Democratic Leaders Call for Removal of Juvenile Detention Center Superintendent Richard Bean and the Center’s Board of Trustees

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (May 29, 2025) – Democratic Representatives Gloria Johnson (District 90) and Sam McKenzie (District 15), along with Knox County Democratic Party Chair Stuart Hohl, are calling for the removal of Juvenile Detention Center Superintendent Richard Bean and the Center’s Board of Trustees. 

“The abuse of power and mismanagement at this juvenile facility have been well documented for far too long — and it’s putting vulnerable children at risk,” said Rep. Gloria Johnson. “We need immediate state oversight and an administration at the Bean Center that is stable, competent and committed to the well-being of the youth in their care.”

The renewed calls for removal come after Bean fired the Center’s only nurse for sounding alarms about dangerous medical practices and disregard for the children at the facility.

“I am and have been extremely dissatisfied and frustrated with the lack of accountability in our juvenile justice system in Knox County,” said Rep. Sam McKenzie. “Our county mayor and juvenile court judge are finally seeing the issues that we have brought to their attention for quite some time. Knox County deserves better, and that begins with the resignation of Richard Bean and the Center’s Board of Trustees.”

“Our local and state governments must act immediately for the children in their care,” said Knox Dems Chair Stuart Hohl. “This good ol’ boy system that has allowed Bean to run the juvenile facility like his own little kingdom must be eradicated. Bean and the Board must go.”

Reports suggest that Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will look to move the Center under the control of the sheriff’s office, but the proposal is meeting opposition from local leaders.

“I disagree with simply putting the Center under the direction of Sheriff Spangler,” said Rep. McKenzie.  “We must fully understand the deficiencies before we sweep this fiasco under the rug. Our sheriff has his own improvements that he needs to focus on before we trust his office with children in the justice system.”

“The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has no business overseeing a juvenile facility—period,” said Rep. Johnson.

“The treatment of David Batts Sr. prior to his death was unacceptable, and is part of why I cannot support placing the Center under the control of the sheriff’s office,” said Chair Hohl. “We have to solve this problem, not move it under another office that also lacks accountability and oversight.”

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Media Contact: Stuart Hohl: chair@knoxvilledemocrats.org

Knox Dems is the Knox County, Tennessee, Democratic Party. Knox County is shifting blue, and since 2018 local Dems have made gains over the local GOP by flipping seats in each election cycle.