SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A few lawmakers and parents of some troubled kids gathered at the state Capitol Thursday, saying the California Youth Authority system has failed.

On Thursday, Stockton parents Allen and Gloria Feaster tearfully told how their 18-year-old son and a fellow CYA ward hanged themselves inside a CYA dorm room one month ago. The Feasters said the suicides were a direct result of mistreatment by CYA officials.

"I watched them take my son's mind and spirit, and destroy it," said Allen Feaster.

"I'm sure that other people feel the same way. His death didn't make any sense. And if they did commit suicide, CYA had to make their life a living hell," Gloria Feaster said.

Those complaints were echoed by several other parents, including Lourdes Duarte.

"What happened to these parents is not an isolated case. It has been happening over and over again. My kid tried to commit suicide, and I was never notified. And I am one enraged parent," Duarte said.

The parents' anger has been fueled by a report of abuse, guard misconduct and safety violations at the CYA system. The report also found that the CYA is the most violent juvenile detention system in the nation.

Dr. Barry Krisberg authored the report, which shows ward-on-ward violence is a daily occurrence within the CYA.

"The No. 1 issue that, in my opinion, that (the CYA) needs to confront is a de-escalation of that violence. It's unacceptable," Krisberg said.

The group Books Not Bars marched to the state Capitol steps Thursday and called for an immediate moratorium on sending any more youth offenders to the CYA until serious reforms take place.

The CYA's new director, Walter Allen, was on the hot seat Thursday, answering to the growing allegations of problems within the youth authority.

Allen admitted problems exist and promised he will change the way the CYA does business. As proof, he said, within 30 days, the cages used as teaching tools for wards will never be used again. He also testified that he wants to transform the CYA into an organization to which he would send his own children.

"That's the type of CYA that we can have in the upcoming months and weeks. And that's what I'd like to work towards," Allen said.

Almost everyone at Thursday's meeting said there are good people who work within the CYA. However, the current problems are so vast that Romero said she is "this close" to supporting a moratorium. The only thing stopping her is the openness Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has shown toward wanting to bring about real reform within the CYA.