Private Tennessee juvenile facilities accused of concealing abuse reports

Employees at a group of privately operated juvenile detention facilities across Tennessee allegedly failed to report suspected physical and sexual abuse to state authorities, according to NPR US. The employees were also allegedly discouraged from calling 911, the report said. The available material does not identify the facilities, the incidents involved or the people accused of suppressing reports.

The allegations concern both suspected physical abuse and suspected sexual abuse in facilities holding young people. By not reporting concerns to the state, employees allegedly kept cases from entering the official reporting process. The source material does not provide details of any investigations, disciplinary measures or responses from the operators or Tennessee authorities.

It also does not establish whether the allegations have been proven. The claims nevertheless raise questions about oversight at privately run juvenile detention centres and about whether staff could alert emergency services when they believed young people faced immediate danger.