Lawmakers grill KY juvenile justice leaders over detention center problems

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A collection of troubleshooter investigations have uncovered the harmful understaffing inside Kentucky’s Juvenile Detention Facilities, placing workers and youngsters in danger.

The state shut down Jefferson County’s regional detention heart after it failed a fireplace security inspection.

Reforms had been promised following a riot in Adair County that left one little one sexually assaulted.

Lawmakers hauled in prime leaders from the Division of Juvenile Justice to ask pointed questions on issues uncovered by the WAVE Troubleshooters in Kentucky’s youth prisons. What they heard didn’t set them relaxed.

“My largest considerations in these strikes which were introduced are a, they got here too late, and also you heard Consultant Nemes say, they advised doing this two months in the past,” mentioned Sen. Whitney Westerfield. (R)

Over and over lawmakers requested the Justice Cupboard Secretary and the Commissioner of Juvenile Justice why the state’s youth detention facilities are uncontrolled.

“These usually are not going to be straightforward modifications, implementing these modifications goes to be very very troublesome, as a result of we do have staffing points, we’ve got growing old amenities that aren’t on wheels,” mentioned Secretary Kerry Harvey.

The leaders mentioned they’ve began making modifications ordered by the Governor. Women will not be housed with boys. Children shall be sorted primarily based on the severity of their costs. Pay is being elevated to draw workers.

“I do know (Governor Andy Beshear) feels very personally each time we’ve got a workers member that will get injured, or each time we’ve got a youth that’s assaulted, and I do know that he’s making modifications which can be going to make enhancements within the system,” mentioned Harvey.

However lawmakers mentioned they’ve heard a lot of this earlier than. They didn’t imagine the leaders defined in a lot element about low workers morale and safety flaws within the detention facilities themselves.

I’m very troubled by the ignorance move to the individuals whose jobs it’s that run this company,” mentioned Westerfield.

Lawmakers mentioned they’ve opened a legislative investigation in addition to have issued a subpoena to that division.

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