Local reaction to juvenile detention center policy changes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Governor Andy Beshear takes action to combat the recent violent outbreaks at juvenile detention centers, putting the safety of staff and residents first. 

Beshear orders Kentucky State Police to place personnel at all three high-security juvenile facilities in Adair, Fayette, and Warren Counties, 24/7 until staffing levels and training of detention center workers is at a point where KSP is no longer needed.

The governor is also calling on state legislators to provide additional funding to these departments.

A former employee of the juvenile justice system is speaking out, claiming that the disruption within the system is not new.

“They’ve had issues for decades,” Howard Talley shared from his time as an employee. “We’re not doing our youth very well. It was more about a pension and an easy job. And there were just too many people involved without the right supervision, and it went all the way up to the state level. It’s just the environment and the youth would see that they would feel it.”

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies must also follow new protocols – including transporting juvenile inmates to and from detention centers & courtrooms. Potentially across the state in a 24-hour period.

WCSO Sheriff Brett Hightower explained that, “Unfortunately, this comes with time constraints on law enforcement and for us to then have to go ahead and transport that individual potentially to either McCracken County and/or Northeastern Kentucky, and/or here in Warren County, just dependent on that particular crime they might have been charged with and their age.”

According to Sheriff Hightower, they are currently working with the Department of Juvenile Justice to address funding, mileage reimbursement, and other related issues.

Beshear’s sweeping policy changes in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system include increased pay for detention center workers and the addition of defensive equipment… like tasers and pepper spray.

Kentucky lawmakers will review and vote on many of Beshear’s recommendations in the coming week.

We’ll bring you the latest updates as they come.