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Regional juvenile detention director warns of rising bed days, seeks county support for new secure-care option
Summary
Michael Walden, director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, said bed days rose sharply and Neosho County's share rose to roughly $72,317; he proposed pursuing a Secure Care license to create six secure beds and generate revenue to offset county fees.
Michael Walden, director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center, told Neosho County commissioners on June 3 that usage of the detention center has grown and that the county's assessed share of the center's budget is roughly $72,317 for the coming year.
Walden said bed days increased nearly twofold compared with the prior year, which raised Neosho County's funding obligation under the center's funding formula (a mix of usage, assessed value and population). He told commissioners that legislative changes tied to juvenile justice reform (Senate Bill 367) have reduced detention use in some cases but also led to inconsistent application across jurisdictions; he said a proposed House bill would restore some detention eligibility and that the oversight implementation of reforms has left Southeast Kansas underrepresented on state committees.
Walden described several programmatic improvements at the center, including partnerships with Pittsburg State University for social-work practicum students, on-site medical care through a contract physician, behavioral assessments for every intake and outreach to local mental-health partners. He said the center recently qualified for a Department of Corrections grant (about $62,000 last year) that helped fund programming and staffing.
To reduce pressure on county budgets and better meet regional needs, Walden proposed the center pursue a Secure Care license that would allow it to operate a small secure-care unit (roughly six beds) for children in need of care who have exhausted other placements. He estimated a licensed secure-care unit could generate around $540,000 in revenue and reduce per-county fees by increasing reimbursable service capacity; the center has received a letter of support from a local chief judge.
Commissioners asked technical and legal questions about the funding formula and regionwide participation; Walden invited commissioners to tour the facility. No vote or formal commitment was made at the session.
Ending: The director said he will continue to pursue grant funding and regulatory approval for a Secure Care license and will keep counties updated; commissioners will review the center's budget allocation as part of the county budget process.
