B.U.Y.A.

B.U.Y.A. "Building Unique Youth Alternatives" (www.buyasocal.com) is a behavior modification program for minors. It is located in La Puente, California. The faculty consists of former police, marines, and previous students. A former police of twenty years, Sergeant Major Luna, runs the program. Due to recent allegations, the program is under investigation. Allegations included physical abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of cruel punishment. Investigation began June 16, 2008. The program is a one-week isolation period in the Los Angeles Mountains and then ten once-a-week Saturday sessions afterward. B.U.Y.A. offers a transportation service for those teens unwilling to go. B.U.Y.A. is co-ed and uses the "break-down" technique for children. Their program includes humiliation, vigorous exercise, and forced drills. The staff refers to B.U.Y.A. as "Boot Up Your Ass". Other staff includes "Medic" Staff Sergeant Kaiser, Staff Sergeant Zapata, Staff Sergeant Farrel, Tack Officer Gonzalez, among cadets and others. Investigation was helped by Cafety, "Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth" (cafety.org)