NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee state lawmakers are troubled and distressed by the claims of abuse and neglect within the state Department of Children's Services.
A newly filed class action lawsuit from Disability Rights Tennessee and unnamed children with disabilities who were in DCS custody lays out multiple allegations of physical and psychological abuse.
In part, the plaintiffs claim DCS staff encouraged kids to beat up other kids and were sometimes offered a bounty for it, would deny children basic medical care, and would keep kids with a history of mental health issues in solitary confinement for days or months at a time.
State Rep John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) co-chairs the Joint Government Operations Committee and said, while they have made some progress with reforming DCS, the stories he read in the lawsuit were unacceptable.
“The allegations against the Department of Children’s Services are incredibly distressing...the department’s deficiencies remain a major focus of the Government Operations Committee and the General Assembly We have a duty to protect the safety, health, and well-being of our most vulnerable members of society. Abuse and neglect will never be tolerated at any level in our state," Ragan said in a statement to News 2.
Democrat Caucus Chair Rep John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said he is hopeful the full litigation process is executed so all the facts are out in the open.
"Anytime there are stories like this shared with the Bill Lee Administration, he just simply changes commissioners. Then the next commissioner uses the argument, 'Oh well...I just got here we are still implementing our new policies,' Clemmons said. "We just continue to have more of the same. History is repeating itself."
Clemmons also called on his colleagues to pay closer attention to what is happening to children in state custody.
"It's a really, really troubling situation and the state needs to be more invested in this," he said.
When asked for a reaction to the lawsuit, DCS and the Attorney General's office said they are aware of the case.