Nick Contreraz

Re “A Puzzling Death at Boys Ranch,” June 13: I never expected that our system of treating juvenile offenders was anywhere near perfect. Nevertheless, I was genuinely shocked by the story of Nicholaus Contreraz’s death. I may not truly appreciate the difficulties inherent in dealing with these kids, but I do know that pushing a child’s face into a bucket of his own excrement and forcing him to work while he repeatedly vomits is cruel and inhumane. Such treatment, which I refuse to believe has any rehabilitative attributes, strikes me as criminal and I hope that it may be investigated as such.

Meanwhile, as a myriad of investigations proceeds in two states, I plead with our own state lawmakers to consider the immediate passage of a ban on shipping our kids to out-of-state facilities that don’t meet the same standards we set here in California. In keeping with our practice of naming laws after the victims who inspire them, perhaps we could title this one Nick’s Law.

RICHARD KRAFT

Los Angeles

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I have read with great disgust of the unnecessary death of Contreraz while interned at the Oracle Arizona Boys Ranch. If the information that you gave regarding the autopsy findings is correct, then we may all safely assume that his death did not need to occur, and was wholly reversible up until the day he died.

Empyema of the chest is basically a complication of pneumonia, whereby the chest cavity fills with pus. It doesn’t happen overnight and while very serious, can almost always be cured with surgical drainage and antibiotics. The fact that this boy sought medical care from a so-called health professional on a daily basis for days before he died is grounds for murder charges. I believe that any concerned RN or MD would be able to see that the kid was sick as hell and should have ordered additional investigation (like a chest X-ray) or at least consultation.

Please tell us this place will be shut down immediately. At least let us remove all of our California kids someplace where their care can be properly overseen. God help us if we allow this to go on.

CHRISTOPHER B. CUTTER MD

Burbank

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After reading the article, I was wondering if, by chance, any of the current Boys Ranch staff were recently fired from Corcoran State Penitentiary. Let this be a lesson. This is what happens when you put people in positions of authority that have worms in their brains (see Nazi Germany). Somehow, some way, these power freaks will be slapped on the wrist and told to be good boys and girls. I only wish I had five minutes in a room to wipe the smug look off camp director Carl Prange’s face.

GREGG FREEMAN

Newbury Park

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This boy’s case demonstrates that much of the facility’s personnel demonstrated either obvious neglect or criminal treatment. To begin to resolve this abuse, it must be examined under a new definition. This was a human rights violation. Just as hate crimes are now recognized, so too must these types of offenses. While those involved should be jailed or fired, the ranch must be investigated for violations of civil rights laws. A business should not be able to kill a person any more than an individual.

RICHARD BAKER

Beverly Hills