LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It could be the return of a resource community leaders say is desperately needed.
Kentucky lawmakers are looking to bring back Louisville's downtown juvenile detention center, and they have a plan to make it happen.
In Frankfort on Thursday, State Rep. Kevin Bratcher (R-D29) and other lawmakers from Louisville proposed an $8.9 million package to be included in House Bill 3.
It'll be heard when the legislative session resumes next Tuesday.
The plan is to reconstruct a state-run youth detention facility at the old location on West Jefferson. It was previously run by the city before getting cut from the budget in 2019, forcing a closure.
Bratcher said Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, Interim Police Chief Jackie Gwinn-Villaroel and Deputy Mayor David James support the initiative. The state Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) workgroup leaders met with them earlier this week.
Bratcher said city officials agree, youth crime has become one of the primary drivers of violence in Louisville -- from carjackings to shootings.
"The police of Louisville have been asking for it, the clergy of Louisville has been asking for it," Bratcher said. "If we don't get a grip on juvenile crime in Louisville, we're not going to get a grip on the crime wave in Louisville."
After his State of the City address Thursday, Greenberg told WHAS11 he backs lawmakers' push.
"Our city will put together a partnership to provide other services to juveniles who find themselves ensnared in the legal system, so we can get them the support and services they need," he said. "It is unfortunate the amount of juvenile crime that's happening in our city -- it is far too much. This is just one part of the solution."
There are still plenty of question marks, including whether the General Assembly would even choose to fund the effort as they reconvene in Frankfort on Tuesday.
Bratcher hopes they can rearrange funds within the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet or possibly have a budget item, despite it not being a budget year. He hopes the center will have more than 50 beds for youth offenders and abundant mental health services on site.
"The city of Louisville has services to provide these children who commit some bad crimes, and they have told me many times they're caught and released before they have a chance to even sit down and talk to the child," Bratcher said. "So, you know, that's got to change. Hopefully by the end of this session there will be one on the way."
The proposal comes as juvenile detention centers across the state have cited major staffing shortages. Bratcher says he's recommending Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear start a new program to bring back retired troopers to work as youth workers -- potentially in Louisville.
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