FRANKFORT, Ky. — The former head of a Kentucky juvenile detention center, where a significant riot occurred in 2022, neglected to perform necessary mental health assessments and made incorrect accusations against a teenager regarding possession of a handcuff key, as reported by a local newspaper.

Tonya R. Burton stepped down in December from her position as the superintendent of a state juvenile facility located in Adair County, south-central Kentucky. The incident that she oversaw in 2022 saw numerous juveniles and staff injured when state police and other law enforcement agencies responded to restore order at the facility. This unrest, coupled with other issues within the state’s juvenile facilities, led to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice, which was made public in May.

As indicated by personnel records accessed by the newspaper, Burton was on the verge of being dismissed in November due to her failure in carrying out mandatory mental health evaluations and for allegedly making false claims about a juvenile receiving a handcuff key from a guard.

Burton stated during investigations that a male resident at the Adair facility had been given a handcuff key by a staff member in June, claiming he used this key to free himself from restraints while showering. However, investigators found no evidence to support her assertions after reviewing security footage and collecting other relevant information.