TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jan 15, 2026

Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay has proposed overhauling the structure of the troubled Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center to change its mission and who oversees it. According to Knox News, the proposal would turn the center into a judicial model designed to make teens successful contributors to their communities instead of focusing on incarceration and punishment. The detention center would be overseen by Knox County's juvenile court judge, ending any plans to put it under the sheriff's office. Jay unveiled the plan at a Knox County Juvenile Service Center Board of Directors meeting this week. The paper reports that the board voted unanimously to send the proposal to the Knox County Commission. The proposal is supported by Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin and by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.