff feel as if they are being examined by a Proctologist, after they use force. No wonder there stress related illnesses are so high.

That is true, that they (the CO's at CHAD) have to go into that environment day after day, however that is their choice. They were not thrown into that position they chose the job. In the 1 day tour I took at the facility I knew when I left there that it wasn't a place that I would like to work in, and that is why I choose not too. Yes it is unfortunate that the environment they work in has caused them to go out on stress leave, but again the job type was their choice and not something they were just thrown into. Isn't that what the hazard duty pay is for? :idea:

That is true, that they (the CO's at CHAD) have to go into that environment day after day, however that is their choice. They were not thrown into that position they chose the job. In the 1 day tour I took at the facility I knew when I left there that it wasn't a place that I would like to work in, and that is why I choose not too. Yes it is unfortunate that the environment they work in has caused them to go out on stress leave, but again the job type was their choice and not something they were just thrown into. Isn't that what the hazard duty pay is for? :idea:
What hazard pay? We do not recieve hazard pay for getting feces and urine thrown on us, or stabbed with a shank, or spit on in the face, or attacked for telling somone "No", or any of the "hazards" that come along with the job. Are you suggesting that we should expect be assaulted and not do anything about it? :mad: When we do act out, then everyone screams "Foul!" on the guard or counselor and dismisses the inmate/wards behavior. This logic makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. :shake:

"That is true, that they (the CO's at CHAD) have to go into that environment day after day, however that is their choice.They were not thrown into that position they chose the job. In the 1 day tour I took at the facility I knew when I left there that it wasn't a place that I would like to work in, and that is why I choose not too."

Then who is? Who is going to do the job? Who's going to protect society from the predators that victimize you, me, and anybody they can? I commend the people that work in YA for doing the job they do and using the restraint that they exercise every day. Maybe the rest of society should start doing the same. You know I have always been told, "Think about it if you were locked up. How would you feel?" First off, I abide by the law so that I don't get locked up. Second, if I were incarcerated, I would be following the rules set before me. Thirdly, I should be asking you (the public) what would you do when you have feces and urine thrown in your mouth and face? How would you react in that situation? What would you do when you see your partner being stabbed? What would you do when you get spit in the face? Are you willing to do the job?

Do you know what happens to an inmate/ward when they spit on, or gas a staff member or another inmate/ward?....Nothing. Nothing at all. This usually happens from behind a cell door, because they are cowards and they know nothing will happen. As long as they come to the cell front and submit to restraints, nothing happens to them other then an escort (videotaped), from the regular cell, to another cell that has been modified for people that exhibit this type of behavior.

The applications are out there folks. Just fill one out and you too can be a guard/counselor and make the big bucks. Come on into the department and show me the difference you can make. Show me how to deal with this type of environment and still keep my emotions in check like a robot. I'm not from Missourri, but still...Show me.

We do not recieve hazard pay for getting feces and urine thrown on us, or stabbed with a shank, or spit on in the face, or attacked for telling somone "No", or any of the "hazards" that come along with the job. Are you suggesting that we should expect be assaulted and not do anything about it? When we do act out, then everyone screams "Foul!"

...funny, that is exactly what happens in your local hospital with the 5150's! I, along with other highly educated healthcare workers, are subject to that everyday as well! But they will give to YOUR union and CUT from ours? Or even better, keep building prisons but shut down hospitals?

After reading from you and Sgt. I try and have empathy, but, it's really hard when you guys are the only ones thinking you're walking the toughest beat in Ca. The rest of the state is doing it in other ways, but under a budget cut.

...funny, that is exactly what happens in your local hospital with the 5150's! I, along with other highly educated healthcare workers, are subject to that everyday as well! But they will give to YOUR union and CUT from ours? Or even better, keep building prisons but shut down hospitals?

After reading from you and Sgt. I try and have empathy, but, it's really hard when you guys are the only ones thinking you're walking the toughest beat in Ca. The rest of the state is doing it in other ways, but under a budget cut.
And we cut our staffing by 16% of an already understaffed prison system this past March. Only two other states out of the 50 have a worse inmate to officer ratio than we do...Guess what? We just cut another 6.5% of our supervisory positions last week at my prison. AND...they have not cut any inmate programs in the interim...As a matter of fact they are increasing the amount of programs that we provide the inmates. Making an already thin line line even thinner. Anyone that thinks we are not being hit by the budget just don't have a clue. So, cut our budget even deeper and I'll sit back and watch all the inmate family members and advocates start yelling "FOUL!" when they aren't getting what they think they should have coming in prison. A few months ago many were jumping my butt because I was against college courses for inmates and now some of you are saying to cut our budget even deeper. Once again the logic defies me. :shake: