Gov. Andy Beshear reacts to DJJ audit, says there are errors

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — “My concern with this audit is it was done outside of normal auditing practices,” says Governor Andy Beshear, who reacted to the 200 page report, by the state auditor’s office.

“We asked for some changes in the last session and got them, and then we’ve asked for some things in the current budget that we have not received,” he adds.

He says that although they’ve worked with lawmakers there is still more to be done.

“We asked for security upgrades at Breathitt, Fayette and McCracken that are not in the House version of the budget, we asked for two female only facilities and the dollars to design and to build them, that’s not in the current budget in the initial House budget, they would have cut significant numbers of DJJ employees,” also said Beshear.

Adding that the report has errors in it.

“There are at least two findings in this current audit that are just entirely wrong. The first is they say that there is no use of force procedure. I signed it into state law through emergency regulation over a year ago, and they could have found that through Google. The second is this concept of having memorandums of understanding with local law enforcement,” he added.

Beshear adding that the audit reflects ways were everyone improve, not just the administration, adding it will take time and things won’t change in a year.

“As we move forward, one of the most important things that we have been doing that’s mentioned in the audit and everywhere else is staff. The biggest findings of the 2017 report was that we needed significantly more staff. But from 2017 to when I became governor, there wasn’t one raise or not any significant raise provided. I believe that folks working in our pre-adjudication detention facilities were earning under less than $30,000, a year for that tough job,” said Beshear.

The Juvenile Justice Department, now looking for its next commissioner, the former commissioner, Vicki Reed stepped down earlier this year, making Larry Chandler the interim commissioner.

“We’ve gone from 295 positions filled to 472. That’s an addition of 177 spots. The audit definitely says we have to continue to hire and to hire more and it is 100%. Right on that, you’re also going to see an almost entirely different leadership staff than say from two years ago, as we bring in people first focused on ensuring a secure, safe environment,” said Beshear.

Also adding that  one of the main problems for disruptions was because of the placement of juveniles.

“Every time these were disruptions caused by people who are awaiting trial on a high level felony. And so when we separated those that are accused of committing lower level felonies from the higher what we saw on the lower level facilities, was the disruptions almost fully ended,” the governor adding it will be some time before any changes are seen.

“We don’t run away from problems we run towards them and we are going to get this ship righted and we are going to create the safest environments we can,” said Beshear.

To look at the complete report click here.