Hopefully, Joseph has finally found the peace and comfort that eluded him on earth.
Looking at his photos and his smile, it is hard to imagine the horrific, short life he had.
His childhood was filled with the acrimonious divorce of his parents, a bitter custody battle, and alleged sexual abuse from the age of 6 at the hands of a family member.
Instead of a childhood of friends, fun, and school, Joseph's was filled with psychiatrists, medication, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self harm. And a system that seemed to fail him.
In November 2001, there was an altercation with ambulance staff when he was disoriented and disturbed. Joseph had tried to kill himself by taking an overdose and jumping from a window. The ambulance workers were struggling to prevent Joseph taking his own life, and Joseph fought.
Instead of help, Joseph received a conviction for this behavior, and community service.
As November progressed, Joseph became increasingly disturbed and on the 30th of that month, he was taken into the voluntary care of social services and placed in a children's home.
Six days later, on 6 December, he went out with a group of children from the home who had decided to rob mobile phones. They were caught and subsequently charged with street robbery.
As the trial due nearer, Joseph became even more depressed and agitated. Two weeks before his court appearance, he disappeared into his room at the children's home and, taking a knife, slashed his face 30 times. The walls in his room had to be completely repainted.
On sentencing—responsibility for Joseph's care transferred from the local social services to the Youth Justice Board. The Youth Justice Board was informed of Joseph's vulnerability, his history of anxiety and depression and, importantly, his attempted suicide and self-harming behaviour. A number of people who had worked with Joseph urged the Youth Justice Board to place him in local authority secure accommodation, where the facilities and staffing levels were more conducive to the provision of the care that he needed.
Despite that, and the concerns expressed by all those with the most knowledge and information about Joseph, the Youth Justice Board made the decision to place him in Prison Service accommodation at Stoke Heath young offender institution.
On arrival at Stoke Heath, Joseph was initially put into strip clothing and placed in a cell with surveillance camera, reduced ligature points and high levels of observation. His mother, Yvonne, telephoned Stoke Heath young offender institution to ensure that it was aware that Joseph had been a victim of rape and to inform staff that he was depressed and unstable, with a history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour. But within days of his arrival, Joseph was moved to a single cell with no surveillance camera, with ligature points and with reduced observation. He was deeply anxious about the imminent prospect of being moved to one of the main wings. Given his history of sexual abuse, not wanting to be in the close proximity of other young men was hardly surprising.
On 24 March 2002, Joseph passed away from commiting suicide.
The case obviously calls for a public inquiry. An inquest into Joseph's death will shortly be held.
Joseph was just 16 years old.
** Thank You to SHERRI SNEED FARR for sponsoring Joseph's memorial **
Looking at his photos and his smile, it is hard to imagine the horrific, short life he had.
His childhood was filled with the acrimonious divorce of his parents, a bitter custody battle, and alleged sexual abuse from the age of 6 at the hands of a family member.
Instead of a childhood of friends, fun, and school, Joseph's was filled with psychiatrists, medication, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self harm. And a system that seemed to fail him.
In November 2001, there was an altercation with ambulance staff when he was disoriented and disturbed. Joseph had tried to kill himself by taking an overdose and jumping from a window. The ambulance workers were struggling to prevent Joseph taking his own life, and Joseph fought.
Instead of help, Joseph received a conviction for this behavior, and community service.
As November progressed, Joseph became increasingly disturbed and on the 30th of that month, he was taken into the voluntary care of social services and placed in a children's home.
Six days later, on 6 December, he went out with a group of children from the home who had decided to rob mobile phones. They were caught and subsequently charged with street robbery.
As the trial due nearer, Joseph became even more depressed and agitated. Two weeks before his court appearance, he disappeared into his room at the children's home and, taking a knife, slashed his face 30 times. The walls in his room had to be completely repainted.
On sentencing—responsibility for Joseph's care transferred from the local social services to the Youth Justice Board. The Youth Justice Board was informed of Joseph's vulnerability, his history of anxiety and depression and, importantly, his attempted suicide and self-harming behaviour. A number of people who had worked with Joseph urged the Youth Justice Board to place him in local authority secure accommodation, where the facilities and staffing levels were more conducive to the provision of the care that he needed.
Despite that, and the concerns expressed by all those with the most knowledge and information about Joseph, the Youth Justice Board made the decision to place him in Prison Service accommodation at Stoke Heath young offender institution.
On arrival at Stoke Heath, Joseph was initially put into strip clothing and placed in a cell with surveillance camera, reduced ligature points and high levels of observation. His mother, Yvonne, telephoned Stoke Heath young offender institution to ensure that it was aware that Joseph had been a victim of rape and to inform staff that he was depressed and unstable, with a history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour. But within days of his arrival, Joseph was moved to a single cell with no surveillance camera, with ligature points and with reduced observation. He was deeply anxious about the imminent prospect of being moved to one of the main wings. Given his history of sexual abuse, not wanting to be in the close proximity of other young men was hardly surprising.
On 24 March 2002, Joseph passed away from commiting suicide.
The case obviously calls for a public inquiry. An inquest into Joseph's death will shortly be held.
Joseph was just 16 years old.
** Thank You to SHERRI SNEED FARR for sponsoring Joseph's memorial **
Hopefully, Joseph has finally found the peace and comfort that eluded him on earth.
Looking at his photos and his smile, it is hard to imagine the horrific, short life he had.
His childhood was filled with the acrimonious divorce of his parents, a bitter custody battle, and alleged sexual abuse from the age of 6 at the hands of a family member.
Instead of a childhood of friends, fun, and school, Joseph's was filled with psychiatrists, medication, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self harm. And a system that seemed to fail him.
In November 2001, there was an altercation with ambulance staff when he was disoriented and disturbed. Joseph had tried to kill himself by taking an overdose and jumping from a window. The ambulance workers were struggling to prevent Joseph taking his own life, and Joseph fought.
Instead of help, Joseph received a conviction for this behavior, and community service.
As November progressed, Joseph became increasingly disturbed and on the 30th of that month, he was taken into the voluntary care of social services and placed in a children's home.
Six days later, on 6 December, he went out with a group of children from the home who had decided to rob mobile phones. They were caught and subsequently charged with street robbery.
As the trial due nearer, Joseph became even more depressed and agitated. Two weeks before his court appearance, he disappeared into his room at the children's home and, taking a knife, slashed his face 30 times. The walls in his room had to be completely repainted.
On sentencing—responsibility for Joseph's care transferred from the local social services to the Youth Justice Board. The Youth Justice Board was informed of Joseph's vulnerability, his history of anxiety and depression and, importantly, his attempted suicide and self-harming behaviour. A number of people who had worked with Joseph urged the Youth Justice Board to place him in local authority secure accommodation, where the facilities and staffing levels were more conducive to the provision of the care that he needed.
Despite that, and the concerns expressed by all those with the most knowledge and information about Joseph, the Youth Justice Board made the decision to place him in Prison Service accommodation at Stoke Heath young offender institution.
On arrival at Stoke Heath, Joseph was initially put into strip clothing and placed in a cell with surveillance camera, reduced ligature points and high levels of observation. His mother, Yvonne, telephoned Stoke Heath young offender institution to ensure that it was aware that Joseph had been a victim of rape and to inform staff that he was depressed and unstable, with a history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour. But within days of his arrival, Joseph was moved to a single cell with no surveillance camera, with ligature points and with reduced observation. He was deeply anxious about the imminent prospect of being moved to one of the main wings. Given his history of sexual abuse, not wanting to be in the close proximity of other young men was hardly surprising.
On 24 March 2002, Joseph passed away from commiting suicide.
The case obviously calls for a public inquiry. An inquest into Joseph's death will shortly be held.
Joseph was just 16 years old.
** Thank You to SHERRI SNEED FARR for sponsoring Joseph's memorial **
Looking at his photos and his smile, it is hard to imagine the horrific, short life he had.
His childhood was filled with the acrimonious divorce of his parents, a bitter custody battle, and alleged sexual abuse from the age of 6 at the hands of a family member.
Instead of a childhood of friends, fun, and school, Joseph's was filled with psychiatrists, medication, depression, suicidal thoughts, and self harm. And a system that seemed to fail him.
In November 2001, there was an altercation with ambulance staff when he was disoriented and disturbed. Joseph had tried to kill himself by taking an overdose and jumping from a window. The ambulance workers were struggling to prevent Joseph taking his own life, and Joseph fought.
Instead of help, Joseph received a conviction for this behavior, and community service.
As November progressed, Joseph became increasingly disturbed and on the 30th of that month, he was taken into the voluntary care of social services and placed in a children's home.
Six days later, on 6 December, he went out with a group of children from the home who had decided to rob mobile phones. They were caught and subsequently charged with street robbery.
As the trial due nearer, Joseph became even more depressed and agitated. Two weeks before his court appearance, he disappeared into his room at the children's home and, taking a knife, slashed his face 30 times. The walls in his room had to be completely repainted.
On sentencing—responsibility for Joseph's care transferred from the local social services to the Youth Justice Board. The Youth Justice Board was informed of Joseph's vulnerability, his history of anxiety and depression and, importantly, his attempted suicide and self-harming behaviour. A number of people who had worked with Joseph urged the Youth Justice Board to place him in local authority secure accommodation, where the facilities and staffing levels were more conducive to the provision of the care that he needed.
Despite that, and the concerns expressed by all those with the most knowledge and information about Joseph, the Youth Justice Board made the decision to place him in Prison Service accommodation at Stoke Heath young offender institution.
On arrival at Stoke Heath, Joseph was initially put into strip clothing and placed in a cell with surveillance camera, reduced ligature points and high levels of observation. His mother, Yvonne, telephoned Stoke Heath young offender institution to ensure that it was aware that Joseph had been a victim of rape and to inform staff that he was depressed and unstable, with a history of self-harm and suicidal behaviour. But within days of his arrival, Joseph was moved to a single cell with no surveillance camera, with ligature points and with reduced observation. He was deeply anxious about the imminent prospect of being moved to one of the main wings. Given his history of sexual abuse, not wanting to be in the close proximity of other young men was hardly surprising.
On 24 March 2002, Joseph passed away from commiting suicide.
The case obviously calls for a public inquiry. An inquest into Joseph's death will shortly be held.
Joseph was just 16 years old.
** Thank You to SHERRI SNEED FARR for sponsoring Joseph's memorial **
