SB 1432 (Marsden) requires the closure and consolidation of seven juvenile detention centers by January 1, 2026. VACo opposes this legislation. Throughout several workgroups reviewing this issue, VACo has maintained its position that any decisions regarding consolidation should be made by the affected local governments so that the full spectrum of community needs can be considered, to include opportunities for the reinvestment of savings into the provision of additional services, as well as potential drawbacks, such as housing youth farther from their families and communities.
The bill would require a series of closures and consolidations, as follows:
- Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center, Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center, and Prince William County Juvenile Detention Center would be closed and consolidated into the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center or other detention center as negotiated by the localities or commissions;
- Henrico Juvenile Detention Center would be closed and consolidated into the James River Juvenile Detention Center, Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home, or other detention center as negotiated by the localities or commissions;
- Richmond Juvenile Detention Center would be closed and consolidated into the Chesterfield Juvenile Detention Home or other detention center as negotiated by the localities or commissions;
- Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center would be closed and consolidated into the Virginia Beach Juvenile Detention Center, Chesapeake Juvenile Services, or other detention center as negotiated by the localities or commissions;
- Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center would be closed and consolidated into the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center or other detention center as negotiated by the localities or commissions.
The bill requires a locality or commission operating a facility that would receive youth from a facility that would be closed under the provisions of the bill to negotiate with the locality from which the youth would be placed regarding “mutually agreeable funding contributions for the operation of such receiving juvenile secure detention facility.” These agreements must include certain provisions regarding access to post-dispositional programming, medical and hospitalization costs, and transportation costs. If the localities are unable to reach an agreement, the Department of Juvenile Justice would determine the contributions, and failure to comply with this determination could result in the loss of state funding. Under the bill, a locality or commission operating a detention facility that refuses to accept youth who would otherwise have been placed in a facility that is closed would not be eligible for state funding for its facility.
The bill also proposes changes to staffing requirements for education professionals at detention centers. Rather than a ratio of one teacher for every 12 beds, the ratio would be changed to one full-time equivalent program employee (which may include teachers, lead teachers, principals, and program administrative support staff) for every six students based on a rolling average daily population at the facility from the previous three fiscal years. Contracts between the Board of Education and local school divisions must allow a teacher employed by a local school board to continue serving in the local school division and also work part-time at a regional or local detention center; these teachers would be eligible for a $3000 annual bonus.
KEY POINTS
- Juvenile detention centers are owned and operated locally, with some state support. Decisions regarding consolidation should be made by the affected local governments so that the benefits and drawbacks can be fully considered.
- The most recent study of this issue concluded that several facilities could be closed and consolidated, provided that an extensive list of barriers could be overcome, including the potential negative effects of placing youth farther from home on family engagement, youth access to legal counsel, and youth engagement in services in their home communities. This legislation does not address these barriers.
VACo Contact: Katie Boyle