Coroner says boy's death at youth prison 'self-inflicted'

State corrections officials refused to answer questions Wednesday surrounding the apparent suicide a day and a half earlier of a 16-year-old inmate at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles.

The boy, whose identity was not released, was found early Tuesday at the youth correctional facility on Route 38 after suffering a "self-inflicted injury," according to the Kane County coroner's office.

Coroner Chuck West said the boy's identity is being withheld pending notification of family. But Juvenile Justice Department spokeswoman Januari Smith said her office already had notified the boy's relatives.

Multiple calls to Illinois Department of Corrections Director Michael P. Randle and Illinois Youth Center Director Bobby Moore were all referred to Smith, who would not release additional details, including the boy's manner of death.

"It's still an active investigation," she said.

The coroner's office said in a news release that an autopsy was performed Wednesday, but it announced no preliminary cause of death.

West did not immediately return calls for comment. Toxicology tests are pending, his office said.

Illinois State Police Sgt. Juan Valenzuela said his office provided a crime scene technician the day the boy was found but could release no other information.

Hanke Gratteau, executive director of the John Howard Association of Illinois, said the corrections reform advocacy group will inspect the youth center Friday and again on Sept. 14.

"Both visits had already been scheduled," she said, "but the Friday meeting agenda will change a bit."

The association, which regularly visits correctional facilities and issues public reports on its findings, reported in October 2008 the facility provides ongoing treatment to inmates with "moderate mental health needs" and as needed with others.

"Staffing for all medical, mental health and dental services is at nearly full complement," the report states. "Visitors were most concerned about the lack of 24-hour coverage from medical professionals on site and the shortage of psychologists and number of hours psychiatric care (is) provided for the number of youths at IYC St. Charles."

The center's Web site says the average population of the medium-security facility is about 330 inmates, including offenders in all classes of crimes.

Details: Officials contradict each other on family notification

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=318264">16-year-old dies at St. Charles juvenile center <span class="date">[9/2/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>