Knox County, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Eleven current and former employees of the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center have filed a lawsuit against Knox County and the facility’s director, alleging unsafe working conditions, lack of training, and retaliation.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday, includes claims from employees who say they were not properly trained to handle juvenile detainees. Instead, they allege they received training designed for adult inmates, which they say was not applicable to their roles.
According to the filing, this lack of proper training led to dangerous conditions, including physical assaults and ongoing emotional stress for staff members.
The lawsuit also accuses leadership of retaliating against employees who reported concerns, including allegations of excessive force against detainees. One employee claims he was fired after documenting and reporting an incident involving another staff member.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages, though the lawsuit does not specify a dollar amount.
The Richard L. Bean Center has faced ongoing scrutiny in recent months over reported conditions and leadership concerns. Knox County has been working toward assuming control of the facility following past controversies.
