1. What healthcare
services are provided in detention?
Medical and mental health staff is
available daily to provide for any needs that may come up
during a juvenile’s stay in detention.
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2. What educational programs are provided in detention?
Juveniles are required to attend school Monday through Friday.
Detention’s school is
staffed by the local education authority or a contracted provider.
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3. What religious services are offered in detention?
A weekly, non-denominational Christian service is offered to all
juveniles.
Attendance is voluntary. If a juvenile has a special religious
need, or you would like to arrange for your clergy to visit, please speak with the
juvenile’s case manager (Classification and Program Officer).
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4. Will my
child be able to exercise and attend recreation?
Yes. There are a wide variety of recreational activities offered
daily. Juveniles are encouraged to participate in all activities and can earn
additional privileges through positive
participation.
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5. Are health and hygiene products
provided?
Yes. Every juvenile is given a uniform, linen, and
hygiene products when they first come to detention.
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6. What if my child has a food allergy?
Please talk to a healthcare professional in detention or to the
juvenile’s case Manager (Classification & Program Officer).
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7. Will my child get credit for school
work?
Yes. All grades earned in detention are sent back to the
juvenile’s regular school.
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8. What are the visiting hours?
And who is allowed to visit?
Visiting hours vary by detention center. Please contact the
detention center the juvenile was admitted to.
Only parents, grandparents, and guardians (picture ID is
required) and brothers and sisters are allowed to visit. Brothers and sisters may only visit during the first 15 days of the child’s detention if they have the permission of the detention center’s Superintendent or a person appointed by the superintendent to give permission. After the first 15 days, this special permission is not required. To ask for this permission by the Superintendent, you should contact the juvenile’s case manager (Classification & Program Officer).
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9. What if I do not have transportation to visit
my child?
For parents or guardians who are unable to visit in person, video conferencing is offered through the local Juvenile Probation office. Please contact your local Juvenile Probation office for the times when it is available.
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10. What items are visitors allowed to
bring?
Visitors may bring school work/school books, or other
reading
materials that the detention staff decides is appropriate. Visitors are not
allowed to bring any food or hygiene products.
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11. Who is allowed to call my
child? And when?
The detention center staff will make a daily phone call to the juvenile’s parent(s) or guardian(s). Professional calls, such as to a lawyer, DCF worker or probation officer, are also offered daily.
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12. What types of rules must my child follow in detention?
All juveniles are expected to follow a set of rules. These rules
will be explained upon admission. Following the rules allows the
juveniles to earn additional rewards,
privileges, and activities.
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13. How long are
juveniles held in detention?
All juveniles have a right to a hearing in front of a judge on
the day after their arrest (not
counting Saturday, Sunday, or holidays). A court order for
detention can last up to 15 days. A juvenile cannot be held longer than
that unless they go back to court and the judge
orders a juvenile to remain in detention.
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14. What if my
child runs away or becomes out of control/suicidal while on
furlough?
You should first call 911 and follow their instruction, then
notify detention center staff.
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15. What do I do if my child has special needs?
You should contact the juvenile’s case manager (Classification &
Program Officer).
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16. Is there an Orientation Group for parents?
Yes. Orientation groups provide information to parents and guardians on detention and court related processes. They are offered weekly in the detention centers.
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17. Who do I contact at the facility if
I have a question?
You should first contact the juvenile’s case manager (Classification & Program Officer). If that person is not available, please ask to talk to a supervisor.
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18. How do
I give feedback to staff regarding my child’s stay in detention?
Your feedback is important to us. At the time of a juvenile’s release please take a minute to fill out the Parent/Guardian satisfaction survey.
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19. How does my child get to court?
All juveniles are transported to court by the Central
Transportation Unit or detention staff.
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20. What happens when my child is released
from detention?
All juveniles will be processed for release either directly from
court or at the detention
center. All belongings are given back to the juvenile, and any
medications are given to the parent/guardian. A continuity of
care form will be mailed to the juvenile’s parent/guardian.
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21. Can my child
be transferred to a Community Residential Program?
A juvenile may be appropriate for transfer to a Community Residential Program. Please talk to the juvenile’s case manager (Classification & Program Officer) about a transfer.
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22. What are the rights of my child
while they are in detention?
All of a juvenile’s rights are outlined in the “Legal Rights”
handbook, given to juveniles upon
admission.
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23. What if my child feels as though their rights
have been violated?
All juveniles can talk to a staff member or supervisor or Ombudsman; make a written complaint, called a “grievance”; and tell their lawyer about the complaint.
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24. Who do I contact if my child has a problem
while they are in detention?
You should first contact the juvenile’s case manager (Classification & Program Officer). If that person is not available, please ask to talk to a supervisor.
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