The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice says all of its 28 residential facilities are at 100 percent compliance with the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA.
The 2003 law requires external audits of correctional facilities across the country for compliance in preventing and prosecuting instances of sexual abuse.
Independent auditors began reviewing Kentucky facilities last year – their first audit since the standards took effect.
“These scores demonstrate our absolute commitment to preventing sexual victimization and harassment of youth in our custody,” said LaDonna Koebel, acting commissioner of DJJ. “We refuse to tolerate abuse of any kind and will continue working hard to maintain the strong focus on safety and awareness in our facilities.”
Under PREA, the U.S. Department of Justice identified 185 standards and sub-standards that juvenile justice agencies must follow to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual misconduct. All facilities across the country must undergo regular audits to ensure compliance, and independent auditors began reviewing Kentucky facilities last year – the first time since the standards took effect.
“DJJ has the unconditional responsibility to provide a safe environment for each youth in custody, and these scores confirm that safety and security are paramount in every facility,” said Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley. “I’m proud to see the department take such great strides in meeting these standards to perfection, and I congratulate them on this accomplishment.”
Facilities that underwent audits were:
• Adair Youth Development Center, Adair County (operates two facilities)
•Audubon Youth Development Center, Jefferson County
•Cadet Leadership and Education Program, Breathitt County
•Green River Youth Development Center, Butler County
•Lake Cumberland Youth Development Center, Wayne County
•Mayfield Youth Development Center, Graves County
•Morehead Youth Development Center, Rowan County
•Northern Kentucky Youth Development Center, Kenton County
•Owensboro Treatment Center, Daviess County
•Woodsbend Youth Development Center, Morgan County
•Boyd Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Boyd County
•Breathitt Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Breathitt County
•Campbell Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Campbell County
•Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Fayette County
•Lincoln Village Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Hardin County
•McCracken Regional Juvenile Detention Center, McCracken County
•Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center, Warren County
•Ashland Group Home, Boyd County
•Bowling Green Group Home, Warren County
•Burnside Group Home, Pulaski County
•Frankfort Group Home, Franklin County
•Frenchburg Group Home, Menifee County
•Hopkinsville Group Home, Christian County
•London Group Home, Laurel County
•Middlesboro Group Home, Bell County
•Westport Group Home, Jefferson County
•Louisville Metro Youth Services, Jefferson County (contract facility)
