Boys Stranded in Reformatory

By Richard C. Widman

Staff Writer

MANSFIELD Court-ordered transfer of some 170 boys from the Ohio State Reformatory here to the new Indian River School near Massillon has been delayed until Aug. 15. a year after a series of Plain Dealer articles reported beating and homosexual rapes of

the boys by older; streetwise inmates.

The boys, all under age 18 and sentenced by juvenile courts, reside in the Ohio Youth Center on the reformatory grounds.

The boys originally were to have been transferred last April. but delays in construction of the $4-million Indian River School have

caused several changes in the date.

An extension to Aug. 15 was granted by U.S. District Judge William K. Thomas in Cleveland.

The school is to be operated by the Ohio Youth Commission under a contract with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Cor-

rection, which operates the reformatory.

Judge Thomas ordered the transfers in a ruling last year on a suit filed in November 1970 on behalf of a 16-year-old inmate by lawyers C. Lyonel Jones. Edward R. Stege Jr. and Glenn Billington of the Cleveland Legal Aid Society.

"We're confident that this is just a short delay." Billington said yesterday.

However, he said the lawyers would protest if transfers of the boys are delayed again.

Judge Thomas also has ordered changes in parole and disciplinary procedures regarding handling of the boys.

In the past. the boys appeared before a parole board only every year or so.

For this reason. many who entered the youth center at age 16 remained incarcerated until age 21. although more frequent review of their cases might have resulted in earlier release. Billington said.

"Kids change much faster than adults." the lawyer explained.

Judge Thomas ordered that the boys in the future be brought before the parole board every 120 days.

In addition, the institution's rules were clarified: inmates were given the right to a hearing before a "hopefully impartial panei“ for rules infractions. Billington said. and loss of privileges as punishment was revised and limited.

Also as a result of Judge Thomas' order. Billington said. a large number" of juveniles who had been incarcerated inside the reformatory's main walls. where they were vulnerable to assaults by adult prisoners. were removed to the youth center on the grounds.