WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	More Suicide Attempts at Long Lane School; Town Council Votes to Move Facility (Hartford-WTNH) _ Just as the debate's heating up over moving the Long Lane juvenile facility there is more bad news. Two more teens have tried to kill themselves there. News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports. A 15 year old boy was found hanging by his bathrobe from a pipe in the time-out room, and a 15 year old girl tried to choke herself with a sock. This is more troubling news for an already troubled Long Lane juvenile facility. This news comes after a controversial vote in Middletown last night. The mayor broke a tie vote, approving a plan to build a new juvenile facility at Connecticut Valley Hospital. That was a non-binding vote. However, no matter where the building finally goes it will take time to build, and it doesn't solve the problems plaguing Long Lane right now. The suicide attempts come despite efforts to remove objects that could be used for suicide. John Wiltse, DCF Spokesman: "Because we are dealing with 70 year old facilities it is virtually impossible to remove all potential dangers." The Department of Children and Family is investigating why it took up to 30-seconds for the magnetic door to open, allowing staff to get to the 15 year old boy. DCF admits Long Lane staff made a mistake when it failed to notify the mother of the 15 year old girl that she had tried to commit suicide. Both teens are doing fine. DCF plans to hire an ombudsman to be a direct link between staff and parents. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

More Suicide Attempts at Long Lane School; Town Council Votes to Move Facility
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Just as the debate's heating up over moving the Long Lane juvenile facility there is more bad news. Two more teens have tried to kill themselves there.
News Channel 8's Judy Chong reports.

A 15 year old boy was found hanging by his bathrobe from a pipe in the time-out room, and a 15 year old girl tried to choke herself with a sock. This is more troubling news for an already troubled Long Lane juvenile facility.

This news comes after a controversial vote in Middletown last night. The mayor broke a tie vote, approving a plan to build a new juvenile facility at Connecticut Valley Hospital. That was a non-binding vote. However, no matter where the building finally goes it will take time to build, and it doesn't solve the problems plaguing Long Lane right now.

The suicide attempts come despite efforts to remove objects that could be used for suicide.

John Wiltse, DCF Spokesman: "Because we are dealing with 70 year old facilities it is virtually impossible to remove all potential dangers."

The Department of Children and Family is investigating why it took up to 30-seconds for the magnetic door to open, allowing staff to get to the 15 year old boy. DCF admits Long Lane staff made a mistake when it failed to notify the mother of the 15 year old girl that she had tried to commit suicide. Both teens are doing fine.

DCF plans to hire an ombudsman to be a direct link between staff and parents.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.