- Kentucky’s juvenile detention system still struggling with ‘critical staffing issues’ (The Lexington Times, 6/16/2023)
- Understaffing in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system has led to the shuffling of juveniles in detention and raises concerns about accommodating the additional detainees under upcoming legislation. The Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee and the General Assembly’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Council are investigating the juvenile justice system after reports of increasing violence in the facilities.
- Legislative committee issues report on juvenile justice (The Lexington Times, 7/14/2023)
- The Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee has approved over two dozen recommendations to address issues in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system after fires and a riot at state detention centers. The recommendations include increased oversight of detention facilities, improved staff training, better tracking of offenders and incidents, and enhanced monitoring of staff grievances. The committee’s report highlights various factors contributing to the incidents, such as inadequate facility design and supervision breakdowns, and calls for improvements in data management, mental health services, and staffing ratios.
- Lawmakers discuss problems at juvenile detention facilities (The Paducah Sun, 10/13/2023)
- During a hearing before the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee, officials from the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) discussed measures taken to address sexual misconduct allegations and the impact of understaffing on a juvenile detention center in Adair County. The committee heard about a DJJ worker being fired for inappropriate behavior with a juvenile in Campbell County and discussed steps taken after the incident. The DJJ has implemented policies, training, and the use of pepper spray to address safety concerns, and lawmakers were informed about ongoing efforts to improve conditions for juveniles in detention, although concerns about isolation practices and mental health support were raised by officials from the state Department of Public Advocacy.
- Legislative report shows single-bid contracts pave way for road work (Louisville Public Media, 8/21/2024)
- A legislative report reveals that Kentucky has increasingly awarded road work contracts to single bidders, raising concerns about transparency and competition. These no-bid contracts, often used for urgent projects, bypass the usual competitive bidding process. The report suggests that while they can expedite work, they also risk higher costs and reduced oversight.
- Kentucky auditor sues governor over access to child abuse database (WDRB, 8/30/2024)
- Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball filed a lawsuit against Gov. Andy Beshear and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to gain access to a database of child and adult neglect and abuse cases. The lawsuit argues that without full access to this information, the ombudsman’s office cannot effectively oversee the cabinet’s handling of these cases, which are crucial for protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens. The dispute stems from a legislative change that transferred the ombudsman’s office from the cabinet to the auditor’s office, affecting their ability to review sensitive case data.
- Agreement reached in lawsuit between Beshear, auditor over access to abuse database (Courier Journal, 9/18/2024)
- An agreement has been reached in the legal dispute between Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball and Governor Andy Beshear’s administration regarding access to the iTWIST database, which tracks abuse and neglect cases. The conflict arose after the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) blocked the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman from accessing the system following its move under the Auditor’s office. A court-ordered settlement now requires CHFS to restore access to the ombudsman, resolving the lawsuit filed by Ball, who argued that this access is critical for protecting vulnerable children and adults in Kentucky.
- State auditor asks for deeper investigation of foster children housing (West Kentucky Star, 1/29/2025)
- Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball has called for a deeper investigation into the housing of foster children in state office buildings after receiving concerning data from the Commonwealth Office of the Ombudsman. A preliminary review found that 49 children, some as young as one year old, spent a total of 198 days in Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) offices over a four-month period, with stays averaging 4.04 days and one child staying as long as 35 days. Ball emphasized the need for urgent action to address systemic failures and expand the investigation to include children housed in hotels and state parks.
