Juvenile Court Detention Center

The Juvenile Detention Services center (JDS) is designed for those youth identified to be a danger to themselves, a danger to the community, or a flight risk. JDS is a 135 bed single occupancy secure detention center. Youth are usually held for a short period of time awaiting court hearings or further placement decisions. While housed at the Juvenile Detention Services center, supervised youth are provided education, programming, recreation, health assessments, counseling, and other intervention services.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Juvenile Court in collaboration with Shelby County Schools, provides an education program for all detained youth in Juvenile Detention Services. Highly trained staff provide for the care, safety, welfare, and security of every child in the custody of the court.

It is the expectation that Juvenile Detention Services ensures that every child is protected from harm and self- incrimination by ensuring due process.

Juvenile Detention Services is comprised of three units: Boy’s Detention, Girl’s Detention, and Central Detention Control. JDS is a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day a week, 365 days a year operation. JDS necessitates a staffing ratio of 1 to 8 during waking hours and 1 to 12 during sleeping hours. Youth are engaged daily in constructive activities that reduces idleness and promotes positive development physically, mentally and spiritually. All youth are afforded the opportunity to participate in the Positive Behavior Management System (PBMS).

PBMS is designed to place emphasis on recognition and reinforcement of positive behavior to promote the development of self-control.

Juvenile Detention Services has partnered with the Annie E. Casey Foundation to work toward developing alternatives to detention, thus reducing the number of youth from being introduced to the Juvenile Justice System.

All youth admitted to Juvenile Detention Services are informed of their rights and their charge(s). Youth who are admitted to Juvenile Detention Services are appointed counsel by request.

In an effort to safeguard every youth in Juvenile Detention Services, Well Path Medical Services provides twenty-four (24) hour medical and mental health services to all youth in the custody of Juvenile Detention Services.

Juvenile Detention Services will continue to strive to work towards improving its efforts in the reduction of youths being introduced into the Juvenile Justice System, by adhering to national and federal best practices used throughout the United States.