Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center
The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center is a juvenile detention center in Knoxville, Tennessee for children ages 12 to 17.[1]
History
In 1972, Richard L. Bean became superintendent of the facility.[2]
In 2023, the center was the subject of a ProPublica and WPLN/Nashville Public Radio investigation that found youth were illegally kept in solitary confinement.[2]
On May 30, 2024, Bean announced his resignation as superintendent effective August 30, 2025.[3][4] The day prior, the mayor of Knox County said he had lost confidence in Bean's leadership.[5]
In June 2025, the center was featured in a Last Week Tonight with John Oliver investigation on the juvenile justice system, with Oliver citing Bean's usage of solitary confinement and other treatment of juveniles as cause for reforming juvenile detention.[6][7]
References
- ↑ Feinberg, Allie. "The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center overhaul begins: What to know". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- 1 2 Pfleger, Paige (2023-11-16). "This Youth Detention Center Superintendent Illegally Locks Kids Alone in Cells. No One Has Forced Him to Stop". ProPublica. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Feinberg, Allie. "Richard Bean forced out as Knox County juvenile detention center superintendent". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "Interim director of Knox County's juvenile detention center hired". WATE 6 On Your Side. 2025-07-01. Archived from the original on 2025-07-03. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ Pfleger, Paige (2025-06-02). "The Head of a Tennessee Youth Detention Center Will Step Down After "Loss of Confidence" in His Leadership". ProPublica. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ "'Last Week Tonight with John Oliver' highlights issues at Knoxville juvenile detention center". wbir.com. 2025-06-17. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ↑ LastWeekTonight (2025-06-15). Juvenile Justice: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO). Retrieved 2025-07-17 – via YouTube.