Chapter 28, The California Youth Authority (CYA)
The California Youth Authority (CYA) had its historical beginning in 1859 when the San
Francisco Industrial School for boys and girls was founded. In 1860 California opened a
state reform School. Between 1860 and 1929 California established the Juvenile Courts,
county Juvenile halls, and a state Probation Office.
In 1935 the California legislature authorized County Boards of supervisors to establish
forestry camps for delinquent youths. The original intent was to provide a place for
"kids", especially city kids, who had been convicted of crimes, but were not
hardened criminals. In 1942 the first boy arrived at a Youth Authority Unit. At age
fourteen, he had been convicted of second-degree murder.
Unfortunately, the courts appeared to have the opinion that any child under the age of
twenty-three was not a "hardened criminal". The Whitmore camp, established
during the 1950s, was a conservation work camp, with no locks on the doors. There were CYA
personnel assigned to watch the boys. |
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