The females in the Campbell County Juvenile Justice Center have been moved after it was announced the facility is experiencing a critical staff shortage, according to an announcement from the governor’s office Thursday.
“Right now, the situation has gotten too critical, so that is why we are going to temporarily relocate the juveniles currently in the Campbell County facility to the Boyd County Juvenile Detention Center,” said Gov. Andy Beshear in his weekly press conference.
The relocation of the juveniles is temporary and is expected to last 90 days.
Beshear said the probation and parole officers from the department of corrections have been volunteering on their days off to keep the facility safe, but the staffing issue is still critical.
“They provided crucial assistance, and we cannot thank them enough,” Beshear said. “Unfortunately, our staffing numbers are nowhere near where they need to be, especially with a high number of the individuals having significant needs.”
In December, Beshear announced that there would be additional changes to the juvenile justice system after reports showed significant issues.
Reports in the fall of 2022 from the Lexington Herald-Leader showed that facilities across Kentucky complained to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice that juvenile facilities were understaffed and did not comply with staffing requirements of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act.
These articles came after reporting showed a series of riots and the sexual assault of a teen girl in an incident at the Adair County facility.
In response, Beshear ordered the Juvenile Justice Department to open a female-only detention center in Campbell County. Starting in December, all females between the ages of 11 and 18 would be housed in the Newport facility.
“By separating female and male juveniles, we are enhancing the safety of our staff and youth in state custody,” Beshear said in early December regarding what he referred to as an outdated system. “I remain committed to doing everything possible to provide health care, education, and safety to all Kentuckians – including our youth who deserve a second chance.”
In response, the legislature passed legislation to improve the juvenile justice system, including working on hiring staff.
Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, issued a statement after Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth address in January.
Brooks said the state needs a juvenile justice system that holds kids accountable but also gives creative prevention strategies, community-based interventions when appropriate, detention facilities that offer high-quality behavioral and mental health services, and educational support.
“I am pleased to see that he [Beshear] is calling for changes in the juvenile justice system,” Brooks said. “That arena is not just problematic – it is on fire symbolically and sometimes literally. As a state, we have to reject the rising tide of voices advocating a return to regressive policies of twenty years ago. Instead, the Governor and General Assembly must architect a new system – a revolutionized system.”