Tranquility Bay

thumb|Tranquility Bay

Tranquility Bay was a troubled teen program in Calabash Bay, Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, that operated from 1997 to 2009. Affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, it functioned as an adolescent behavioral modification facility.

Background

Tranquility Bay accepted adolescents aged 12 to 19 years old and had the capacity to house approximately 300 students at a time. Tuition for the program ranged from $25,000 to $40,000 per year. The facility primarily served teenagers from the United States whose parents had enrolled them for behavioral or substance abuse issues. The facility was affiliated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools and was accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. Those enrolled in the program typically remained there for 3 or more years.Judge Ken Kawaichi denied the writ of habeas corpus due to lack of evidence of abuse at Tranquility Bay. Van Blarigan had previously been enrolled at Skyline High School in Oakland, California, and had no history of crime, drug use, or violence, according to defense attorney Dan Koller, who was representing the Van Blarigan family.

On August 10, 2001, a 17-year-old girl named Valerie Ann Heron ran from her room and jumped off the 35 ft high balcony at Tranquility Bay and consequently died from the fall. She had only been at program for 24 hours.

Also in 2001, the Government of the Cayman Islands began sending adolescents to the Tranquility Bay until its closure in 2009.

A 2004 documentary, Locked in Paradise, examined conditions at the facility and characterized its regime as highly strict. The program was described by some parents as a form of “tough love”, while organizations such as UNICEF expressed concern that certain practices could constitute child abuse.

Tranquility Bay was shut down in January 2009, after the case of Isaac Hersh gained national media and political attention and years of alleged abuse and torture came to light.

Program practices

The program at Tranquility Bay employed a structured system of behavioral management, education, and supervision. According to reports from former participants, journalists, and documentary sources, daily life in the facility was highly regulated and included group sessions, academic work, and disciplinary measures. These practices were intended to promote behavioral change and compliance, and have been described in various accounts of the program’s operations..

Education

According to the 2004 documentary Locked in Paradise, broadcast on BBC Two, students at Tranquility Bay followed a self-study academic program. Coursework was completed independently, and students submitted assignments to teachers before taking tests on the material. Students were required to achieve a score of at least 80 percent in order to pass exams. The documentary also reported that private tutoring and school supplies, such as pens and paper, were provided at additional cost to parents.

Transportation

The transportation of participants to the facility was commonly facilitated through the use of private teen escort services. These services were responsible for transferring adolescents, often from the United States, to the program’s location in Jamaica. The process frequently occurred without prior notice to the individuals and was typically carried out during early morning hours. Reports indicate that physical restraints were sometimes employed during transit. This method of transportation constituted a central component of the program’s intake procedures and reflects a controlled and externally managed approach to enrolment.

Pepper Spray

Staff members at the facility were at one time equipped with pepper spray as part of the program’s internal security and behavioral management practices. The use of such chemical deterrents suggests an emphasis on maintaining order and ensuring compliance within the institutional environment. This practice was reportedly discontinued in 1998, indicating a subsequent modification of staff control methods. The presence and later removal of pepper spray as a management tool illustrates the evolving nature of the program’s operational policies. In the episode, Cassie states that her fellow residents consumed "chemicals" so they would be sent to the hospital and would be able to talk to their parents regarding the abuse they were enduring. However, she said that when they vomited in response to the poison, rather than being sent to a hospital, they were restrained by staff face down in their own vomit.

References

External links

Tranquility Bay website -