GOLDEN, Colo. — The Colorado Division of Youth Services (DYS) quietly removed all juvenile offenders from one of the state's largest youth detention facilities, the Campus at Lookout Mountain in Golden. In public statements, the agency insisted the move was routine and due to staffing levels. In private, a senior official warned of ongoing "basic safety" issues.

According to current staff, the Lookout Mountain youth detention facility was officially empty on Sept. 5. The state said all 36 young people were transferred to other state-run facilities. On Aug. 29, a spokesperson for the Division of Youth Services told 9NEWS, "We periodically adjust our youth placements across the Division to align with individual needs, program availability and staffing levels."

A follow-up statement on Sept

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