WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is seeking better oversight from the Department of Labor to prevent violence at federally funded Job Corps centers. His inquiry comes amid two murders of Job Corps students in the last four months, one in St. Louis, another in Homestead, Fla., and long-standing disciplinary problems documented by the agency watchdog.
"The violence is shocking, yet it isn't new, and it's getting worse," Grassley said. "Two murders involving Job Corps students have occurred in the past several months. The inspector general has documented widespread problems creating an unsafe environment. The Labor Department is responsible for the safety of these students. If it can't ensure their safety, it needs to reconsider everything about the way this program is run. The zero tolerance policy for violence needs to mean something. It obviously doesn't at too many Job Corps centers right now."
Grassley wrote to the Job Corps administrator and Labor Department inspector general last month, citing an inspector general report on disciplinary problems including the downgrading and poor recording of violent offenses. His letter came just before Homestead, Fla., Job Corps students were charged with killing a fellow Job Corps student.
The Job Corps program is designed to equip disadvantaged teens and young adults with education and vocational training. There are 125 Job Corps centers across the country, including two in Iowa, in Denison and Ottumwa.
"The many success stories through the Job Corps centers across the country are undermined by the incidents of violence," Grassley said. "The Labor Department has to protect the many students who want to learn and take advantage of what the program offers. The good news is the inspector general is on top of this situation, and I hope the agency is taking the problem seriously."
Grassley's letter to the Job Corps administrator and Labor Department inspector general is available here.
The inspector general's report on Job Corps problems is available here.
News stories on the murders in St. Louis and Homestead, Fla., are available here and here.
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