Kentucky’s upcoming state budget for the next two years does not allocate the necessary $112 million to construct a proposed 16-bed mental health treatment facility for the Department of Juvenile Justice, as well as two 24-bed girls’ detention centers. State officials had requested the funding in order to separate girls from boys following a rape incident during a riot in 2022.
Sen. Danny Carroll expressed his deep disappointment with the outcome, stating that the feeling is beyond words. He had actively advocated for the construction of these facilities during the ongoing legislative session.
The Department of Juvenile Justice has been grappling with the issue of abuse and neglect of youths in its custody for a long time. It has failed to provide the necessary protection that these young individuals require, as pointed out by Carroll, a Benton Republican.
According to Carroll, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Families and Children, the current situation has escalated into a full-blown crisis. It is widely acknowledged that urgent action needs to be taken to address this pressing issue.
