MADISON, Ala. — Several state and city officials gathered at Madison City Hall Thursday afternoon to give an update in regards to the Three Springs facility.
The facility became a topic of concern after two teens staying at the treatment center ran away and are accused of killing a man behind a Publix on County Line Road.
Three Springs has reported four runaways from the section devoted to juveniles in DHR custody, and one escapee from the medium security facility run by the Department of Youth Services just this year.
“When its someone who is leaving that facility, regardless of how they’re tagged…the community doesn’t really care,” said Mayor Paul Finley earlier today. “They don’t want one of them getting out again.”
Now, local leaders are being held accountable. Citizens want to know how city officials and facility managers are going to deal with safety concerns.
“We’ll start looking from a city standpoint on anything we can and should do to make sure that doesn’t happen and if there’s any other changes that need to be made, short-term, long term..that we make those,” said Mayor Finley.
The Mayor says he’s been talking to facility leaders, city council members and others about how juveniles are labeled. The label used–escapee or runaway–determined how quickly the community was notified of a problem.
Chief Jernigan assured the public that they adopted a new policy today, that would involve notifying the public of any runaway, missing person, or escapee from the Three Springs facility.
The notifications will be sent out through the NIXEL system, which is a system of text message and email based alerts that residents can sign up for. NIXEL messages are used by many county and city agencies to communicate with the public in emergency situations.
Another issue being looked at? Location.
Three Springs wasn’t always surrounded by homes and neighborhoods.
“As a parent, that lives a mile away from that facility…I recognize the need for safety and support of our community and so we will continue from step one to do everything we possibly can to make sure our community feels safe,” said Finley.
Some people in Madison have called for Three Springs to be closed or moved. Mayor Finely explained during a news conference that’s not on table, at this time. “That is a longer term discussion. That is not a short-term discussion. So, in that case, you will not see the city immediately doing anything because legally we can’t.”
A spokesperson with Sequel TSI said that “While we are in compliance with all licensing standards and contract standards, we have been spending time creating action steps that would go above and beyond what the standards are.”
The facility will immediately be implementing increased security with additional fencing, and an advisory board consisting of city officials and community members will be established.
Facility officials said that they will immediately notify law enforcement of any future truancies so that information can be quickly passed along to the public.