A grand jury has recommended that the Highlands Youth Academy, where rioting broke out nearly two years ago, be closed down.

The grand jury report listed several problems at the facility, where a riot broke out in August 2013 when two groups of boys started fighting over Cups O' Noodles. The final recommendation: to close the facility down.

On Monday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and State Attorney Jerry Hill held a press conference to discuss the grand jury's findings. Judd released surveillance video that shows a juvenile offender easily escaping the facility as five detention staffers try to break up a fight.

Judd said the investigation into the way the youth facility was run by the Department of Juvenile Justice highlights some major problems.

"It is a miserable failure down there," Judd said. "I'm suggesting to you that the juveniles that are legitimately in that program are at risk."

Hill agreed, calling the facilities a "total disgrace."

The grand jury also recommended that the DJJ should place public safety first and end a "normalization" program. Youth care workers need more training and should have a professional appearance.

The grand jury also recommends a policy that requires the DJJ to contact law enforcement immediately to investigate felony crimes.

Judd referenced the juvenile offender who escaped in the press conference, saying the Highland Youth Academy waited one hour to alert deputies that he got away.

"DJJ allows a two-hour window before law enforcement is ever advised of an escape," he said.

Judd said the youth academy also mixes violent offenders who become adults with non-violent juvenile offenders.

Hill pointed out more issues with the facility.

"The facility has no locks on the doors, no secured detention room or facility there to hold, even temporarily, the unruly or out of control young person," he said. "The fence has no razor wire."

Hill showed photos of the conditions the juveniles were living under.

"This is where this company, making good taxpayer dollars, is housing these young folks," Hill said. "The buildings themselves are roughly 60 plus years old, with damage from the hurricanes 10 or 12 years ago."

The DJJ issued a response, stating they've made improvements to the facility since the riot, by installing security cameras, decreasing the number of beds from 144 to 80, increasing the staff-to-youth ration to 1-to-3 during daytime hours and completing almost $2 million in renovations.

Hill predicted the DJJ would respond by saying there's not really a problem at the facility. He said he hopes the report opens lawmakers' eyes in Tallahassee so the system can be reformed.

Hill said this is one of the problems with privatizing jails. He said the DJJ gave G4S Youth Services a $40 million, five-year contract, and G4S makes an $800,000 profit per year on the Highlands Youth Academy.

Full statement released by Department of Juvenile Justice:

“The Department of Juvenile Justice works to ensure that all youth in our care, our employees and Florida communities are kept safe. Juvenile arrests in Florida are at the lowest level in 30 years with a 36 percent decline over the last five years.

“In order to promote our mission of safety, the Department has taken various steps over the last two years since the Avon Park Youth Academy disturbance took place:

  • DJJ has installed surveillance cameras throughout the facility;
  • We have decreased the program’s size from 144 beds to 80;
  • Increased staff to youth ratio to 1 to 3 during daytime hours;
  • The agency has allocated almost $2 million in facility improvements including dormitory renovations and roof replacement.

DJJ continues to closely monitor this program, and all of our programs, to ensure that our high standards of accountability and transparency are met in all we do.”