Richard L. Bean remained in his perch as the superintendent of the juvenile detention center that bears his name despite scandals, investigations, and the use of seclusion to punish children.
The head of Knoxville’s Richard L. Bean detention center will retire after ‘loss of confidence’ in his leadership
A 2023 WPLN News and ProPublica investigation found that Bean was illegally locking kids up alone in cells. A new scandal has forced his resignation.
Tennessee moms fight for policy changes after their sons were illegally isolated in juvenile detention
The mothers say their sons were locked in solitary confinement, sometimes for weeks at a time when they were inside a juvenile detention center.
How Tennessee’s juvenile justice laws impacted kids in 2024
This year started off with a battle in the state legislature. And kids caught up in the justice system are the ones who have dealt with the consequences.
Despite outcry over seclusion at juvenile detention centers, Tennessee lawmakers fail to pass oversight bill
A bill that would strengthen oversight of Tennessee’s juvenile detention centers has failed, despite a concerted push for reform after multiple county-run facilities were found to be locking children alone in cells.
Tennessee lawmakers want more oversight of juvenile detention. The Department of Children’s Services is pushing back.
New legislation would shift enforcement power to an independent agency after a WPLN and ProPublica investigation found that a Knoxville detention center was illegally locking kids alone in cells.
Tennessee DCS ‘working closely’ with Knoxville’s juvenile detention center to reform illegal use of seclusion
Tennessee’s state agency that inspects juvenile detention centers says it’s working closely with a Knoxville facility to “address deficiencies” documented in reporting by WPLN and ProPublica, including years of instances of children being illegally locked alone in cells.
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