UPDATE: Fired juvenile justice head resigns, on earned leave through July

UPDATE POSTED 5:40 P.M. THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – LaShana Harris, who was fired as Juvenile Justice commissioner but remained on the job, officially has resigned but will remain on earned leave until July 31, 2021, according to the state.

“Effective today, Ms. LaShana Harris has voluntarily resigned as commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice. She will remain on earned leave until July 31, 2021,” Morgan Hall, communications director for the state Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said in an email.

ORIGINAL STORY POSTED 3:30 P.M. May 6, 2021

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — LaShana M. Harris remains employed more than six weeks after the Beshear administration acknowledged she was fired as Kentucky’s juvenile justice commissioner following an investigation of alleged harassment and bullying, a newspaper reported.

In an email this week, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet spokeswoman Morgan Hall said Harris “is currently employed” by the cabinet, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The cabinet didn’t say much beyond that and had no immediate response when asked if Harris is on paid leave.

Harris contends the dismissal action against her should not be imposed or should be modified. She claims the Personnel Cabinet investigation of her job performance was incomplete, biased and compromised, and that some staffers resented her because she is a strong leader who is a Black woman. Harris’ lawyer, Paul Fauri, declined to comment Wednesday.

“I’m very puzzled about all of this. What’s going on?” said state Senate Judiciary Chairman Whitney Westerfield. “Either she is fit to hold the job or not. She certainly is entitled to an appeal but I am confused about why they are dragging this out.”

Westerfield said he’s concerned about juvenile justice department operations “during all this.” It provides services to sentenced, committed, probated and detained youth and their families.