LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After budget cuts forced the city to close its local juvenile detention facility, the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice has opened a new facility in Louisville. As of Jan. 1, 2020, the Louisville Day Treatment Center on LaGrange Road has been repurposed as the Jefferson Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
“I hope that we can reach a time in our future where none of our youth are in detention,” said Louisville Governor Andy Beshear. Beshear stopped by the facility on Dec. 30 to check on the status of the changes. “But for those in need, know that the state is responding and that we will continue to work together to address the needs of our youth and their families.”
Starting on Jan. 1, youths arrested in Jefferson County will be taken to the new facility. The staff will then check the youth for medical clearance, which is required for admittance. If the youth is not medically cleared, the arresting agency will take the youth to the hospital until he or she can be cleared.
The new facility has 16 available beds. If the facility is already at capacity, the arresting agency will wait with the youth until transport to another Department of Juvenile Justice facility can be arranged.
If the youth is taken to another facility, a video conferencing system will be provided so his or her family can stay in contact.
"I think it's a good solution. I think the governor found a good solution and he found a way to keep the children in Jefferson County where they're close to their families and their friends and their neighbors and their support system," Metro Council President David James said.
The state takeover of youth detention stems from the city's removal of its funding in the budget passed in June. The city cited growing pension costs, and the multi-million dollar gap left in the budget, causing the need to slash city services.
"We will move forward and hope that the state legislature finds way to help our city," James said. "The city will be saving several million dollars with this move to allow the state to run youth detention services."
“The department has worked hard to minimize the impact of this transition on Jefferson County families, the court system, and the community,” said DJJ Commissioner LaShana Harris. “The department is committed to working with the Louisville community to provide effective services and promote good outcomes for youth.”
“This is a good solution to a difficult situation,” said Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. Fischer’s budget cuts took away funding from Louisville Metro's Youth Detention Services, forcing it to close in 2019.
“As we move forward, I expect we will continue working together to review and fine-tune the system to establish solutions that best serve Jefferson County’s youth and their families,” Fischer said.
Existing day treatment programs at the Louisville Day Treatment center will continue with detention services included as an additional service.
James said the old youth detention facility on Jefferson St. will not go unused.
"We will be looking at different ways we can utilize the building. of the things we have talked about is a possibility of using it as a holdover facility for the jail when it gets filled. Currently we use police headquarters," James said.
Louisville Metro Government will pay the state $685,000 to help open the new facility. It will also cover the costs for a new Louisville Metro Transport Unit.
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.