KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A 98-page state assessment of the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center in Knox County detailed major safety and staffing issues, along with years of outdated policies and procedures.
The report highlights problems ranging from old record-keeping systems to inadequate emergency plans and staffing shortages. County officials say they’re already taking steps to address the findings.
Commissioner Larsen Jay, who chairs the Knox County Juvenile Board, said the report confirmed what leaders already knew, but also brought new issues to light.
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“There’s a lot of information about ways we can improve. There’s a lot of things that were sort of red flags, and there were a lot of operational standards that we are hoping to achieve,” Jay said. “The board is going to take that information, digest it, and go through those.”…