Wayne Halfway House and Suspected Abuse

Interviews with former staff and youth reveal Wayne Halfway House failed to report suspected abuse in Tennessee’s youth prisons. According to former employees, an expectation to keep serious incidents secret came from CEO Jason Crews.

Surveillance Footage Incident

Tonya Webb, a medication supervisor, witnessed a video showing a teenager in an anti-suicide smock being dragged by other teens at Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center. Guards watched as the teens exposed the boy’s body and locked him in a cell. Webb reported the incident, but facility management was dismissive.

Report Failures

The facility did not report the incident to Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services. Webb later reported the incident to DCS herself. Interviews and records indicate Wayne Halfway House’s leaders repeatedly failed to report suspected physical and sexual abuse.

State Investigation and Company Response

Tennessee confirmed investigating incidents uncovered by WPLN and ProPublica. The state is checking if required incident reports were made. Wayne Halfway House denies discouraging staff from reporting serious incidents and described former employees as biased.

Contract Renewals Amid Allegations

Despite ongoing issues, Tennessee expanded contracts with Wayne Halfway House. Crews now operates all three high-security youth prisons. His facilities accommodate nearly 300 youths. The state awarded a contract to turn Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center into a prison after incidents occurred.

Allegations Against Crews’ Facilities

Former staff claim Crews prioritized secrecy, limiting emergency calls. Employees felt pressured not to call for outside help during emergencies. Heather Boyd was fired for calling 911 during a major attack. Mountain View Academy’s policies restricted emergency calling without Crews’ consent.

Further Instances of Indicted Policy

At Mountain View, nurse Brandi Buchanan faced pressure not to call 911. A guard’s date drove the injured guard to the hospital. Staff were pressured to handle emergencies internally.

Sexual Abuse Concerns

Former employees reported suspicions of sexual abuse occurring in Crews’ facilities. Two employees did not report such incidents due to fears of retaliation.

Laws and Policy Violations

Tennessee law mandates facilities to report suspected abuse immediately. Wayne Halfway House’s management failed to comply according to former employees’ accounts.

Impact on Youth Like Jarvis

Youths like Jarvis experienced trauma in these facilities without family knowledge. Despite undergoing documented injuries, Jarvis’s ordeal went unreported initially. Confidentiality laws prevent detailed public disclosures, but allegations highlight systemic failures.