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The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
A new state report provides an assessment of the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center in Knoxville, detailing recurring issues with the facility along with recommendations for improvements.
The assessment, conducted by Jim Hart of the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Assistance Service, was ordered after a number of concerns were brought to light regarding medicine management and safety at the facility. The center was evaluated from August 5-7.
The final report addresses several key areas: facility operations, staff, compliance, and overall condition. The results state that “In general, the operational practices, record keeping, standards compliance, leadership practices and updating of technology seem to have been frozen in time at this agency.”
The assessment found consistently weak leadership and inadequate staffing. The facility was continually understaffed and those who were working had not been sufficiently trained and were not properly supervised.
Another issue noted in the report was an outdated policy and procedure manual and a lack of complete emergency plans.
“In the undated policy and procedure manual there are very minimal plans for escape, hostage taking, resident disturbance, work stoppage, and fire evacuation,” Hart wrote. “No plans were identified for medical emergencies, quarantine, or assaults on staff. While considered a best practice and realistic event, there were also no plans for bomb threats, destructive weather, or active shooter in the lobby. As with other policies and procedures, these plans are not available to staff.”
The facility’s security system was also outdated or not working at all.
“On 8/7/2025, I entered the visitation area and was locked inside,” Hart wrote. “The communication device to control did not function, and the control operator made no inquiry into why I was there. I called the chief to inform him I was locked inside.”
Budget concerns were also discussed in the report, with the document stating that despite housing juveniles from 12 surrounding counties, there were no formal contracts. A recommendation was made for a cost analysis to determine an accurate housing cost per day.
Along with recommendations to help fix the many issues with the facility, the assessment also suggested that the facility go through a rebranding, including a name change to the “East Tennessee Regional Juvenile Service Center.”
It was noted that interim supervisor Billy Bivens, who was named to replace outgoing Superintendent and facility namesake Richard Bean who retired after the facility came under scrutiny, had begun to initiate changes within the facility but had faced significant resistance.
Several Knox County commissioners were named to a committee tasked with reviewing the report, along with considering the recommendations for possible improvements. The committee initially agreed to work on an improvement plan until December 31, 2025, but was asked to continue with overseeing the work until June 30, 2026. After that time, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office would take over.
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