The mission of the Connecticut Judicial Branch is to serve the interests of justice and the public by resolving matters brought before it in a fair, timely, efficient and open manner.
Juvenile Residential (Detention) Services
Frequently Asked Questions
- What healthcare services are provided in detention?
- What educational programs are provided in detention?
- What religious services are offered in detention?
- Will my child be able to exercise and attend recreation?
- Are health and hygiene products provided?
- What if my child has a food allergy?
- Will my child get credit for school work?
- What are the visiting hours? And who is allowed to visit?
- What if I do not have transportation to visit my child?
- What items are visitors allowed to bring?
- Who is allowed to call my child? And when?
- What types of rules must my child follow in detention?
- How long are juveniles held in detention?
- What if my child runs away or becomes out of control/suicidal while on furlough?
- What do I do if my child has special needs?
- Is there an Orientation Group for parents?
- Who do I contact at the facility if I have a question?
- How do I give the staff feedback about my child’s stay in detention?
- How does my child get to court?
- What happens when my child is released from detention?
- Can my child be transferred to a Community Residential Program?
- What are the rights of my child while they are in detention?
- What if my child feels as though his or her rights have been violated?
- Who do I contact if my child has a problem while they are in detention?
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.
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.
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).
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.
5. Are health and hygiene products provided?
Yes. Every juvenile is given a uniform, linen, and hygiene products when they first
come to detention.
Please talk to a healthcare professional in detention or to the juvenile’s case Manager (Classification & Program Officer).
7. Will my child get credit for school work?
Yes. All grades earned in detention are sent back to the juvenile’s regular school.
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). 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 15. What do I do if my child has special needs?
You should contact the juvenile’s case manager (Classification & Program Officer).
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.
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. 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.
19. How does my child get to court?
All juveniles are transported to court by the Central Transportation Unit or detention staff.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.