The Kentucky Senate has unanimously approved a resolution expressing serious concerns regarding the operations of the State Department of Juvenile Justice. The vote Friday follows a series of disruptions that have included various injuries at juvenile detention facilities. In explaining the resolution, Senate President Pro Tem David Givens read news accounts of a riot at an Adair County center.
“The sort of statements made in this article, number one should never have to be made. And number two, if they do, someone should be responding to them and it’s apparent that no one is responding. How can they expect someone to want to work there? How can they even expect someone to want to work there in that environment?” asked Givens.
Givens cited former workers who said youth were assaulted, denied food, and treated like caged animals. A work group, as outlined in the resolution, would examine everything from staffing, to operations, to better ensure safety for workers and juveniles, and trauma support for employees.
Lexington Senator Reggie Thomas spoke about staffing shortages coupled with an increase in offenders. And Thomas said there are increasing security challenges.
“What we’ve seen here in this state in our juvenile justice facilities over the last seven years in an increase in those juveniles who’ve committed more serious crimes,” said Thomas.
Governor Beshear in recent weeks has ordered a series of changes in juvenile justice detention including separating out more serious offenders and opening a female-only detention facility in northern Kentucky. The House is expected to take up the resolution when the session resumes in early February.
