DENVER—State officials told lawmakers on Thursday they found no pattern of abuse at a youth detention facility in Greeley and insisted there is no evidence of a cover-up after two children were injured last year.
However in a written report presented to lawmakers by the Colorado Department of Human Services, which oversees the Division of Youth Corrections, investigators said they did find a potential for abuse of the statewide reporting system and officials are looking into changes.
The Associated Press reported last year that a girl’s wrist was broken while she was being restrained. Another youth claimed he was injured when a counselor sat on him while he was handcuffed.
Neither incident was reported to police. Lawmakers questioned whether internal state reports of the incidents had been altered after workers and former workers said their reports were frequently edited to remove claims of potential abuse or infractions by staff.
Lawmakers questioned whether children detained at the facility were safe.
“I think it’s clearly justified to question whether or not they are safe. The question has to be … does the Division of Youth Corrections have the policies and procedures in place to ensure to the best of our ability that we keep all juveniles and staff safe. Unfortunately, incidents do happen and those are the things that have come to the public light,” said George Kennedy, deputy executive director of the Department of Human Services.
Executive Director Karen Beye said there was no evidence that state reports had been altered to delete allegations of abuse by staffers. But she acknowledged there was no way to guarantee everything was reported to an outside agency that was supposed to investigate those incidents after facility officials decided not to notify police. State officials said there were 40 allegations of abuse over the past five years, and only three were ruled legitimate, proving there is no pattern of abuse.
“This is a difficult population. We have a large number of kids that we serve. We think we do a very good job. Can we guarantee you that there’s never a cover-up? Absolutely not. If we believe that has occurred, if we get allegations that has occurred, if someone suspects that has occurred, of course we’re going to investigate it,” Beye told the Joint House and Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which convened a hearing Thursday to hear the state’s explanation for the injuries.
John Malloy, a counselor who said he was recently fired from the facility last month after he was suspected of blowing the whistle, said state officials frequently edited reports about abuse and injuries at the facility, which houses 130 youths convicted of crimes or detained for court hearings.
Malloy said administration officials and favored employees banded together in a group known at Platte Valley as the “book club” because they responded to serious incidents involving juveniles and handled the reports.
Malloy said he was present when three youths died in state facilities over the past two decades, but was never questioned by state investigators about the circumstances.
Brent Nittman, director of the facility, declined to comment after Thursday’s hearing, but acknowledged through a spokeswoman that he had the authority to edit reports before they were given to outside investigators.
“It is possible for that system to be abused, but we don’t believe that occurred,” said spokeswoman Liz McDonough.
State officials didn’t discuss why Malloy was dismissed but said they do not retaliate against whistle-blowers.
Rep. B.J. Nikkel, R-Loveland, said she wasn’t satisfied with the answers she got from the state.
She said she asked the department to investigate the state reporting system, and she’s looking into legislation that would require all injuries and assaults be reported to authorities.
“I do believe police should be called to investigate alleged child abuse or assault. I’m working on legislation to tighten reporting,” Nikkel said.
