Ky.gov

Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice

About DJJ

Leadership

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​​Randy White, Commissioner

On April 1, 2024, Gov. Beshear appointed Randy White as commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Commissioner White brings decades of experience to the department from his service to both the commonwealth and to the nation.

In December 2023, Commissioner White retired from the Department of Corrections after 27 years of service. During his career he served in numerous leadership positions, including deputy commissioner of Adult Institutions, warden of Kentucky State Penitentiary and Green River Correctional Complex, deputy warden of Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, classification and treatment officer, corrections unit manager and procedures/accreditation specialist and correctional officer. Most recently he served as deputy commissioner, a position he held for five and a half years. During that time, Kentucky secured the lowest reci​divism rate in state history. He also developed a Narcan program for the Department of Corrections, leading the nation as the first prison system to train staff on how to administer this lifesaving drug to prevent overdose deaths.

Commissioner White also served with the United States Army and the Kentucky Army National Guard, being mobilized on two separate occasions. In January 2005, White was deployed to Iraq and assigned to conduct combat patrols, being designated as a squad leader, supervising nine soldiers. He completed a 12-month tour of duty as a provisional military police squad leader.

As commissioner of juvenile justice, White will prioritize reducing youth crime and recidivism, increasing mental health treatment, enhancing employee training and securing all 27 juvenile facilities to better protect youth and staff, while continuing to implement the administration's aggressive plan to enhance safety in response to violent incidents. 

Commissioner White graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in corrections and juvenile services and police administration, and a minor in psychology.

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Marshay Boyd, Division Director

Compliance Division​
Marshay Boyd was appointed as Division Director of the Division of Program Service for the Department of Juvenile Justice effective February 1, 2022. In Nov. 2022, the department developed a compliance branch to conduct random staff interviews and unannounced facility inspections and Ms. Boyd was appointed as director. In this position she oversees the Policy Development Branch, Quality Assurance Branch and Prison Rape Elimination Act Branch. 

Director Boyd began her career as a Family Support Specialist with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in April 2000. She continued her career working in various departments, serving as Family Support Specialist I, II, III, Case Manager Specialist I, Field Service Supervisor, Branch Manager for the Division of Program Performance, Assistant Director for the Division of Program Performance, Division Director of the Division of Program Performance and Assistant Director of the Office of Inspector General. 

Director Boyd graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. ​​

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Elzie Burgher, Executive Director

Office of Support Services



Elzie Burgher was appointed as Executive Director of the Office of Support Services for the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice effective February 5, 2024. As Executive Director, he ensures the department is meeting all statutory, regulatory and policy requirements, while providing education, evidence-based practices and training support to the department's employees.

Prior to joining the department, Elzie served as the Deputy Budget Director, Budget Director, Chief Financial Officer, Contracting Officer, Grants Program Manager, Acting Grants Budget Manager of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center within the cabinet. Prior to joining the Cabinet, Elzie worked as a consultant for Whitney, Bradley, and Brown (now Serco) and served as a Logistics Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He currently serves as Multifunctional Logistics Officer in the Kentucky Army National Guard. 

He graduated from Saint Catherine College with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences and with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Kentucky University.

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Dena Burton, Executive Director

Office of Program ​Operations

On December 16, 2023, Dena Burton was appointed Executive Director of the Office of Operations for the Department of Juvenile Justice. In this position, Director Burton oversees the department's Youth Development Centers, Group Homes, Day Treatment Centers and the Placement Services Division. 

Director Burton began her career with as a Youth Worker in 1999. She has continued working with the department since, serving as a Youth Worker Supervisor, Youth Services Program Supervisor, Quality Assurance Branch Manager, Corrections Program Administrator, Assistant Director, and Director of the Program Services Division and most recently as Assistant Director of the Compliance Division beginning in May 2023. 

Director Burton holds a bachelor's degree in human services with an emphasis in criminal justice from Lindsey Wilson College.


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​John Fowler, Executive Advisor

On June 16, 2024, John Fowler was appointed as executive advisor for the Department of Juvenile Justice. Executive Advisor Fowler brings nearly 30 years of state and federal correctional experience to the position. He has served in several positions at different state and federal correctional facilities, where he developed a deep knowledge and expertise in correctional security. Executive Advisor Fowler began his career at Northpoint Training Center in Burgin before moving to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he served as a lieutenant, an instructor in various capacities, and as acting captain. He has worked at several federal facilities, including the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the United States Penitentiary in McCreary.

As the executive advisor at the Department of Juvenile Justice, his primary duties are to conduct security assessments of detention facilities and youth development centers; function as the emergency preparedness coordinator; review and develop incident action plans; shall be designated as the DJJ CIRT Administrator; shall conduct announced and unannounced emergency preparedness drills at detention facilities and youth development centers.


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Martha Mather, Advisor​

Behavioral and Mental Health
Martha Mather was appointed as the Behavioral and Mental Health Advisor for the Department of Juvenile Justice on February 1, 2025. In this position, she develops, implements and improves mental health services for youth.

Mather has substantial experience in behavioral healthcare leadership. Prior to joining the department, she was a senior consultant at Sheppard Pratt Solutions, the nation’s largest nonprofit behavioral health system, in this role she assisted clients throughout the country by providing operational and strategic support. Mather previously served as Chief Operating Officer for Aware Recovery Care, expanding operations of a private equity in-home addiction treatment model across 11 states. Mather held multiple leadership roles in Louisville, Kentucky as Chief Operating Officer of Our Lady of Peace and Saints Mary & Elizabeth Hospital and later as CEO of Peace Hospital within the University of Louisville Health system.

She earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Florida Atlantic University.


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Kevin Mazza, Division Director

Division of Transport
Kevin Mazza was appointed Division Director of the Division of Transport for the Department of Juvenile Justice on February 1, 2025. In this role, he oversees juvenile transportation to and from department facilities and court appearances, ensuring efficient operations and support for public safety.

With over 21 years of experience in corrections, administrations and security, Mazza began his career as a Correctional Officer at the Kentucky State Reformatory in 2003. He advanced through multiple leadership positions, including Deputy Warden of the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex and Warden of the Green River Correctional Complex, where he was named 2022 Warden of the Year. He later retired as Warden of Northpoint Training Center in September 2024.



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Troy Pollock​, Di​rec​tor​

Training Academy​​

Troy Pollock was appointed Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice Training Academy on March 4, 2024. Director Pollock brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the department having worked in corrections the last three decades. 
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Director Pollock has served in various positions throughout his career from correctional officer, operations manager, deputy warden and chief deputy jailer and at several facilities; including, but not limited to Kentucky State Reformatory, Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women, Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, correctional facilities outside of the commonwealth and most recently at Carroll County Detention Center. 

Throughout his career, Director Pollock has ensured compliance with American Correctional Association requirements with an emphasis on training at both the state and local levels. To the role of training director, he will be designing a curriculum to bring the department into the future while providing critical knowledge for security personnel to do their jobs well and allow them to develop a long career with the juvenile justice system, while enhancing the safety of both staff and those in the department's custody. 

He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in correctional and juvenile justice studies and Kentucky Community & Technical College System with an associate degree in criminal justice.


James B. Sweatt II​, Executive Director​

Office of ​Detention​
James Sweatt was appointed by Gov. Andy Beshear as Executive Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice's Office of Detention in May 2023​, a first for the commonwealth's j​uvenile justice system. Director Sweatt brings more than 40 years of criminal justice experience to the department having served in numerous roles at the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Director Sweatt began his career in state service as a Correctional Officer in 1975 at the Kentucky State Reformatory, where he continued for several years to promote through the leadership chain. In 1995 he accepted the position as Assistant Director of the Central Kentucky Treatment Center for Juveniles and position he would hold for four years. Mr. Sweatt returned to the adult correctional system in 1999 as De​puty Warden of Luther Luckett Correctional Complex and was appointed Warden of the Roederer Correctional Complex in 2003 where he served for 9 years. In 2012 he accepted the position of Director of Population Management and served in role until his retirement in 2016. 

In addition to Executive Director Sweatt's commitment to enhance the safety and security of the state's juvenile detention centers, he is active in his church, the Newburg Church of Christ, a Hall of Fame inductee at his alma mater, Southwestern Christian College, and a member of the professional organizations of Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency and Southern States Correctional Association. He has served in several leadership capacities in these organizations which include State President of Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency and has been honored as a recipient of the Mary Frances Cooper Award in appreciation of his commitment to the Kentucky Criminal Justice system, PC Shields Award and President's Award for Southern States Correctional Association​. He has also been a community liaison-offering inmate work crews in the local community when assistance was requested and partnering with the Oldham County History Center for an exhibit on the history of criminal justice/impact of the Kentucky State Reformatory on the local community.

Executive Director Sweatt was born in Bowling Green and graduated from Louisville Male High School in 1971. He furthered his education at Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, graduating with an Associate of Art Degree in Sociology and a minor in Political Science.​​

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Russell Williams, Executive Advisor

Appointed February 1, 2025, Russell Williams serves as executive advisor for the Department of Juvenile Justice. In this role, he works with the department’s mental health team to enhance services for youth in state custody. His responsibilities include utilizing Kentucky’s mental health system to support youth, expanding existing programs and providing guidance on reentry and second-chance initiatives.
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Williams brings 24 years of clinical psychology experience to the department, as well as 12 years in corrections. He most recently served as Program Manager and Mental Health Authority for the Department of Corrections Division of Mental Health since October 2019. Prior this, Williams served as a licensed psychologist at the Kentucky State Reformatory and Roederer Correctional Complex, Director of Clinical Services at Central State Hospital and forensic evaluator at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center. Williams also served as Director of Operations for Bellewood Presbyterian Homes for Children, Clinical Director of the Western High School Day Treatment Program, Program Manager for Family Reunification Program at Bellewood and as a senior therapist for Seven Counties Services on the Child & Adolescent Team.

A University of Louisville and Spalding University graduate, Williams earned his Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology in clinical psychology. He also holds a Certificate of Public Health Leadership from the University of Kentucky College of Public Health.
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