A multi-faceted bill aimed at addressing a variety of safety and staffing issues in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system is moving in the Kentucky Senate.
The Senate bill, among other things, calls for a return to a regional model of juvenile detention, improved services for mentally ill juveniles, reorganizing administration, and additional staffing. Bill Sponsor Danny Carroll said female juveniles would be housed in a separate area, with access only granted inside that area.
“So that would prevent, if there were to be a riot in the section where the males are, they would be unable to gain access to a control room, that would give them access to a female area,” said Carroll.
Carroll testified the juvenile justice system has seen significant problems in recent years including riots, fires, the violent rape of a female juvenile, and reports of poor treatment of mentally ill detainees.
Grayson Senator Robin Webb supports a move back to regional housing.
“My kids, they talk different. They had a different culture. They had a different background. And they went to these urban centers and they came back usually worse, than they went. Because they had to conform or be bullied or worse," said Webb.
Webb said everyone within juvenile detention has got to work together.
Louisville Senator Gerald Neal said the legislation seeks to address problems on an ongoing basis. The Kentucky House this week approved legislation, estimated to cost about $39 million to address juvenile detention matters. The Senate bill carries a price tag of close to $50 million. The Senate panel also approved a separate bill calling upon the state auditor to contract out for a performance review of detention facilities.
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