NCJ Number
165638
Date Published
1997
Length
29 pages
Annotation
The Juvenile Facilities Review Panel inspected the Southern Regional Juvenile Detention Center (SRJDC) in Princeton, West Virginia, in July 1996 in response to alleged overcrowding.
Abstract
The SRJDC is a 15-bed secure juvenile facility that houses youth accused of serious criminal offenses who are awaiting final court disposition of their cases. The panel investigation found that the SRJDC had been specifically ordered by a court to accept one juvenile in excess of its capacity. The commitment of the youth reportedly contributed to an increased workload of detention workers but did not cause any other problems. Of 18 commitments to the SRJDC, only two were questionable under State detention standards based on an examination of offenses charged against youth committed to the SRJDC. According to monthly population statistics submitted to the panel by the SRJDC, 20 admission referrals were turned down because the facility was full. In addition, panel investigators found that eight SRJDC residents were in some stage of transfer proceedings during June 1996. These cases involved youth charged with offenses specifically listed in State law as requiring automatic transfer to criminal jurisdiction. The panel concluded that the juvenile detention system in West Virginia is clogged primarily by the practice of housing juveniles for extended periods of time in detention centers designed for short-term residency, thereby creating a shortage of available beds. The use of juvenile detention at juvenile facilities throughout West Virginia and juvenile crime rates in the State are examined. Difficulties in measuring compliance with State detention standards are noted, questionable commitments to secure juvenile detention are discussed, and juvenile transfers to criminal court and youth awaiting dispositional placement are considered. Recommendations to protect against possible misuse of juvenile detention are offered. A proposed juvenile detention screening form is appended. 97 footnotes and 3 tables