FRANKFORT, Ky, (Feb. 2, 2024) - In response to the recently released audit of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and the troubling allegations surrounding the Adair County Youth Detention Center, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, issues the following statement:
“I was appalled when I first read the tragic reports of juvenile abuse that took place at the Adair County Youth Detention Center in December 2022. Shortly after the news broke, I visited the center to tour the facility, meet with center officials, and get a full picture of its problems. The specific details of mistreatment and negligence that took place are truly abhorrent. I was also deeply disturbed by the subsequent incidents, specifically the failure of leadership in the Adair County facility and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) as a whole to take accountability and prevent future abuse.
“As many of you already know, this facility is facing severe allegations of sexual abuse, denial of mental and physical health treatments, and restriction of access to basic hygiene facilities and products. Recently, a third-party review of Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice yielded a shocking report illustrating a clear crisis in our juvenile justice system. The audit revealed several concerns with the DJJ’s staffing, culture, procedures, and strategic direction. There are inconsistent isolation policies and practices, pepper spray overuse at a rate significantly higher than adult federal prisons, a lack of clarity surrounding discipline and force, and issues with understaffing.”
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Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, represents the 16th Senate District including Adair, Allen, Metcalfe, Monroe, and Taylor Counties and eastern Warren County. He is Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee chair. Wise also serves as a Senate Education Committee member and is a member of the newly formed Families and Children Committee and Health Services Committee. Additionally, he is an Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee member.
Please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate116.jpg for a high-resolution .jpeg of Wise.
