[Durham INC] Durham County’s Youth Home Expansion Project Years in the Making

[Jones, Henry R.]

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                          Date: 11/17/21
Contact: Public Information Office                   Phone: (919) 560-0000/Fax: (919) 560-0020
E-mail: publicinformationoffice at dconc.gov<mailto:publicinformationoffice at dconc.gov>

Durham County’s Youth Home Expansion Project Years in the Making

Durham, N.C. – Over the past weeks, Durham County Commissioners and local leaders have received various questions from community groups regarding the need for the proposed expansion of the Durham County Youth Home, located at 2432 Broad Street.

Durham County leaders have been planning for a new estimated $30 million-dollar juvenile facility for years based upon the Durham County Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The new 36-bed facility is set to be constructed on the same site, and to replace the current building which is 40 years old and has 14 beds.

By way of background, Durham County’s youth detention facility was the first such facility in North Carolina when it opened in 1947. The philosophy that guided the development of the center was that justice involved youth should not be detained alongside adults.

As far back as 1988, County administrators received a recommendation that the Youth Home either “expand its facility or that the county build a new larger facility.” Rather than constructing a new facility, the county moved operations into the vacated state “Willie M” treatment facility where it is currently located.

As Durham County’s population grew, the population of the Youth Home also increased, and at times, Durham County would have to send its youth to other locations throughout the State of North Carolina, thus placing a hardship on families. Given the growing need for additional beds, Durham County leaders recognized that an expansion would be required.

As such, a study<https://www.dconc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/35876/637727562962837169> was commissioned in 2015 to review the feasibility of constructing a new Durham County Youth Home to better serve Durham’s court involved youth in need of juvenile detention. The report proposed three options and the Board of Commissioners voted to move forth. The decision also included the proposed “Raise the Age” legislation which would inevitably result in needing more beds as the age for youth that could be housed in the adult detention center would be lowered.

The report<https://www.dconc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/35872/637727562952055784> was provided following extensive community input and conversations on the need for a new facility and its recommended programmatic elements. Planning efforts began and Durham County contracted with O’Brien Atkins Associates to update the current Youth Home building assessment in 2017 and to complete a Program Assessment for a new facility in 2018. Commissioners were updated on the planning efforts at the September 2018 Board of Commissioners Work Session.

Planning committee members included Rep. Marcia Morey, representatives from the Durham County District Attorney’s and Public Defender’s Offices, North Carolina Central University Juvenile Justice Institute and Carolina Justice Policy Center representatives, and County and City representatives.

Conversations about the Durham County Youth Home have appeared as a part of some 23 Board Agendas in the form of Capital Improvement Projects Planning, Updates on Architectural Design Services, Budget Appropriations, Legislative Agenda meetings and more.

Click here<https://www.dconc.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/35880/637727562978463085> for a Timeline of Public Discussion and/or BOCC action on Youth Home CIP.

In 2017, lawmakers approved raising the age of juvenile jurisdiction for nonviolent crimes to age 18. In December 2019, “Raise the Age” legislation became effective and held that 16-and 17- year-old individuals who commit crimes in North Carolina were no longer automatically charged in the adult criminal justice system. This new legislation created a situation in which larger modernized youth facilities were necessary to legally house incarcerated juveniles.

Also, important, in March 2019, as part of a legal settlement, Durham County agreed to construct a new Durham County Youth Home that would accommodate juveniles and comply with the sight and sound separation requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). It is important to note that Durham County is legally obligated to construct this new youth home pursuant to the 2019 settlement agreement. Additionally, such a facility is necessary to fully comply with state law.

Finally, and most importantly, the construction of this facility means that Durham County youth can remain in Durham County, ensuring that they are close to their family and guardians as well as continue to receive community-based wraparound support services.

For more information, visit the Youth Home Construction Project webpage here<https://www.dconc.gov/county-departments/departments-f-z/youth-home/youth-home-construction-project>.

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