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Juvenile justice systems in Tennessee are shrouded in secrecy, making it difficult for reporters to cover them. However, this secrecy can also shield the adults in charge from accountability. Tennessee has 98 juvenile courts with judges who have a lot of discretion in making decisions about cases. The lack of a right to a jury trial for kids means that judges have unchecked authority. The article highlights instances of children being treated like adults in the justice system, with harsh punishments and violations of their rights. The hope for juvenile courts was rehabilitation, but the reality is often closer to the adult system. The article also discusses the lack of access to lawyers for children and the push for harsher sentences for children in Tennessee. Some places, like Nashville, have implemented restorative justice programs for youth offenders as an alternative to the court system. Overall, the article raises concerns about the treatment of children in the juvenile justice system and the need for reform. [Extracted from the article]

The Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center in Tennessee has been using seclusion as a form of punishment for children, despite changes in state laws and guidelines discouraging this practice. Children are being locked alone in cells for extended periods, sometimes for minor rule infractions. The facility's license to operate has been approved without any changes, despite repeated violations and corrective action plans. The use of seclusion can have negative psychological effects on children, and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth is calling for a third-party review of juvenile detention centers and the youth justice system as a whole. [Extracted from the article]

After ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio wrote about Rutherford County's juvenile justice system, state lawmakers called the system a "nightmare" and "unchecked barbarism." Rates unmatched in the state This article was produced for ProPublica's Local Reporting Network in partnership with Nashville Public Radio. [Extracted from the article]

Donna Scott Davenport, the juvenile court judge at the center of a controversy over the arrest and detention of children in Rutherford County, Tennessee, has announced that she will step down this year rather than run for reelection. Following reporting from Nashville Public Radio and ProPublica, public outcry and a bill seeking to oust the judge, Davenport announced her retirement Tennessee Judge Who Illegally Jailed Children Plans to Retire, Will Not Seek Reelection: Since 2000, Judge Donna Scott Davenport has overseen juvenile justice in Rutherford County. [Extracted from the article]