Thread by @Chloe_DXM

🧵 There are currently 28 children reported missing from #Tennessee since Jan 1. 2023. This does not include the total 102 children missing from this state. If you search a good majority of these children’s names you will find little to no information about them, that is because… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Rep Littleton (@78RepLittleton) brought HB1106/SB0611 to the floor which allows a juvenile court to transfer a 16 yo or older to a criminal court of to be tried as an ADULT for committing the offense of escape from a youth development center. 2/

In 2022 an audit released by the #Tennessee Department of Children’s services shows MULTIPLE failures by DCS to keep children safe once they are taken into custody. “An abuse hotline took as many as 40 days to report sexual abuse of children in state custody to investigators” 3/

#Tennessee Children placed in residential facilities who reported sexual abuse or harassment were left “remaining in potentially abusive situations for weeks before the investigator spoke to them.” Some reports weren’t investigated at all. 4/

#Tennessee. The report notes, kids who should have been in foster care homes spent up to 38 nights sleeping in inappropriate temporary housing, including DCS offices. “Children in temporary settings do not always have food, clothes, beds or a shower.” 5/

“Children, who came to DCS because they suffered neglect or abuse, are being victimized a second time because the governor and supermajority have failed to invest in the people responsible for their care,” @VoteGloriaJ said. 6/

@78RepLittleton successfully passed HB106 which states CHILDREN 16yo or older who escape a juvenile facility be sent to adult criminal court to be tried as an adult. Rep Littleton was questioned by @JRClemmons and several other Reps, many questions were not fully answered. 7/

@TNRepParkinson asks who is responsible for ensuring a juvenile does not escape from a facility, and @78RepLittleton lays that accountability onto the children. 8/

Towards the end of the debate, @78RepLittleton herself seems flustered by the bill 9/

In summary, as audits reveal, the #Tennesee DCS programs are riddled with issues ranging from healthcare availability, safe housing, sexual assault, physical abuse, mental abuse, etc. Why is the #tnleg voting to charge children as adults who try to escape these conditions? 10. 🧵