Investigation Launched Into Nashville Detention Center Escape

Tennessee’s youth development centers are not prisons, but “students” are not allowed to leave either. Each has committed at least three felonies. Photographed is a detention center on Christmas Island. Credit: SPCadmin via Flickr

A press briefing has been planned for 2 p.m. at the Woodland Hills Youth Development Center after 32 young men escaped overnight.

As of 12:25 p.m., eight detainees were still at large, according to a release from the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. The latest information is being posted here.

It remains unclear whether the escape was planned or spontaneous. An internal investigation has been launched.

At around 11 p.m. Monday, a group of students left their dorm rooms and gathered in a campus yard. After milling around, DCS says they discovered a weak spot in the bottom of a perimeter fence, crawled beneath and escaped.

Two were caught immediately. Some turned themselves in. Others were brought back by family members. Metro Police assisted the manhunt with K-9 dogs and helicopters.

According to DCS, the 32 could face escape charges. They’re being held at the Nashville Juvenile Detention Center.

The state’s three youth development centers provide treatment and schooling for males age 13 to 19 who’ve committed at least three felonies. They are supervised 24-hours a day, but these are not considered prisons. For instance,  dorm rooms are not locked.

Staffing numbers are down at all three centers, but they’re also operating well below capacity.

Woodland Hills has 132 beds but only had 78 filled as of Monday night. The facility has 191 staff positions, but 28 of those are unfilled.