KENTUCKY — Dating back to 2017, long-standing problems in Kentucky's juvenile justice system have been documented, including the use of force and isolation techniques inside state-run youth detention centers.

In a report released from Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball, R-Ky, it reveals findings from a four-moth performance review and assessment of juvenile justice facilities stating it, "lack clear policies concerning the use of isolation cells, tasers and pepper spray, and have significant staffing problems." It also found that Department of Juvenile Justice staffers were using pepper spray at a rate nearly 74 times higher than it is used in adult federal prisons.

"We've heard reports of girls being stripped down naked by male people that work at the centers and just thrown into these isolation rooms; (there are) very, very disturbing practices going on there with that," Ball said. "Other issues that were worrying were the kind of medical care these children have been getting. A lot of these kids are on pretty high-level medication, which they do need; a lack of monitoring medication and also education."

"The state still has a responsibility to make sure these kids are getting the education that they're supposed to. (There) are (a) lot of excuses of just movie days, (students) are being given an iPad and just stuck in a room somewhere; a variety of very serious problems that need to be addressed, need to be corrected, especially when we're talking about juveniles, usually 14-, 15-, 16-year-old, 17-year-old kids. These are not hardened criminals. Most (of the) time, these are kids who have not even gone to trial yet, and these need to be addressed."

The auditor’s review was requested last year by state lawmakers.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.