Saving Troubled Teens Through 'Safe Schools'

Dealing With Violence

However, education is not the only challenge for the "safe schools." No matter what the course of reform, when a bunch of hormone-charged kids, many of whom suffer from emotional problems, are kept together in large numbers, violence is bound to occur.

When it does, the result is "separation." It's the closest thing to solitary confinement. "It's the last resort when these volatile youth are out of control. A danger to others or even themselves," said Nurite Friedlander, who runs the unit where problem children are housed.

To prevent suicide, the rooms contain just a bed and a toilet and youth are often stripped of their clothes. They are also constantly monitored by video camera. "A kid to kill themselves takes two to five minutes," Friedlander said.

But separation isn't about isolation or punishment. Boys and girls are sent there for psychological evaluation and to learn conflict resolution and how to avoid violence.

"We're trying to teach them instead of going and punching Frankie in the face, what could you have done differently," Friedlander said. "Because if you don't teach them the skill, they're not gonna have it when they get out on the outside."

'Gay for the Stay'

In addition to controlling violence among the kids, staff struggle with teaching kids how to control their emotions.

It's estimated that at least 20 percent of the youths in the juvenile justice system has a serious mental health disorder. Sometimes these conditions can be treated with medicine, sometimes therapy. Some girls have found other ways to help each other.

In the girls' facility, there are 80 teenage girls. Counselor James Ambercrombie says about half of them have romantic relationships with other girls in the facility.

"That's the thing here," said a Black Canyon student named Casey, who says she is not gay. She said there is a catchphrase for many of the girls: "I'm gay for the stay."

Officially, such behavior is forbidden. But counselor Ambercrombie says the behavior is a common manifestation of emotional trouble here. "What I see that as is people that have a distorted view of what a relationship is," he said.