#Integrity staffing update
#Integrity staffing series

Or we're just going to have to add more, and those attorneys aren't out there to hire.”ĭJJ has recommended further codifying the regulations, which would remove references in the law that prioritize placing kids in facilities closer to their homes, when practical.Īccording to West, one public defender in Jefferson County has clients at seven out of the state’s eight youth detention facilities, all in different counties. “In order to do that with any kind of zealousness or effectiveness, we need to have more of a regionalism, so the person can go to a facility and see the majority if not all of their clients. “Kids need their attorney, and that's what we're there for. Scott West said the new rules often mean kids are moved hundreds of miles away from family, support systems and even their lawyers.

Proposed regulations also require incarcerated kids to be transferred based on staffing, capacity, no contact orders and gang affiliations.ĭeputy Public Advocate B.

Moore said the agency has been working to attract psychologists and social workers, but hasn’t made as much progress.Īdvocates expressed concerns that regulations enacted by the Beshear administration are sending incarcerated kids farther from their homes, making it difficult for family and legal counsel to stay in contact.Īfter a riot that led to the sexual assault of a girl and injury of a staff member at the Adair Regional Juvenile Detention Center last year, Beshear responded by requiring incarcerated children to be separated by gender and the severity of their offenses. “A part of the perspective that I think is important is realizing that our goal is not to incarcerate children.” “This issue did not arise in a vacuum, and it certainly didn't arise just within the last four years,” she said. Lindsey Burke questioned why the majority of the pay raises went to correctional officers instead of community-oriented employees, like social workers and psychologists. “In our more urban areas, where competition is greater, recruitment and retention is still an ongoing issue.” “Although we've seen significant staffing improvements, we still have areas that have a long way to go,” Moore said. But the department has 124 more vacancies it’s trying to fill. Rodney Moore, who manages employee recruitment and retention with the Kentucky Department of Corrections, said the number of youth correctional officers in the state has increased from 146 to 183 since the initiative. In response, Beshear increased starting salaries for juvenile correctional officers to $50,000 in January. Some lawmakers and DJJ officials said the staffing shortage was largely to blame for the violence and poor supervision inside the detention facilities.

#Integrity staffing series

The effort followed a series of violent incidents across the system, including assaults, rape and even a momentary escape. Andy Beshear’s administration and the Republican-led legislature agreeing to set aside $45.2 million for the ailing system. It was one of the few bipartisan issues during this year’s legislative session, with Democratic Gov.

#Integrity staffing update

After a series of high-profile, violent incidents in Kentucky’s network of juvenile detention facilities, lawmakers poured money into the Department of Juvenile Justice to shore up staffing and update security.