05-11-2011, 02:12 PM
2 juvies charged in teen's murder are under close watch
Today's teenagers seem to crave constant contact with friends and often family members. But two local teens living under one roof might as well be in different cities.
Amber Wright, left, and Kyle Hooper Although Amber Wright and her brother Kyle Hooper are in the same building at the Marion County Sheriff's Office Detention Center, they have no contact with each other.
Both are on suicide watch, meaning jail officials believe they might try to harm themselves. For security purposes, they each have a corrections officer watching their every move, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Wednesday, Kyle, 16, and Amber, 15, were two of the five people indicted by a grand jury for the April 17 slaying of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. The two juveniles each will be tried as adults on charges of first-degree murder.
Since their arrest April 19, Kyle and Amber have been in the detention center, a facility for juveniles within the sprawling Sheriff's Office complex. It is separate from the regular jail, which is for adults. Following Wednesday's indictment, they were transferred within that same facility to an area reserved for juveniles being charged as adults.
Sgt. K. Savarese, sector commander for the facility, said Kyle's bed is next to the control center window, separated by Plexiglas.
Across a hallway, Amber is housed in an area for girls, but is separated from the only other female inmate by a section of chainlink fence.
During each shift, one officer is assigned to Kyle and one to Amber. The officials must be within five feet of the juveniles "at all times," Savarese said.
While the teenagers sleep, a chair is placed next to each bed and an officer keeps a close watch over them, even then.
Savarese said the reasons behind the tight security are the nature of the charges, the high-profile nature of the case, their status on suicide watch, and general safety issues.
On a typical day, Amber, Kyle and the other 13 juvenile inmates — 12 boys and a girl — wake at 6 a.m. for head count. They eat, make their beds and shower.
All attend school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The boys take classes in one room with a teacher; the two girls have their classes in a separate room with their teacher.
In between classes, the inmates eat lunch, relax and are allowed bathroom breaks. After school, they are allowed to go to the recreation yard, and then come in for dinner. Sometimes programs are planned in the evenings, such as counseling or faith-based meetings.
If there are no programs — and provided they have earned enough points through a behavioral management system — the juveniles can watch a movie, make a free phone call or listen to the radio.
They earn points by participating in class, keeping their area clean and showing respect to peers and corrections officials. Savarese said they might compile enough points in a three-day period to earn one privilege.
He said since Kyle and Amber have been in the center, they have been "well behaved" and have earned some privileges.
The juveniles are allowed visitors by appointment for 30-minute meetings by video or contact, meaning they can be in the same room with the visitor.
Savarese said Kyle and Amber have had video visitations.
..full article
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110...lose-watch
Today's teenagers seem to crave constant contact with friends and often family members. But two local teens living under one roof might as well be in different cities.
Amber Wright, left, and Kyle Hooper Although Amber Wright and her brother Kyle Hooper are in the same building at the Marion County Sheriff's Office Detention Center, they have no contact with each other.
Both are on suicide watch, meaning jail officials believe they might try to harm themselves. For security purposes, they each have a corrections officer watching their every move, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
On Wednesday, Kyle, 16, and Amber, 15, were two of the five people indicted by a grand jury for the April 17 slaying of 15-year-old Seath Jackson. The two juveniles each will be tried as adults on charges of first-degree murder.
Since their arrest April 19, Kyle and Amber have been in the detention center, a facility for juveniles within the sprawling Sheriff's Office complex. It is separate from the regular jail, which is for adults. Following Wednesday's indictment, they were transferred within that same facility to an area reserved for juveniles being charged as adults.
Sgt. K. Savarese, sector commander for the facility, said Kyle's bed is next to the control center window, separated by Plexiglas.
Across a hallway, Amber is housed in an area for girls, but is separated from the only other female inmate by a section of chainlink fence.
During each shift, one officer is assigned to Kyle and one to Amber. The officials must be within five feet of the juveniles "at all times," Savarese said.
While the teenagers sleep, a chair is placed next to each bed and an officer keeps a close watch over them, even then.
Savarese said the reasons behind the tight security are the nature of the charges, the high-profile nature of the case, their status on suicide watch, and general safety issues.
On a typical day, Amber, Kyle and the other 13 juvenile inmates — 12 boys and a girl — wake at 6 a.m. for head count. They eat, make their beds and shower.
All attend school from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The boys take classes in one room with a teacher; the two girls have their classes in a separate room with their teacher.
In between classes, the inmates eat lunch, relax and are allowed bathroom breaks. After school, they are allowed to go to the recreation yard, and then come in for dinner. Sometimes programs are planned in the evenings, such as counseling or faith-based meetings.
If there are no programs — and provided they have earned enough points through a behavioral management system — the juveniles can watch a movie, make a free phone call or listen to the radio.
They earn points by participating in class, keeping their area clean and showing respect to peers and corrections officials. Savarese said they might compile enough points in a three-day period to earn one privilege.
He said since Kyle and Amber have been in the center, they have been "well behaved" and have earned some privileges.
The juveniles are allowed visitors by appointment for 30-minute meetings by video or contact, meaning they can be in the same room with the visitor.
Savarese said Kyle and Amber have had video visitations.
..full article
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110...lose-watch