COLUMBIA, S.C. — Some employees at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice have walked out to protest with they say are poor working conditions within the state agency.
Multiple employees stood outside the DJJ facility on Broad River Road Friday to get attention for what they feel are problems with staffing shortages, lack of security, and pay. Some held signs, while others talked to reporters to tell stories of what they say are happening behind the walls of the agency that houses juvenile criminal offenders.
Some employees told News19 they work two days straight at times, which makes for an exhausting and unsafe work place.
State Sen. Katrina Shealy, a critic of SCDJJ who has scrutinized the agency in meetings, came to the protest to stand alongside the workers.
A spokeperson for South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said the governor is aware of the situation and has directed law enforcement agencies in the area to be on standby to supplement DJJ staff if necessary. The governor has also directed the South Carolina Department of Administration's human resources division to review the concerns of DJJ staff.
The protests come in the wake of increased security of the state agency following an audit that was released in April by the Legislative Audit Council. That report surveyed over 1,200 DJJ employees for their opinions on job satisfaction, security, education, and medical services for juveniles.
The report found evidence of insufficient security measures to keep employees and juveniles safe, inadequate medical care, and schooling for the teens who are housed there. The report said violence was increasing, with some employees saying they feared for their own personal safety working there.
The audit findings have upset some state lawmakers, who have called multiple hearings about the problems at DJJ, with some calling for the director of the agency to step down.
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Marcia Lindsay, Deputy Director of the Legislative Audit Council, said during one of the hearings in early May that the main issue at DJJ is the lack of security staff at facilities.
"DJJ is not providing timely and appropriate medical care for juveniles in its custody. One main reason is the lack of transportation," Lindsay told lawmakers.
She explained that juveniles needing medical attention are not treated in a timely manner because there aren't enough correctional officers to oversee the facilities and transport patients to the doctor at the same time.
The audit also found that the lack of security is directly affecting medical care, safety and schooling.
But Freddie Pough, the agency director, said the audit lacks context and issued a 10 page rebuttal to the report. Pough has led the agency since 2017.
Problems with DJJ began before Pough's tenure. Reported issues first started to come to light after a riot in 2016.
Officials with DJJ at the time reported juveniles stole cars, escaped through drainage grates and set fires at the Broad River Road Facility, during the disturbance. When lawmakers heard from the agency after the riot, they learned the majority of female officers were not equipped with any weapons and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was never called. [SLED is normally called to investigate incidents involving other state law enforcement agencies and detention centers.]