The Dallas County Juvenile Director said he’s made changes after a state investigation found problems with how the detention center was being run, how juveniles were being treated and neglected, and even the condition of the building itself.

Dallas County

Dallas County's juvenile detention center has made several reforms following a state investigation into allegations of mistreatment and operational shortcomings. The investigation, which covered incidents from the previous two years, was prompted by complaints from residents, families, and the community, including a recent incident where a staff member assaulted a resident at another facility.

The center's director highlighted improvements such as enhanced staffing, better educational provisions, and a shift away from punitive practices toward supportive programs for residents. The facility has also addressed excessive confinement issues and improved its physical environment. These changes have led to a significant decrease in complaints and a reduction in the number of juveniles held in detention.

Dallas County makes change at juvenile detention center

Fox 4 is getting rare access to the Dallas County Juvenile Department amid a state investigation into how detention is being run. The investigation followed complaints about the mistreatment of juveniles and our visit also came on the heels of learning of another incident at another Juvenile Department facility. Fox 4's Sean Rabb got access to the Henry Way Juvenile Justice Center today and Sean joins us from the newsroom. Yeah and that state report Clarice covers all of what happened in 23 and 24. That incident last month at the Medlock Treatment Center where a staffer assaulted a resident. Now current director Lynn Hadnot says he'll approach that incident and that facility the same way he's working to turn around the detention center that had been the focus of complaints from residents, parents, community that brought that state investigation. You can't go forward without acknowledging where you were. We're evaluating every interaction that we have with a kid, with a family and the outcome of that kid's case. We're measuring success one situation and decision at a time. And the director wanted to show the steps of success steeped in change. So it takes a lot to change a facility like this. I'm just changing the physical aesthetic which we've done a lot of effort into in terms of lighting, painting, get new flooring, doing some very deep cleaning. Cleaning that included operational problems cited by the state. The most egregious finding, excessive confinement of juveniles separated from others. We have made monumental improvement in those areas. Again our staffing strength is healthy now. Our kids are receiving the robust program that they're supposed to. Not being locked in their rooms and we've also moved away from the traditional punitive responses for egregious behaviors when we have kids who are having a difficult time. Like our RSP program which is resident support programs as opposed to just putting kids behind the door to serve a consequence. The center had been lacking in state education requirements. Because we just simply didn't have enough staff to execute that safely. A change that's proven successful moving from eight hour shifts to 12. That has really significantly increased our staffing strength. We are now able to provide education in the most normalized setting possible. Has there been a decline in, I'm gonna call it complaints or calls from families about what is or isn't happening with their loved ones? Absolutely. In fact the Office of Inspector General, the data that I looked at most recently, we saw a I think it was a 53 percent reduction in complaints being filed at that state level. But not only that again we have metrics that bear out that we're performing much better. But new concerns about an incident at the Lyle B Medlock Treatment Center last month. Where a resident was attacked by a juvenile service officer who was arrested, fired and will face prosecution. Obviously any time you have questionable incidents or things that occur it requires a swift response and the appropriate attention and I can assure you we will be doing that. Where are we right now sir? We're actually in our juvenile detention center. We're actually in a section where our juveniles are actually housed. Walls painted with bright murals, bold messages. The facility was extremely correctional and it was a very hard setting. Images designed to help kids in trouble believe they can do and be better. When you show a genuine interest in them and can sow seed of hope it makes a huge difference to that at the end of the day there is a brighter tomorrow. That hope is not lost. Now a little more than a year ago there were over 200 kids in detention. Today 79 waiting for cases to be adjudicated. Others waiting for transfer to more focused treatment but getting the number of residents down and staffing up a big reason for the success they're now seeing. Sean thanks for that inside look. Thank you.

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