KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio report, citing Department of Children's Services inspection reports, said the Richard L. Bean Service Center in Knox County "illegally locks kids alone in cells." After the report, several members of the Tennessee General Assembly called on the Department of Children's Services to conduct an audit of the center.
Several lawmakers signed a letter to the DCS commissioner asking for the audit. It was signed mostly by Democratic lawmakers, including Representatives Gloria Johnson and Sam McKenzie, who represent the Knox County area.
Richard L. Bean did not agree to an interview with 10News in response to the ProPublica story. Local attorney and chairman of the Bean Center's board of trustees, John Valliant, agreed to an interview.
"I think this is the best facility in the state of Tennessee," Valliant said.
The ProPublica and WPLN report cited inspection reports, independently reviewed by 10News. ProPublica and WPLN's reporting focused on the center's use of seclusion for juvenile inmates.
Valliant said the Bean Center secludes the juvenile inmates by keeping them in their rooms, with nobody else inside.
"It's not like we're putting them in a cage somewhere," Valliant said. "They're in their normal bedroom."
A DCS inspection report from 2020 said the inspector spoke with two boys who were secluded in their rooms. The report said the pair said they were placed on room restriction for fighting and were only allowed out of their rooms for an hour each day.
A 2019 inspection report said a juvenile reported being secluded "for talking back to staff."
In 2021, lawmakers changed Tennessee law involving seclusion. The law says seclusion shouldn't be used "for any reason other than a temporary response to behavior that threatens immediate harm to a youth or others."
Because of the 2021 law, juvenile facilities are no longer allowed to seclude inmates for more than two periods of six hours of seclusion, in a 24-hour period.
The DCS inspection in 2022 found center staff marked the starting time of seclusion, but not the end time, so the inspector couldn't tell how long juveniles were secluded.
"It was discussed with Mr. Bean, that the end time should be included in incident reports," the inspector wrote in her report.
Valliant stresses that of the 26 juveniles in the Bean Center, 23 of them are over 13 years old. A list of charges Valliant provided to 10News shows juveniles in the facility for first-degree murder, carjacking, cruelty to animals and threats to commit violence on school property.
"These are kids that are charged with crimes of potential violence and violence," Valliant said. "Over the past 24 hours, we've had three fights."
The Bean Center provides school classrooms, a barbershop, a gym, three meals and a snack to each of the juveniles in the facility, Valliant said.
He said he would investigate the Bean Center following the ProPublica report.