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On December 6, 2001 the
United States Department
of Justice (DOJ)
notified the State of
its intent to
investigate conditions
of confinement at the
Nevada Youth Training
Center (NYTC), pursuant
to the Civil Rights of
Institutionalized
Persons Act. In February
of 2002, the DOJ and its
expert consultants
toured the facility and
during an exit
conference outlined its
preliminary findings and
recommendations. During
the course of the
investigation the DOJ
recognized the State's
complete cooperation and
the open access to the
facility and its
documents. They also
recognized the
assistance of the
Training Center staff
and the Administrator
for the Division of
Child and Family
Services for their
cooperation.
From the time of the
investigation in
February 2002, the State
of Nevada and the
Training Center began
stringent efforts to
address the concerns
brought forward by the
DOJ. In November of
2002, the DOJ issued
findings that outlined
the concerns present at
the Training Center. The
State of Nevada
maintained their
position that conditions
had not violated the
rights of youth in the
facility. The DOJ also
acknowledged that the
State had engaged in
significant activities
to improve the quality
of the conditions
present at the facility.
The result of this
process was the signing
of a memorandum of
understanding on
February 26, 2004, in
which the DOJ and the
State have agreed to the
implementation of
changes to improve
conditions and services
to Nevada’s youth over
the next two years. On
May 26, 2004, the State
submitted a progress
report to the DOJ
reflecting the
improvements to date at
the facility. The State
is looking forward to
the next visit of the
DOJ that will take place
in July of this year. |
