Haley Visits DJJ Amid Reports of Problems at Agency

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley is getting a look at conditions at the Department of Juvenile Justice amid reports of problems at the agency because of understaffing.

Media outlets report that the governor made an unannounced three-hour visit to the agency in suburban Columbia on Tuesday.

The House Legislative Oversight Committee sent a letter to Haley last week detailing allegations about assaults, escapes and other problems at the agency.

The letter signed by committee chairman Weston Newton of Bluffton suggested the agency cannot control its inmates because it doesn’t have enough staff.

A statement from the governor’s office said that a recent incident in which more than a dozen teens damaged property is unacceptable and the state is working to strengthen security at DJJ.