LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville is one step closer to reopening its youth detention center downtown.
The Metro Council voted to close the facility a few years ago. Deputy Mayor of Emergency Services David James, who was council president at the time, told lawmakers Wednesday that in retrospect, it probably wasn’t the right move.
"Because we don’t have a facility for the children now, it is hampering Louisville’s ability to protect its citizens and to protect those children," he said.
House Bill 3, which passed a committee Wednesday, would set aside nearly $9 million to renovate the former Jefferson County Youth Detention Center and additional funding for the Department of Juvenile Justice to operate it.
"The city of Louisville would then provide the personnel and the finance to provide for the programming and help for the children that need help," said James.
The bill would also require any child accused of a crime that’s considered a violent felony to be held in a detention facility ahead of a hearing for a maximum of 48 hours and evaluated for eligibility in therapy or substance use treatment.
The closest center is now hours away in Adair County, said Rep. Kevin Bratcher (R, Louisville). Rep. Jason Nemes (R, Louisville) said Louisville needs its youth back home.
"We are trying to thread the needle," said Nemes. "We have got to save our kids. Our communities, our families, our people are broken. We’re broken and we’re trying to bring wholeness back.”
Brittany Harris, who was previously incarcerated and is in recovery, told the committee that reopening detention centers is not the solution.
"To intervene, remove and confine are typical solutions to issues, situations, and people we see as dangerous," said Harris. "I challenge that strategy and ask that we, every person in here, take a deeper look into what causes children to end up in courtrooms."
Rep. Keturah Herron (D, Louisville) announced legislation Wednesday morning that would include the creation of a bill of rights for incarcerated children as well as a citizen-led oversight group.
While the people of Jefferson County want their children back in the area, she has concerns about the plan, she said.
“Spending $8.9 million on an old building and we have not done an assessment on what that looks or what those needs are going to be like in five years or in ten years, it just makes me very hesitant," Herron said.
Gov. Andy Beshear is calling for close to $45 million to maintain salary increases, hire more people and upgrade DJJ Facilities.