The juvenile detention center
What the Knox County Commission has decided about who runs the juvenile service center and how it is overseen.
Where this stands
The record holds 19 decisions on this, from June 2021 to May 2026, at the Knox County Board of Commissioners. [1] [19]
The most recent was on May 18, 2026: Confirm appointments to East TN Regional Juvenile Service Center Advisory Board — adopted 9-0-1-1. [19]
11 of them were decided by a split vote. [6] [7] [8] [10] [11] [13]
The largest dollar amount stated in these decisions is $48,700, in Approve grant contract with TN Dept. of Health for COVID-19 at Juvenile Service Center. [2]
Who voted how — Knox County Board of Commissioners
| Member | Jun 23, 2025 [7] | Jun 23, 2025 [8] | Nov 17, 2025 [10] | Nov 17, 2025 [11–14] | Feb 25, 2026 [15–16] | Feb 25, 2026 [17] | Mar 23, 2026 [18] | May 18, 2026 [19] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Thompson | Aye | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Andy Fox | Aye | No | No | Aye | Aye | Abstain | Aye | Aye |
| Angela Russell | Aye | No | No | No | Aye | Abstain | No | Abstain |
| Courtney Durrett | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Damon Rawls | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Gina Oster | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Kim Frazier | Abstain | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Absent |
| Larsen Jay | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Rhonda Lee | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye |
| Shane Jackson | Absent | Absent | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
| Terry Hill | No | Aye | Aye | Aye | No | Aye | Aye | Aye |
Also decided outside the bodies we cover
- Knox County Juvenile Court — decides who is detained
Every step on the record (19 related decisions, oldest first)
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[1] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 28, 2021R-21-6-113
Appoint/Reappoint to Board of Trustees of Juvenile Service Center
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 28, 2021.
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[2] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 21, 2022R-22-11-904
Approve grant contract with TN Dept. of Health for COVID-19 at Juvenile Service Center
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 21, 2022.
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[3] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 26, 2023R-23-6-111
Reappoint Sherry Mahar to Juvenile Service Center Board
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 26, 2023.
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[4] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 24, 2024R-24-6-112
Reappoint John Valliant, Jr. to Juvenile Service Center Board
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 24, 2024.
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[5] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 23, 2025Amend agenda: hear Ordinance O-25-6-102 before Resolution R-25-6-903
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 23, 2025.
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[6] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 23, 2025O-25-6-102
Approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-6-102: Repeal and adopt new sections for Juvenile Detention Center
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 23, 2025.
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[7] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 23, 2025R-25-6-903
Approve resolution re: Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center & Board appointments
Motion: Substitute motion to amend the names of the four Commissioners
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 23, 2025.
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[8] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
June 23, 2025R-25-6-903
Approve resolution re: Richard L. Bean Juvenile Service Center & Board appointments
Motion: Motion to approve Resolution R-25-6-903
Source: official minutes (PDF) for June 23, 2025.
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[9] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
July 28, 2025Spread of Record: Juvenile judge's appointment of Rhonda Lee
Adopted no recorded voteRoll call & discussion →Source: official minutes (PDF) for July 28, 2025.
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[10] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 17, 2025R-25-11-906
Amend Resolution to extend hiring of Interim Superintendent for Juvenile Service Center
Motion: Motion to end debate.
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 17, 2025.
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[11] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 17, 2025R-25-11-906
Amend Resolution to extend hiring of Interim Superintendent for Juvenile Service Center
Motion: Motion to approve Resolution R-25-11-906.
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 17, 2025.
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[12] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 17, 2025O-25-11-103
Approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 to delay transition of Juvenile Service Center control
Motion: Motion to approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 on first and final reading.
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 17, 2025.
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[13] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 17, 2025O-25-11-103
Approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 to delay transition of Juvenile Service Center control
Motion: Motion to approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 on first and final reading.
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 17, 2025.
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[14] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
November 17, 2025O-25-11-103
Approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 to delay transition of Juvenile Service Center control
Motion: Motion to approve Emergency Ordinance O-25-11-103 on first and final reading.
Source: official minutes (PDF) for November 17, 2025.
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[15] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
February 25, 2026O-26-2-101
Restructure oversight of Juvenile Service Center and create advisory board
Motion: Substitute motion: seven-member board with two mayor appointees and five elected by full commission
Source: official minutes (PDF) for February 25, 2026.
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[16] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
February 25, 2026O-26-2-101
Restructure oversight of Juvenile Service Center and create advisory board
Motion: Substitute motion: one mayor appointee and two commissioners appointed by full commission
Source: official minutes (PDF) for February 25, 2026.
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[17] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
February 25, 2026O-26-2-101
Restructure oversight of Juvenile Service Center and create advisory board
Motion: Motion to approve Ordinance O-26-2-101 with amendment that all advisory board appointments be confirmed by Knox County Commission, First Reading
Source: official minutes (PDF) for February 25, 2026.
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[18] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
March 23, 2026O-26-2-102
Ordinance on second reading: Juvenile Service Center control and advisory board
Source: official minutes (PDF) for March 23, 2026.
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[19] · Knox County Board of Commissioners
May 18, 2026R-26-5-113
Confirm appointments to East TN Regional Juvenile Service Center Advisory Board
Adopted 9-0-1-1Roll call & discussion →Source: official minutes (PDF) for May 18, 2026.
A curated grouping of the record, possibly incomplete.