Training Schools Under Fire For Alleged 'Horror Story' Conditions

JACKSON, Miss. -- Congressman Bennie Thompson said state agencies monitoring the state's juvenile correctional facilities, or "training schools," are not doing their jobs.

The federal government has cited Oakley Training School in Hinds County and the Columbia Training School in Marion County for serious violations.

Representatives from the Justice Department were in Jackson Tuesday to investigate claims that some young people at the facilities were being hog-tied and forced to eat their own vomit.

Workers erected a fence around the Oakley Training School Tuesday afternoon, but 16 WAPT cameras still caught images of a dirty swimming pool that appeared to support allegations of health code violations and poor living conditions.

Reporter Wayne Carter obtained a 50-page report citing incidents of staff members spraying young people with "OC" or pepper spray and holding them in small, bare rooms with inadequate access to toilet facilities.

Other violations in the report included severe rodent infestation and roaches in medical clinics.

Rocky Holster is Oakley's administrator.

Thompson said he received complaints about the facility more than two years ago.

"I had communicated to DHS and the governor's office that I was getting these complaints," Thompson said. "The report speaks for itself."

Federal investigators compiled the report and followed up on the complaints. Thompson said the problem turned out to be much worse than he first thought.

"That report read like a horror story," Thompson said. "I can't imagine young people sent to a facility and being subjected to this."

DHS runs the centers. Spokesman Cory Wofford said significant changes have been made, but wouldn't allow reporters inside to see them.

DHS and Justice Department officials were to meet Tuesday night to try to resolve the problems.

If the federal government is not satisfied, it could sue the state.