State Public Defender seeks investigation of assault at Racine juvenile detention center

According to a news release from SPD, surveillance and body camera video show security workers beating and restraining the boy at the Jonathan Delagrave Youth Development and Care Center.

The SPD is calling for its 15-year-old client to be transferred to a group home to receive specialized therapy and support.

The teenager's family is seeking an attorney to bring a civil lawsuit against Racine County, according to the release.

“I’m devastated. No mother should ever have to watch her child be beaten by the very people entrusted with his safety. Seeing that video and knowing my son is still in that facility is terrifying,” Kianna Reed, the child’s mother, said. “Children in juvenile detention deserve real care and support, not brutality. The staff need proper training and accountability. This cannot be allowed to happen again.”

Reed told the Journal Times she got a call from the detention center the night of the assault saying that her son was "taken down" with excessive force by staff because of an altercation with another youth. She said they told her that her son was not being compliant with what they were saying.

Reed said that after watching the surveillance video, she felt the detention center was not being truthful about the incident.

The teenager's attorney did not obtain the video until October.

In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, Racine County acknowledged that "any use of force involving a juvenile is deeply serious and requires careful scrutiny."

"Immediately after the May 27, 2025, incident occurred, Racine County notified the mother of the youth involved and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections," the statement said. "While a short video of the incident was apparently publicly shared by the youth’s family, staff’s interaction with the youth transpired over several minutes and included the youth clenching his fists and making multiple threats of physical violence to other juveniles and staff."

The SPD is demanding an investigation into conditions at the juvenile detention center and the qualifications of staff members who interact with children.

The Jonathan Delagrave Youth Development and Care Center opened May 1 as an alternative to the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Schools.

“Building shiny new prisons won’t put a stop to this kind of horrific abuse,” State Public Defender Jennifer Bias said. “We need meaningful reforms to the way our children are treated in the juvenile justice system. We need judges who will prioritize alternatives to incarceration and detention workers who value care over punishment.”

According to the release, three of the four staff members involved in the assault are still employed at the detention center.

SPD obtained personnel records that reportedly indicate that the security worker who initiated the assault resigned from his position at the detention center pending an investigation.

Another security worker who reportedly delivered repeated blows to the teenager was ordered to complete eight hours of remedial training and appears to be currently employed at the detention center, according to the SPD release.

“The people in this video should have never been entrusted with caring for children. This is a sickening act of violence,” Bias said. “Instead of addressing its failure with transparency and accountability, Racine County has sought to sweep this incident under the rug."

The county's statement said that "after the incident occurred, the primarily involved staff member was immediately placed on administrative leave."

"He later resigned within three days of the incident," the statement said. "Despite the resignation, law enforcement and independent human services agencies still fully investigated and reviewed this incident. The details of the investigation and relevant video were provided to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of potential criminal charges. After evaluating the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office declined to pursue prosecution."

Amberlyn Yohn, administrator of Youth Rehabilitation Services, said in the statement that youth and staff safety are the highest priorities.

“Situations like this are complex and unfold quickly," she said. "While one employee’s actions became the focus of this incident, our broader team followed established protocols and cooperated fully with the review process."

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include statements from Racine County that were not available at press time for the Wednesday, Nov. 17, print edition of The Journal Times.