Governor Andy Beshear speaks about the Justice Department’s investigation into conditions in juvenile detention centers

(ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – “We did not run away from this challenge, we ran toward it,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in response to the Justice Department’s investigation into the state’s juvenile justice system.

“They recognize that we have made a lot of changes, and they said we shouldn’t stop just because of the investigation that has been launched,” Beshear added.

Beshear said he has worked tirelessly to fix the broken system his administration inherited.

“In these facilities, which were over 30 years old, there were attacks on the people housed there almost daily. It was not a safe environment,” the governor added.

He added that the changes are intended to continue to ensure that the models have the necessary safety features.

“To any parent who has a child in these facilities, we will continue to do our best to keep children safe. I want people to realize that safety is important, not only for the young people there, but also for the staff,” Beshear said.

The goal of the investigation is to determine whether Kentucky protects children in these facilities from various forms of harm, including excessive use of force by staff, prolonged isolation, and inadequate protection from violence and sexual abuse.