Videotaped beating of young California inmates renews calls for prosecution
Sacramento, California-AP -- Pressure is mounting on California prosecutors after a video was shown publicly for the first time of California Youth Authority employees beating two inmates. The tape shows two correctional counselors and two inmates, ages 19 and 21. After both young men are face-down and not resisting, one counselor punches one of the inmates in the head nearly 30 times. The other youth is kicked.
Internal investigators say the employees also filed false reports about the incident but neither Attorney General Bill Lockyer nor local prosecutors have filed criminal charges in the two-month-old case.
State Senator Gloria Romero, who made the tape public, says she'll introduce legislation next week empowering Lockyer to handle cases at state facilities.
Lockyer says he's awaiting an enhancement of the videotape that might show more detail.
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