Madera County Board renames juvenile detention facility to 'Madera County Youth Correctional Center'

The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 July 15 to rename the county's juvenile detention facility the Madera County Youth Correctional Center.

County probation officials told the board the new name better reflects a broader population the facility now serves and the department's rehabilitative approach. "For many years, it's been the juvenile detention facility. We believe at this time it's more appropriate to be changed to the youth correctional center," Jose Panto, assistant chief with the probation department, told the board.

Nut graf: The change follows statewide shifts in juvenile justice and the closure of the Division of Juvenile Justice, which staff said expanded the local age range the county may house. Supervisors said the new name aligns with the department's emphasis on rehabilitation and the county's work "upstream" to prevent future involvement in the justice system.

Probation staff described related updates to job classification: staff at the facility will be titled "youth detention officers." "The name change would be more in line with the current times and with our current officers and our population that we service," Panto said. Supervisors expressed support: Supervisor McCauley called the change "symbolic" of the county's prevention and rehabilitation approach; Supervisor Rogers said the program's goal is to "correct" and guide young people rather than punish them.

The board's approval was unanimous. The item was introduced by probation department staff, drew comments from supervisors praising the department's philosophy, had no substantive public opposition during the hearing, and passed on a roll-call vote.

Ending: With the name-change approved, staff will proceed with administrative updates to signage and job classifications. The board recorded a 4-0 vote in favor of the resolution.