Thompson Academy

New Details on Alleged Sexual Harassment by Craig Ferguson, Former Thompson Academy Director

The former director of boys' lockup Thompson Academy, Renza "Craig" Ferguson, resigned under a cloud of suspicion in March. Staff members had made allegations that he was transporting young male inmates off campus and bringing them home to shower. See also: - Our cover story on abuse at Thompson A ... More >>

State Says Move to Close Thompson Academy "Had Nothing to Do With" Complaints of Abuse

The state has decided not to renew its contract to house juvenile convicts at the privately run Thompson Academy. But officials from the Department of Juvenile Justice insist the move has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Thompson has seen abuse complaints, shifts in administration, judici ... More >>

911 Calls from Boys' Lockup Thompson Academy Claim Child Abuse, Broken Bones, Assault

Cover story: Kids claim abuse at juvenile lockupIt's hard to tell what goes on behind the walls of Thompson Academy, a Pembroke Pines "residential facility" for boys who are criminal offenders, but there sure have been a lot of nasty 911 calls coming out of the facility since the beginning of 2011.R ... More >>

Broward Judges Mull "Unprecedented" Steps Against Youth Lockup Thompson Academy

Cover story: Kids claim abuse at juvenile lockupOur colleague Lisa Rab has moved away from Broward County, but one of the most important issues she covered for New Times is still unresolved. Circuit court judges are still trying to figure out what to do about Thompson Academy, a privately run jail f ... More >>

Following the Money Part 2: Juvie Prison Operator Has Ten Tallahassee Lobbyists

Ever wonder why Florida has outsourced the care of hundreds of troubled kids to private companies? Yesterday, we reported that prison operator Youth Services International donated $88,000 to Florida politicians in the past five years. The Sarasota company's donations have greased the wheels for roug ... More >>

Juvie Prison Operator Youth Services International Donates to Powerful GOP Lawmakers

If you're aiming to win multimillion-dollar contracts to run Florida's juvenile prisons, it helps to have friends in high places. Youth Services International, the for-profit company that runs Thompson Academy in Pembroke Pines along with seven other juvie lockups in the state, has learned this less ... More >>

Department of Juvenile Justice Sends New Times' Records to TV Station

The state Department of Juvenile Justice does not have a stellar track record of competency or efficiency. When a prison guard was twice accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy at a Pembroke Pines juvie lockup, DJJ didn't hear about the incidents until months after they allegedly occurred. ... More >>

Minnesota Counties Stop Sending Kids to Youth Services International Juvie Lockup

For more than a year, New Times has been investigating Thompson Academy, a publicly funded, privately run juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines where teens have alleged they faced physical and sexual abuse. Most recently, the lockup's top administrator, Craig Ferguson, left his post while unde ... More >>

Craig Ferguson, Thompson Academy Administrator, Leaves Under Cloud of State Investigation

One year after Thompson Academy settled a federal lawsuit alleging a 14-year-old boy was twice sexually assaulted by a counselor at the lockup, the head of the Pembroke Pines juvenile detention center is facing scrutiny. Administrator Craig Ferguson has left his post amid allegations that he took re ... More >>

South Florida's Dirty Dozen: Our Annual List of Our Worst

Broward Public Defender Alleges Abuse at Juvie Lockup in West Palm Beach

The complaints echo similar allegations at Thompson Academy.​News at Florida's juvenile detention centers has not been good lately. At some state-run facilities, teenagers are allegedly being doped up on anti-psychotic drugs to control their behavior. At Thompson Academy, a privately run lockup in ... More >>

Juveniles Alleging Sexual Assault and Abuse at Thompson Academy Agree to Settle Lawsuit

​Ending a seven-month legal battle that raised questions about living conditions at private juvenile prisons, the teenagers who alleged they were physically and sexually abused at the Thompson Academy in Pembroke Pines have reached a settlement with the owners of the for-profit lockup.A federal cl ... More >>

Thompson Academy Calls Alleged Sex Assault of Teenager Consensual

Defendants allege the sex was consensual.​The 14-year-old boy who filed a lawsuit alleging he was twice sexually assaulted by a counselor at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center last year was a willing participant in the encounters, lawyers for the Pembroke Pines center allege.In court d ... More >>

Kids Claim Abuse and Violence at Juvenile Lockup Thompson Academy

In Alleged Sex Assault at Thompson Academy, Polygraph Results Are Murky

​This week's New Times cover story explores allegations of abuse and violence at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines. One of the most disturbing allegations, outlined in a federal class-action lawsuit, involves a 15-year-old boy who says he was twice forced to have ora ... More >>

UPDATED: Another Teenager Beaten at Thompson Academy

Youth Services InternationalA photo from a morale-boosting event at Thompson.​The Pembroke Pine police have investigated this beating, which we first reported on January 7. Read more after the jump.Regla Cazañas holds up a picture of her 17-year-old son's swollen face. His pale skin is marred by ... More >>

Former Thompson Academy Administrator Was Arrested for DUI

Youth Services InternationalA snapshot from a 2010 event at Thompson.​Three years ago, signs of trouble began to emerge at the privately run Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines. Gordon Weekes, head of the juvenile division at the Broward Public Defender's Office, wrote a l ... More >>

Another Youth Services International Lockup Gets Dismal Review From State

Youth Services InternationalLast year Thompson held a "Keep the Peace" event.​Youth Services International, the for-profit operator of the juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines where teenagers allege they have been physically and sexually abused, has faced similar complaints at a lockup in S ... More >>

Rick Scott Wants to Cut Juvie Prisons. Should Thompson Be First to Go?

Photo by Meredith Geddings, courtesy Florida HouseJenne wants a deeper investigation of Thompson.​In December, Gov. Rick Scott's transition team proposed a massive overhaul of Florida's juvenile justice system, which would eliminate some prisons and put children convicted of misdemeanor offenses i ... More >>

Miami Rep. Luis Garcia Tours Thompson Academy, Cites Safety Concerns

Photo by Mark Foley, courtesy Florida House of RepresentativesGarcia was not happy with what he saw at Thompson.​Miami Beach state Rep. Luis Garcia, Jr. last week got a rare glimpse inside the Pembroke Pines juvenile detention center where teenagers allege they were physically and sexually abused. ... More >>

Thirteen Abuse Cases Reported at Thompson Academy Last Year

Flickr user: Mark CogginsOnly one abuse allegation was verfied by investigators.​Thirteen separate cases of child abuse were reported at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines last year. Teenage boys at the 154-bed lockup said they endured a range of horrific incidents -- ... More >>

Police: Alleged Sexual Assaults at Thompson Academy "Unfounded"

YSIThompson held a morale-boosting event before the abuse allegations came to light.​A 15-year-old boy's allegation that he was twice sexually assaulted by a male counselor at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center is "unfounded," according to police."There is no evidence to show that a se ... More >>

State Refuses Tour of Thompson Academy, the Juvenile Lockup Accused of Abuse

Flickr user: Mark CogginsNo tours allowed.​The state Department of Juvenile Justice has denied New Times' request to tour Thompson Academy, the detention center in Pembroke Pines where some teenagers have alleged they were physically and sexually abused.Samadhi Jones, a spokesperson for DJJ, offer ... More >>

Months Before Lawsuit, Thompson Academy Held "Keep the Peace" Event

Youth Services InternationalYSI posted a snapshot from the event.​Nine months before a federal lawsuit alleging physical and sexual abuse was filed against a juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines, the facility held a morale-boosting event designed to "keep the peace."The January event was or ... More >>

Despite Alleged Sex Assaults, State Officials Give Thompson Academy Passing Grade

Courtesy of Youth Services International.A snapshot from a recent morale-boosting event at Thompson.​Despite allegations that teenagers were physically and sexually assaulted while living there, Thompson Academy in Pembroke Pines has received high marks from state officials.In October 2009, the fo ... More >>

Thompson Academy's Owner Faced Similar Abuse Allegations in Other States

Youth Services InternationalA snapshot from a recent morale-boosting event at Thompson.​Allegations that teenaged inmates were sexually assaulted, malnourished, and physically abused at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines echo similar accusations the center's owner ha ... More >>

More Allegations of Abuse Filed Against Thompson Academy

Flickr user:Mark CogginsFive children are named as plaintiffs in the suit.​More teenagers have come forward with allegations of physical abuse and mistreatment at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines. Last month, a 15-year-old boy alleged in a federal lawsuit that he ha ... More >>

Owner of Pembroke Pines Juvie Lockup Has Checkered History

Flickr user: Mark CogginsThe company has a checkered history in Florida.​A recent lawsuit alleging sexual assault and physical abuse of inmates at the Thompson Academy juvenile detention center in Pembroke Pines is the latest in a string of abuse accusations lodged against the facility's owner.For ... More >>

Despite Alleged Sex Assaults at Thompson Academy, State Not Investigating Other Lockups

flickr user: Mark CogginsAre the other kids safe?​A lawsuit filed earlier this month accuses the operator of Thompson Academy, a juvenile detention facility in Pembroke Pines, of turning a blind eye to sexual assaults, physical abuse, and intimidation of its young residents by staff members.The Pe ... More >>