Post by novillero on Apr 17, 2008 7:55:51 GMT -5
Is this good or bad?
JUVENILE LOCKUP COULD BE CLOSED
Detainee total down; costs up
By Bob Jordan • FREEHOLD BUREAU • April 16, 2008
The shutdown of the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center is under consideration by government officials, a move that would send juvenile offenders to facilities in neighboring counties.
The number of detainees at the center on Dutch Lane Road in Freehold Township dropped last year to a historic low and officials have calculated a first-year savings of $2.4 million if it's closed.
Also, such a change would head off work on up to $12 million in overdue renovations needed if the 38-year-old facility remains open, said Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who oversees the county's corrections system. But Guadagno and other officials said the concerns of child advocates must also be weighed, including the claim that detainees' contact with family members would be hampered by increased travel time for visits.
The primary location for Monmouth County detainees would become the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick — though some detainees could end up in lockups in Union and Hudson counties if overcapacity situations occur in Middlesex.
The Monmouth County Youth Detention Center is one of the 17 juvenile detention centers across New Jersey administered by county governments. A few counties already share detention center services. State law authorizes courts to detain youth alleged to be delinquent only if they are considered a danger to the community or if they are deemed likely to not appear in court. Those who are committed to sentences by the courts are transferred to state facilities or other programs.
On Friday, the center housed 26 juveniles, including two females. Most are awaiting action by the courts, though some were being held after court action to await program or youth prison placement. The charges on those being held on Friday included homicide, aggravated assault, possession of firearms, aggravated criminal sexual contact and robbery.
The center has a 40-bed capacity.
A staff of 70
Guadagno and Warden William J. Fraser stressed that a shutdown remains under review and a decision on making the change would be up to the county freeholders. The center has 70 workers, including detention officers, administrators, support staff members, social workers and maintenance employees. A layoff plan would have to be negotiated with union representatives and processed through state officials, Fraser said.
"One of my concerns is about the people working here. I don't want them to get a feeling of upheaval, because it's still a long way from a decision being made on whether to close, and even then it could take another six months to close up," Fraser said.
Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said the county is looking at the finances of various government operations in what she called "a difficult budget year." The freeholders would also look at the nonfinancial implications of making any changes at the facility, she said.
"I think it's premature to state an opinion until all the facts are assembled and reviewed," Burry said.
The facility had an average daily population of 22 detainees in 2007. Its operating budget this year is $5.5 million. The number of detainees has dropped significantly in recent years after Monmouth became one of the first counties in the state to adopt a program that relies on alternatives to detention of young people whose alleged offenses are not considered serious or chronic. Emphasis has been put on electronic monitoring, in-home detention, shelters and after-school reporting centers.
The national program, known as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, has been widely praised by child advocates. It has since expanded to 10 counties in New Jersey, including Ocean County.
Drawbacks to move
But Mark Ferrante, program director for the Washington-based Coalition for Juvenile Justice, said local officials must weigh the drawbacks to closing detention centers, even after occupancy rates drop. The centers often serve as a link to services of the various new programs, he said.
"There are cost-effective, community-based alternatives to detention which research indicates would benefit young people more so than moving them farther away from their families, schools and positive community connections. The other point is that much good work has been accomplished in Monmouth County through (alternative methods) and to simply resort to moving kids to another county has the potential to undo much of what has been put in place," said Ferrante, who was an administrator at the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission from 2000 to 2007.
The Monmouth County Youth Services Commission — the primary advisory body to the freeholders on issues related to youth at risk or involved in family court — has formerly expressed concerns about reduced family contact with detainees and increased travel time for visitors, Fraser said.
Youth Commission Services member Carmen Vega said she and other panel members "are waiting for more information on how this will work. We all know the counties are talking about a number of ways on how to do things more efficiently and this is something that has to be looked at."
Fraser said one item under consideration is providing bus service to family members if detainees are moved outside the county.
But Fraser admitted, "There's no way child advocates will be in support of closing the center, but we're looking at ways to address concerns."
"I believe I have an obligation to the residents to examine our options," Guadagno said.
Guadagno added that it's "simply too early in what will plainly have to be an exhaustive examination" to predict the center's fate.
However, Guadagno and Fraser said Monmouth and Middlesex officials met several times in 2006 and reached framework contract details for exporting Monmouth's detainees.
Monmouth County agreed to pay a fixed $1.78 million annually for Middlesex to house 25 juveniles a day for 365 days at $195 a day; there would be no reduction if fewer than 25 juveniles were housed, and an estimated $83,800 would also be paid for occasions when the number exceeded 25.
Also, Monmouth agreed to pay $60,000 each month for upkeep of Middlesex's facility.
Other administrative and operating expenses brought Monmouth's total estimated cost to $3.1 million annually — $2.4 million less than the center's present annual operating cost of $5.5 million, Guadagno said.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS/804160452/1001/NEWS&source=nletter-news
JUVENILE LOCKUP COULD BE CLOSED
Detainee total down; costs up
By Bob Jordan • FREEHOLD BUREAU • April 16, 2008
The shutdown of the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center is under consideration by government officials, a move that would send juvenile offenders to facilities in neighboring counties.
The number of detainees at the center on Dutch Lane Road in Freehold Township dropped last year to a historic low and officials have calculated a first-year savings of $2.4 million if it's closed.
Also, such a change would head off work on up to $12 million in overdue renovations needed if the 38-year-old facility remains open, said Sheriff Kim Guadagno, who oversees the county's corrections system. But Guadagno and other officials said the concerns of child advocates must also be weighed, including the claim that detainees' contact with family members would be hampered by increased travel time for visits.
The primary location for Monmouth County detainees would become the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick — though some detainees could end up in lockups in Union and Hudson counties if overcapacity situations occur in Middlesex.
The Monmouth County Youth Detention Center is one of the 17 juvenile detention centers across New Jersey administered by county governments. A few counties already share detention center services. State law authorizes courts to detain youth alleged to be delinquent only if they are considered a danger to the community or if they are deemed likely to not appear in court. Those who are committed to sentences by the courts are transferred to state facilities or other programs.
On Friday, the center housed 26 juveniles, including two females. Most are awaiting action by the courts, though some were being held after court action to await program or youth prison placement. The charges on those being held on Friday included homicide, aggravated assault, possession of firearms, aggravated criminal sexual contact and robbery.
The center has a 40-bed capacity.
A staff of 70
Guadagno and Warden William J. Fraser stressed that a shutdown remains under review and a decision on making the change would be up to the county freeholders. The center has 70 workers, including detention officers, administrators, support staff members, social workers and maintenance employees. A layoff plan would have to be negotiated with union representatives and processed through state officials, Fraser said.
"One of my concerns is about the people working here. I don't want them to get a feeling of upheaval, because it's still a long way from a decision being made on whether to close, and even then it could take another six months to close up," Fraser said.
Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry said the county is looking at the finances of various government operations in what she called "a difficult budget year." The freeholders would also look at the nonfinancial implications of making any changes at the facility, she said.
"I think it's premature to state an opinion until all the facts are assembled and reviewed," Burry said.
The facility had an average daily population of 22 detainees in 2007. Its operating budget this year is $5.5 million. The number of detainees has dropped significantly in recent years after Monmouth became one of the first counties in the state to adopt a program that relies on alternatives to detention of young people whose alleged offenses are not considered serious or chronic. Emphasis has been put on electronic monitoring, in-home detention, shelters and after-school reporting centers.
The national program, known as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, has been widely praised by child advocates. It has since expanded to 10 counties in New Jersey, including Ocean County.
Drawbacks to move
But Mark Ferrante, program director for the Washington-based Coalition for Juvenile Justice, said local officials must weigh the drawbacks to closing detention centers, even after occupancy rates drop. The centers often serve as a link to services of the various new programs, he said.
"There are cost-effective, community-based alternatives to detention which research indicates would benefit young people more so than moving them farther away from their families, schools and positive community connections. The other point is that much good work has been accomplished in Monmouth County through (alternative methods) and to simply resort to moving kids to another county has the potential to undo much of what has been put in place," said Ferrante, who was an administrator at the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission from 2000 to 2007.
The Monmouth County Youth Services Commission — the primary advisory body to the freeholders on issues related to youth at risk or involved in family court — has formerly expressed concerns about reduced family contact with detainees and increased travel time for visitors, Fraser said.
Youth Commission Services member Carmen Vega said she and other panel members "are waiting for more information on how this will work. We all know the counties are talking about a number of ways on how to do things more efficiently and this is something that has to be looked at."
Fraser said one item under consideration is providing bus service to family members if detainees are moved outside the county.
But Fraser admitted, "There's no way child advocates will be in support of closing the center, but we're looking at ways to address concerns."
"I believe I have an obligation to the residents to examine our options," Guadagno said.
Guadagno added that it's "simply too early in what will plainly have to be an exhaustive examination" to predict the center's fate.
However, Guadagno and Fraser said Monmouth and Middlesex officials met several times in 2006 and reached framework contract details for exporting Monmouth's detainees.
Monmouth County agreed to pay a fixed $1.78 million annually for Middlesex to house 25 juveniles a day for 365 days at $195 a day; there would be no reduction if fewer than 25 juveniles were housed, and an estimated $83,800 would also be paid for occasions when the number exceeded 25.
Also, Monmouth agreed to pay $60,000 each month for upkeep of Middlesex's facility.
Other administrative and operating expenses brought Monmouth's total estimated cost to $3.1 million annually — $2.4 million less than the center's present annual operating cost of $5.5 million, Guadagno said.
Bob Jordan: (732) 308-7755
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/NEWS/804160452/1001/NEWS&source=nletter-news
