Department of Justice opens civil rights investigation into Kentucky Juvenile Centers

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into conditions at 8 youth detention centers run by the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice.

Included in the the investigation are facilities in Warren and McCracken County where Western Kentucky juveniles are sent. The investigation will look to see if the state adequately protects minors in these facilities from harm. The Department of Justice will also investigate mental health services provided by the state at these centers.

“Confinement should help children avoid future contact with law enforcement and mature into law abiding, productive members of society. But too often, juvenile justice facilities break our children, exposing them to dangerous and traumatic conditions.” says Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “This investigation focuses on detention centers, which primarily hold children who are awaiting a court hearing.”

In a statement on the Department of Justice’s Investigation, Kentucky Youth Advocates executive director, Dr. Terry Brooks says, “We look forward to the Justice Department’s comprehensive civil rights investigation. They have accurately assessed the landscape and are targeting the precise areas of concern that are most important, including excessive use of pepper spray and physical force, physical and sexual abuse, prolonged isolation and access to adequate mental health care and special education and related services to kids with disabilities.” Dr. Books continued by saying, “Getting kids back on track. Emphasizing preventative measures to keep kids from ever getting into trouble. and protecting community safety. Those commitments should have come from state leaders. They have not. Therefore we commend the Justice Department for opening this federal investigation. We as a Commonwealth have moral imperative to make this work for all kids and families.”

Detention centers admit nearly 200,000 juveniles each year and hold about 16,000 minors on any given day. The average length of stay for these minors is 27 days.

The Department of Justice has not yet reached any conclusions on this case.

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