OIG of Nebraska Child Welfare releases official report on youth sex-abuse allegations at YRTC-Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. —

After a nine-month investigation, we’re seeing the findings from the Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare.

That investigation covers allegations of young men being sexually abused at a state-run rehab and treatment facility.

The inspector general’s main concern is the lack of prioritizing youth when sexual allegations come to the surface, and the limitations of these investigations

“The facility and its administration did not condone any of this behavior,” Inspector General Jennifer Carter said. “They investigated it when they saw it, but it was never appropriately addressed.”

Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare: YRTC Kearney investigation report

OIG-CW Report: Allegations snapshot

• OIG-CW was notified about 44 different sexual-abuse-related allegations at the facility from March 2025 to March 2026.
• The allegations contained “over 200 specific claims of a variety of specific behaviors within them.”
• 37 youth made allegations.
• Allegations were made against 19 different staff members.

The report said, “…the number, breadth, and consistency of the allegations, along with the similarity to patterns of behavior seen in prior years, demonstrates a pervasive culture at YRTC-Kearney that normalized and insufficiently addressed behavior extending from boundary violations to inappropriate relationships and sexual abuse.”

Carter added to this in an interview with KETV, saying, “We did not expect, and have never experienced before, that high a number of allegations.”

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) would not confirm with KETV whether the staffers were temporarily suspended pending investigations, nor the current employment status of all 19 staffers; rather, it pointed us to file a public records request.

It’s worth noting only four allegations led to four former staffers getting criminally charged.

“The majority of them [allegations] have been either unfounded, meaning they really had evidence that didn’t happen,” Carter said. “Or unsubstantiated, meaning we’re not sure, but there wasn’t clear evidence.”

She said of the four serious allegations that went to criminal court, “we did not receive notification of two of the incidents, because of how they were classified by [The Office of Juvenile Services’ or OJS’] Compliance [team]. So, we identified that as a potential gap as well.”

The report said the compliance team investigates allegations from teens at the Kearney facility.

“Our main point was we really need to be doing abuse, neglect, investigations,” Carter said.

According to what was found in the report, the current investigations are limited;

1. “Compliance investigations are not intended to determine whether abuse and neglect occurred.”
2. “Fact-finding is limited by Compliance’s process and jurisdiction, making it harder to determine if an incident actually occurred.”

Carter said the investigation process is not focused on youth.

“They [youth] cannot consent to those relationships, and we need to be viewing this as abuse rather than infractions on the part of the youth,” she said.

The report stated NDHHS’ Division of Children and Family Services (CFS) used to determine abuse and neglect of all types at the YRTCs but stopped in 2019. The department called it Out of Home Assessments (OHAs).

In response to the report, DHHS said it stopped “due to the inherent conflict of interest.” Carter said she wants it back.

“There’s a spectrum of abuse and neglect. Not all of it is criminal,” she said. “So, we’re missing all of the noncriminal abuse and neglect when CFS is not doing abuse and neglect investigations at the YRTCs.”

Oversight office recommendations

• Resume OHAs and any statutory changes that are deemed necessary
• Address the “culture problem” at the YRTC in Kearney, which includes structural and operational improvements to “prevent staff sexual abuse and violations of professional boundaries with youth.”
• Evaluate and improve Compliance investigation and review practices
• Change the law to notify the OIG-CW of “all allegations of staff abuse of youth.”

The report included NDHHS’ response to these suggestions.

“I think we are just not in agreement,” Carter said.

She’s referring to NDHHS’ pushback to resume OHAs at YRTC facilities. The state agency said it’s due to an “inherent conflict of interest.”

Carter said there are ways to mitigate this risk. “You could separate them [OHAs] more fully, from the Division of Children and Family Services. You could make sure the division does not report directly to the director of CFS.”

DHHS told KETV Investigates in a statement, “The Department is currently exploring possible alternatives to the CPS conducted out-of-home assessments with the Nebraska State Patrol,” and added, “These assessments would be in addition to and separate from NSP’s current criminal investigations.”

Carter said if abuse and neglect investigations resume at the YRTC facilities, any substantiated allegation, regardless of whether it rises to a criminal charge, will result in the staff member being placed on the Nebraska Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry.

“It’s critical when they’re not placed on the central registry,” Carter said. “The concern is that they [staffer] could go to another facility.”

As of right now, the OJS’ Compliance team investigates these allegations, but the report said, “Compliance at the YRTCs does not have the authority to place staff on the Central Registry even if an incident is substantiated.”

Carter said this is a gap in protecting the youth at these facilities.

“You miss the ability to place those folks on the central registry without a criminal conviction,” she said.

The inspector general said right now, the oversight office is only notified of substantiated Prison Rape and Elimination Act (PREA) violations. PREA is a federal law aimed to protect adult and juvenile inmates from sexual abuse. According to the report, the OIG-CW was not notified about two of the four serious allegations that went to criminal court.

“The way the facility was viewing those incidents was not as PREA violations, was as boundary violations,” Carter said. Which is why the office included the recommendation to adjust the law to notify the OIG-CW about all allegations.

“It’ll just give us a sense of what the facility’s dealing with. What challenges may be repeatedly coming up,” Carter said.

She said she’s calling on the state’s Legislative Oversight, Health and Human Services, and Judiciary Committees to consider this proposal.

Legislative Oversight Committee statement in part:

“Oversight does not end with the publication of a report. Meaningful accountability requires sustained attention, measurable progress, and continued transparency. The task now turns to the Judiciary and the Health and Human Services committee to monitor changes that may be necessary based on the Inspector General’s recommendations, request regular public updates regarding corrective actions, and evaluate whether additional legislative action is necessary to strengthen protections for youth in state custody. Protecting children entrusted to the State’s care is not a partisan issue. It is among the government’s highest responsibilities.”

NDHHS improvements at YRTC facility in Kearney

In an official response to the report, DHHS said it’s implemented several enhancements to oversight, which KETV has covered in previous reports.

READ MORE: YRTC facilities see a shakeup from the top in leadership and other changes

The department also said the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections, a national nonprofit organization, evaluated the Kearney facility and gave a 100% compliance score on mandatory and non-mandatory practices.

The audit included interviews with all YRTC Kearney youth, there at that time.

According to the audit, the teens told the group they felt staffers care for their safety and that the facility is managed in a professional manner.

The state agency said it appreciates the OIG’s work, stating, “DHHS is carefully reviewing the OIG’s final report and will continue evaluating operations at Nebraska’s YRTCs to identify opportunities for continued improvement. The Department remains committed to making decisions that are in the best interests of the youth in its care while maintaining the highest standards of safety, accountability, and rehabilitation.”

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