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Corrections director: seven juveniles waived as adults; council to add juvenile justice facility needs to legislative priorities
Summary
Corrections Director Don Satterfield reported seven juveniles were waived as adults in the past two months and said detention logistics require isolation; the council agreed to add juvenile justice facility needs to its legislative priorities.
Don Satterfield, Dorchester County Corrections Director, told the County Council on Oct. 15 that seven juveniles were waived to adult status over the past two months and that the detention facility is not currently configured to accommodate juveniles.
Satterfield said juveniles held in the facility are “always in isolation, using the furthest point away from visual and audio,” and explained that if juvenile arrests increase the county would need to construct an additional wing to meet visibility and audio requirements for juvenile detainees. In response, Council members agreed to add juvenile justice facility needs to the council’s list of legislative priorities.
Why it matters: Housing juveniles in adult detention facilities raises facility, legal and programmatic issues. The council’s decision to include the matter in legislative priorities signals intent to seek state-level or budgetary remedies in upcoming sessions.
The council recorded the addition of juvenile justice facility needs to its legislative priorities on Oct. 15; staff may follow up with options or requests for assistance.
