NCJ Number
60844
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 20-24
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
OPPOSITION TO JUVENILE HOMES ESTABLISHED BY A RELIGIOUS LEADER IN TEXAS AND ISSUES PERTINENT TO STATE LICENSING LAWS DEALING WITH JUVENILE HOMES AND CHURCH-CONTROLLED JUVENILE HOMES ARE INVESTIGATED.
Abstract
A JUVENILE HOME FOR GIRLS ESTABLISHED BY LESTER ROLOFF NEAR CORPUS CHRISTI WAS CHALLENGED BY SOCIAL WORKERS, STATE TROOPERS, AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS SEEKING TO CLOSE IT DOWN. STATE OFFICIALS HAD A COURT ORDER TO CLOSE THE FACILITY, ALONG WITH TWO ROLOFF HOMES FOR JUVENILE BOYS. THE HOMES HAD BEEN ORDERED CLOSED BY COURTS AFTER ROLOFF REFUSED TO OBTAIN STATE LICENSES FOR THE INSTITUTIONS AS REQUIRED BY LAW. ROLOFF FINALLY GAVE IN AND ENDED A 6-YEAR BATTLE WITH STATE OFFICIALS THAT STARTED WHEN IT WAS ALLEGED IN 1973 THAT CHILDREN IN HIS HOMES WERE PHYSICALLY ABUSED. IN THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ROLOFF AND THE STATE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO COLLECT $22,850 IN PENALTIES ASSESSED AGAINST ROLOFF FOR KEEPING HIS HOMES OPEN IN VIOLATION OF A 1976 COURT ORDER. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICIALS ARE ALSO COMPLETELY IGNORANT ABOUT THE LOCATION OF CHILDEREN WHO HAVE BEEN IN ROLOFF'S HOMES. LAWYERS OF ROLOFF ARE INITIATING EFFORTS TO BRING HIS JUVENILE HOMES UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE ROLOFF PEOPLE'S CHURCH. THEY HOPE THAT, IF DIRECTLY CHURCH CONTROLLED, THE JUVENILES HOMES CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM THE STATE LICENSING LAW. THE NATURE OF ROLOFF'S WORK IS EXAMINED FROM A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND ALLEGATIONS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE IN HIS JUVENILE HOMES ARE DISCUSSED. (DEP)