Questions raised after juvenile arrested on multiple vehicle break‑ins was not detained; county clarifies intake policy and contacts for deputies

Valerie Underwood pressed county staff about youth detention capacity and the on‑call intake process after a recent incident in which deputies said a juvenile arrested for multiple vehicle break‑ins was not accepted into detention.

A county youth services official told the board that the contract between the county and the detention provider allows for a maximum capacity of 20 beds. “Our contract with the county between county and, MSP is that they can house 20. 20 is the max capacity for the contract,” the official said. The intake process, the official said, is handled via an on‑call system with three designated staff members who may authorize custody placement; the delinquent intake officer is first on the call rotation, the official said, followed by a backup and then Judge Dickinson as a third contact.

Underwood asked whether juveniles are ever turned away because of mental‑health or substance concerns; the youth services official said intake determinations are made case‑by‑case under statute and focus on whether the minor poses a danger to themselves or others. The official added that phone calls are not recorded and that staff could not produce verbatim call logs for every intake discussion.

Sheriff's Office personnel told the board they expected detained juveniles arrested on felony charges to be admitted to youth detention. The sheriff said he had raised the recent incident with Judge Dickinson and was told to contact the judge directly if deputies encounter similar refusals in the future. “If we arrested somebody on a felony charge, they needed to go to youth detention,” the sheriff said.

County staff and the judge have reviewed the specific August incident and discussed it with the employee who handled the intake call, identified in the meeting as Monica Outlaw; supervisors said both the judge and county administration agreed the outcome should have been handled differently and that intake staff would be reminded of procedures. The board emphasized the importance of avoiding future gaps in custody decisions, saying deputies have the judge’s cell phone number and may call him directly in urgent situations.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting. Supervisors asked staff to ensure intake staff are reminded of the county’s intake procedures and to continue coordination with the judge to reduce the risk of similar incidents.

Background: Board members raised concerns that a juvenile arrested for multiple vehicle break‑ins had been returned to parents after deputies were told beds were full, while county records later showed fewer juveniles were in custody that night than the intake staff reported. The board said it would monitor compliance with intake procedures.