Two new lawsuits have brought to light horrifying allegations of brutal abuse and systemic neglect within an Alabama youth facility, Camp SAYLA, located in Henry County. These legal actions paint a grim picture of an environment where vulnerable children were subjected to a “culture of cruelty,” highlighting deeply troubling failures in the care and oversight of youth in residential programs across the state.
The lawsuits detail shocking methods of torment, including children being beaten with broomsticks until they broke, assaulted with socks filled with potatoes, forcibly thrown into trash cans, and, most disturbingly, compelled to fight each other as part of a staff-created “bounty system” for rewards. These accounts reveal a deliberate pattern of violence and psychological manipulation that inflicted profound harm on the young residents.
Central to these grave allegations is 46-year-old Kenyatta Danzey, a former employee of Camp SAYLA, who was indicted last year on 17 counts of child abuse. Despite being sought by law enforcement for a probation violation, Danzey was reportedly allowed to work directly with children at the facility, where he became widely feared by the young residents due to his egregious behavior. His trial is now set for September, promising to shed further light on these disturbing events.
The legal challenges have been initiated by a team of prominent attorneys: Tommy James of Tommy James Law and Jeremy Knowles of Morris Haynes, both based in Birmingham, alongside Pensacola attorney Caleb Cunningham of Levin Papantonio. Attorney James emphasized the broader implications, stating, “This isn’t just about Camp SAYLA—it is about a broken system across Alabama and the country that hides abuse behind locked doors,” advocating for a systemic overhaul.
The lawsuits specifically represent Jamarion Bullock, who resided at Camp SAYLA for three months in 2022 as a teenager, and a 17-year-old boy housed there for five months in 2023. These brave individuals have come forward to share their harrowing experiences, seeking justice not only for themselves but also to prevent future atrocities within similar youth facilities in Alabama and beyond.
Investigators obtained surveillance footage that starkly corroborated many of the allegations, showing Danzey mercilessly beating children with broomsticks and extension cords, forcing them to stand outside barefoot, and locking them in isolation rooms for hours without cause. Bullock, for instance, sustained an ankle injury from a broomstick strike simply for singing in the shower, and was subsequently denied necessary medical care, illustrating the dire neglect pervasive at the facility.
In response to the mounting abuse allegations and a surprise inspection that uncovered unsanitary and unsafe conditions, the Department of Youth Services (DYS) temporarily suspended Camp SAYLA’s license. Although the license has since been reinstated, the facility currently houses no children, and its long-term future remains uncertain, underscoring the severe repercussions of the exposed systemic failures.
Attorney Knowles highlighted the non-isolated nature of these incidents, noting the filing of three lawsuits and the likelihood of more victims. He asserted, “This was a culture of cruelty—enabled by silence and funded by our taxpayer dollars,” reinforcing the critical need for increased transparency and accountability in the oversight of youth residential facilities across Alabama and the nation.
The lawsuits demand both compensatory and punitive damages, but fundamentally, they serve as a powerful call for profound reform in the supervision and operation of these crucial facilities. This legal action aims to ensure that no child ever again endures such torment and that those responsible for enabling such abuse are held fully accountable, sending a clear warning to all similar institutions.
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