Inside Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center After Commissioners Took Over Operations

Leaders of the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center allowed media into the facility for the first time since commissioners took over in July.

The center is currently operating on a probationary license while facing a federal lawsuit filed by current and former inmates of the center.

They have made a wide range of allegations against the detention center.

County Commissioners hired David Parker, and he started just five weeks ago.

Parker said things are moving quickly, including changes in employees, policies and procedures and quality of life.

Right now, the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center is housing 25 boys and girls who are awaiting their cases for murder, assault, robbery and other serious crimes.

Parker showed News On 6 what had been done since July when Tulsa County commissioners were forced to take over operations of the facility to avoid the State Office of Juvenile Affairs from shutting it down.

“Most of the problems that arose seemed to come from those employees from a temp agency,” said Parker. “We now do the interviews; we vet them, we do complete backgrounds.”

In a federal lawsuit, 20 people accused detention staff of sexual assault, child abuse, harassment and more.

Two former employees named in the suit, Jonathan Hines and Dquan Doyle, have been charged with felonies in Tulsa County.

“I continue to have supervision to make sure that we put those measurable things in place to make sure that there's no opportunities in the future for that to happen,” said Parker.

Under the probationary license, the center is now limited to housing only 34 juveniles at one time, but if it meets certain requirements, that number could increase.

Parker said the center is working to hire two recreational directors and add security measures.

He said the center is also working to improve the quality of life for those housed here and changes to the grievance policy.

“We may not give them everything they want but we can certainly address their concerns, and most people just want to be heard,” said Parker.

He said the next audit from the Office of Juvenile Affairs is this week, and he is confident the center is on the right path to eventually get its license back.

“I'm confident it will be there,” said Parker. “Will it be at this audit? I think we got a really good shot at it.”

Parker said the center is understaffed and needs about 40% more employees.

Tulsa County deputies fill the gaps as needed.