FRANKFORT, Ky. — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted to an audit of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) released Wednesday, Jan. 31 by state auditor Allison Ball, R-Ky. The audit shows the department has failed to implement most of the reforms called for in a 2017 critical inspection report.

What You Need To Know

  • An audit of Kentucky's Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) shows failure to implement reforms from a 2017 inspection  

  • State auditor Allison Ball released the audit Wednesday, which shows the use of force and isolation policies are poorly deployed and defined 

  • DJJ facilities are pepper-spraying inmates at a rate 74 times higher than adult federal prisons 

  • A DJJ spokesperson said they've implemented change addressing concerns at the direction of Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky 

The audit of DJJ shows policies related to isolation and use of force are poorly deployed. The department’s mission is also inconsistent across detention facilities, it added. 

“There were recommendations in 2017 that they haven’t even fixed yet,” said State Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville. “How many years do they need to fix this?”

The 230-page report Ball released shows the DJJ’s use of force policies conflict with the national standard. It found DJJ facilities are pepper-spraying inmates at a rate 74 times higher than it is used in adult federal prisons.

“We gave them the authority to have the pepper spray and some of the security concerns, but they have no leadership and management to teach them how to use it,” Bratcher said.

The report also shows DJJ lacks a strategic direction, with inconsistent practices implemented across the eight facilities. Money is not the issue, Bratcher said. The general assembly has given an additional $9 million to DJJ each year for the last biennium.

“You can throw all the money you want at a problem; if you don’t have leadership, then it’s not doing you any good,” Bratcher said.

Former Kentucky Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed resigned at the end of 2023 while Justice Secretary Kerry Harvey retired last month. Bratcher said he blames Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., for not prioritizing replacing the vacancies.

State Rep. Keturah Herron, D-Louisville, said she has not read the entire audit. She has been advocating for reform for years; she added. 

“I don’t think that just lands on the governor’s desk, and I don’t think it lands on the current general assembly,” Herron said. “I think we have to go back and look that there’s been no action since 2016.”

The extensive report also shows over a 25% vacancy rate in juvenile corrections officer positions. Understaffing is an issue not only in juvenile detention centers but also adult prisons, Herron said. 

“In order for us to really figure out and do something different with our Department of Juvenile Justice, it needs a complete overhaul,” Herron said. “We need [to] sit down and start over and figure out a different way to handle our young people who are our most vulnerable population.” 

A spokesperson for DJJ said it did not get a copy of the audit until 11:58 a.m. Thursday. A statement sent to Spectrum News 1 states DJJ has made sweeping improvements to address challenges facing the system:

“At Gov. Beshear’s direction, DJJ has implemented a number of steps to address the challenges in juvenile detention facilities, which include:

  • Opened the first female-only detention center.
  • For the first time in Kentucky, male juveniles are now separated by security level based on the severity of their offense.
  • Expanded the DJJ transportation branch to help law enforcement.
  • Collaborated with the Kentucky State Police and Department of Corrections to enhance security in juvenile detention centers.
  • Provided compensation enhancements to help DJJ better recruit and retain staff, including providing a 10% and later an 8% raise, as well as providing an increased hourly and shift premium.
  • In. Feb., Gov. Beshear raised the starting salary of DJJ workers in detention centers to $50,000 annually and reclassified youth workers in detention centers to correctional officers.
  • Made substantial improvements to the physical facilities designed to enhance security.
  • For the first time in Kentucky, made defensive equipment available to DJJ’s youth workers who have had no equipment with which to defend themselves or youths when attacked.
  • Trained DJJ staff concerning the use of defensive equipment and the identification of threat groups within detention centers.
  • In Jan. 2023, hired a director of security who brings deep experience in operating secure facilities. That person is former Department of Corrections warden Larry Chandler as DJJ’s Director of Security.
  • Reorganizing the department by function to better manage the current challenges facing detention facilities. In May 2023, the governor appointed James Sweatt as Executive Director and Larry Chandler as Deputy Director of the Office of Detention. Combined, they bring approximately 80 years of correctional experience.
  • Created a Compliance Division to ensure that best practices are identified and followed.
  • Procured equipment and training personnel to better prevent the introduction of contraband into the facilities.
  • Requested a wide array of legislative, regulatory and policy changes designed to enhance the safety and security of DJJ facilities.
  • Rationalized the detention footprint by initiating the process to construct two new, state-of-the-art facilities.”

The department added it also has a policy allowing pepper spray and tasers, which went into effect Jan. 2023. The DJJ also stated because of the improvement efforts, it has increased frontline correctional officers by 63%. It’s the highest number DJJ has employed in recent history.

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