WPRO News and The Associated Press
An assessment of Rhode Island’s juvenile detention center has found that inconsistent oversight and deficits in staffing created unsafe conditions.
The state Department of Children, Youth and Families conducted a 60-day review of the Rhode Island Training School after a chaotic disturbance in July left two children and six staff members injured. The results were released Friday.
It cited challenges posed by inconsistent oversight, an unclear reporting hierarchy and staffing deficits, with about a third of juvenile program workers on leave.
Police also were called to the Cranston facility in May after four workers were injured in a melee.
The detention center’s executive director, Kevin McKenna, stepped down after the July disturbance.
The 62 youth are now housed in one facility instead of two to enhance safety and security.
“We have a much better grasp and tighter controls around safety and security,” said DCYF Director Trista Piccola told reporters, after submitting a report on the incident Gov. Gina Raimondo.
“Operating a training school is difficult, and it will not be without incident,” she said. Piccola said assaults have been cut in half since new procedures were adopted after the July melee, which Piccola said caused about $500,000 in damage.
The DCYF has not reached any decisions about whether to consolidate two separate facilities into one.
Read the full report below:
