DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News ) – The Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center is under renewed scrutiny after a state report released Monday confirmed disturbing allegations made over the summer.
The Officer of Inspector General’s report found youth were held in their cells for multiple days in violation of state law and staff routinely falsified documents tied to the illegal confinement.
Some children were did not have access to exercise, showers or education, according to the report.
It found that a program called the Special Needs Unit did not operate with policies or procedures, which allowed the facility to bypass state standards.
Texas Center for Justice and Equity’s Sarah Reyes said these conditions could lead to long-term issues for the youth locked up at the facility.
“These kids are kind of already going in with a need for mental health support and then you add on the trauma of abuse and then you add on the trauma of isolation and it leads to these incidents where kids start to self harm,” she said.
The report, which stems from an investigation that began in 2023, found that former director Darryl Beatty was made aware and had the opportunity to correct the alarming conditions.
In a July press conference, Beatty called the then allegations “categorically false.” He eventually resigned and other staff members were fired.
Dallas County Juvenile Interim Director Michael Griffiths said improvements started last year.
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