Tulsa Co. chief public defender calling for immediate closure of Juvenile Justice Center

TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa County Chief Public Defender Lora Howard is calling for the immediate closure of the Juvenile Justice Center.

She claims that despite the county taking over, children are still being harmed .

FOX23 has brought you extensive coverage of the sexual assault allegations against two former detention officers at the center, Jonathan Hines and Dquan Doyle .

FOX23 also told you when local, state and federal law enforcement served a search warrant on the facility.

Howard claims that just hours after that search, a child overdosed on drugs provided by a staff member.

Last week, the county took over the center and created a new position naming David Parker as the manager of the facility.

She also said she received a report on Thursday of one child being sexually assaulted by a staff member.

Howard is calling for the immediate closure of the juvenile center.

The county has not yet responded to these serious allegations, but FOX23 is in contact with the chief public defender as this story develops.

The full statement from Howard can be read below:

"I am once again writing to request immediate closure of the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center. Serious incidents continue to take place. Less than two weeks ago, hours after a large law enforcement presence which included federal agents served a search warrant on detention, a child overdosed on drugs that were provided by a staff member. Yesterday, I became aware of a report of sexual battery upon a child by a worker that occurred the night before last. This assault has been reported to TPD. Notably, this most recent assault occurred after control of the detention center was assumed by the BOCC, and the appointment of David Parker as detention manager. When Mr. Parker spoke with the media last Friday, he indicated that he would "run the facility by himself" if that was what it took. Practically speaking, it is not possible to run the detention facility without a robust and well-trained staff. The current staff continues to engage in criminal behavior against children. Closure of the facility, for a brief interim period, would allow Mr. Parker to build a new team from the ground up. It is abundantly clear that a new team is needed to provide a safe environment for these vulnerable children. I would urge you to close this facility immediately in the interest of protecting the children currently detained."