Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Juvenile Detention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Juvenile Detention Board reports 13 youths held, reappoints three members and restarts STD program
Summary
The Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Board heard a data report that 13 youths were detained (9 from Rutherford County), approved reappointments for three members by acclamation and noted the restart of an STD program; staff also described education and life‑skills classes and staffing constraints.
The Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Board on an unspecified date heard staff updates that the facility was holding 13 youths that morning and approved the reappointment of three board members by acclamation.
"As of this morning, we had 13 young folks, currently, detained at the juvenile detention center," said Miss Duke, a detention center staff member, reporting the daily census and the counties of origin: nine from Rutherford County, two from Montgomery County and one each from Gibson and Tipton. She cautioned that several youths had court dates that day and the census could change.
The data report was presented as part of routine business; the board first approved the minutes of the April 13, 2026 meeting after Vice Chair Dr. McDonald confirmed she had reviewed them and a motion was moved and seconded.
The board then discussed programs offered through the center’s educational services. Miss Duke said the center is generally a month behind on some data and highlighted two recent offerings: a teen‑parenting class and a drug‑awareness class. She said a detained youth expressed interest and was enrolled in the parenting class, and that the health department has loaned a staff member, identified as Mr. Davis, to assist with drug‑awareness instruction.
Board member Jay Woods questioned apparent low participation in some life‑skills classes; Miss Duke and Woods explained that scheduling, staffing limits on first shift, classification rules that can separate youths, and seasonal offerings can make participation appear lower than the list of available classes suggests.
The board also addressed governance matters. Members discussed upcoming seat expirations and the process for reappointment to county steering and full commission review; the board moved, seconded and accepted nominations by acclamation to reappoint Claire Maxwell, Miss Woods and Dr. McDonald to the juvenile board.
Separately, the chair raised a point of privilege to report that board member Patricia Smith had been in a serious accident. "She is in recovery," Dr. McDonald said, noting Smith had spent time at Vanderbilt trauma and was now in rehab; Dr. McDonald led the board in a brief prayer for her recovery.
In 'other business,' Miss Duke said the center’s STD program had resumed after prior interruptions. "They've gotten all the kinks worked out of the STD program, so that started back up officially," she said, and added that information about who was booked and released would be provided at the next meeting.
The board had no public comments and adjourned without objection.
