ProPublica's investigation, published on August 12, 2026, reveals serious allegations of abuse and cover-up at juvenile prisons operated by Wayne Halfway House in Tennessee. Interviews with dozens of former staff and youth indicate that the company failed to report suspected abuse to state officials.

Grainy surveillance footage from June 29, 2024, shows a teenager in an anti-suicide smock being violently dragged by other teens across the floor at the Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center. The teen’s mother, watching from her home in Northern Alabama, expressed horror, saying, “That’s my baby that they did that to. That’s not right.”

Multiple employees reported that Wayne Halfway House’s leadership, including CEO Jason Crews, expected serious incidents to be kept secret. Staff were allegedly instructed never to call 911 or seek outside help during disturbances or riots unless explicitly permitted by Crews or his deputies. This directive contradicts the company’s written policy from early 2020, which states that staff should call 911 immediately in such situations.

Liz Ryan, who oversaw juvenile justice programs for the Biden administration, reviewed the compiled incidents and stated that Wayne Halfway House and its leadership appear to have demonstrated a documented pattern of disregard for state and federal laws and professional standards.

Despite these allegations, Wayne Halfway House issued a statement denying that Crews or the company ever discouraged staff from reporting serious or life-threatening incidents to the state or emergency services. About six weeks after the June 2024 incident, the state awarded Wayne Halfway House a more lucrative contract to convert the Middle Tennessee Juvenile Detention Center from a juvenile jail into a prison.

Tennessee authorities have confirmed they are investigating the incidents uncovered by ProPublica and WPLN.

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