Douglas County juvenile detention report shows downward admissions but racial disparities and placement backlogs prompt questions

Dr. Abby Carba, Douglas County juvenile justice administrator, told the county commissioners that the Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) had 68 youth in detention as of March 5 and 54 admissions in February, continuing a downward admissions trend dating to 2023. "As of last Thursday, March 5th, our population was 68," Dr. Carba said during the board presentation.

The presentation included capacity and utilization figures: DCYC has a bed capacity of 144 and an operational capacity typically counted as 96; the Youth and Family Services Center has a capacity of 64 and an operational capacity of 52 and had no youth on the report date. Dr. Carba said February’s average daily population was 64 and the month’s average time to release across all youth was 74 days, with a subset charged as adults averaging substantially longer stays.

The board received detailed offense and demographic breakdowns. Dr. Carba reported that in February black youth accounted for 44% of DCYC admissions, Hispanic youth 26% and white youth 16%, and that boys remain the majority of admissions though girls’ share has risen (18 of 54 admissions in February). She also said 12 of the Douglas County youth admitted in February were for weapons-related charges (eight felonies, four misdemeanors) and listed underlying offenses including assault, tampering with evidence, theft, burglary and one sexual-assault allegation.

Commissioners pressed staff for information the report did not include. Commissioner Kavanagh asked repeatedly for fiscal detail tied to the facilities and staffing — for example, the cost to maintain the empty secure facility across the street (the board referenced an unused “kids jail” facility) and the budgetary impact of operating or mothballing that building. "What does it cost the taxpayer? We don't have any of that in here," Kavanagh said, requesting future reports include staffing levels, overtime and deferred-maintenance figures.

There was also a factual dispute over a widely cited cost figure: one commissioner said the unused facility cost "200,000" and another clarified the record. Commissioner Rogers corrected the earlier figure on the record, saying the correct figure is "200,000 a year," not a month.

Commissioners and staff also discussed operational capacity and compliance constraints. Staff explained the 96 operational-capacity figure for DCYC derives from standard staffing allocations and that the facility can be staffed up to the 132 licensed bed count if additional staff are provided. The board noted that federal rules tied to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) influence how units are staffed and how capacity is counted.

Several commissioners raised concern about youth awaiting placements: the report said 11 youth were awaiting release placements as of March 5, including six waiting for psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) placements. Commissioner Morgan asked whether local PRTFs (such as Boytown) or hospital programs were available; staff said placement availability can be constrained and that Emanuel/Children’s programs were not taking kids from detention for the same PRTF-level placements.

Community partners told the board they are working inside DCYC to address root causes and reduce recidivism. Tamika Mis, executive director of North Hall Community Partnership, said her organization is providing wraparound services in custody and to families after release — assistance with rent, utilities, food and behavioral-health referrals — aiming to reduce returns to detention. "We are seeing that the families that we're working with they are becoming stronger and more self-sufficient," Mis said.

Rosco Wallace, CEO of Bible Healing, urged a restorative-justice approach and described community-based supports intended to complement in-facility services to reduce recidivism. "Restorative justice approach is taking hold for these kids," Wallace said, calling for stronger community partnerships and wraparound supports.

What’s next: commissioners requested a more comprehensive fiscal and operational report, including the full costs associated with the unused secure facility, deferred maintenance needs at DCYC, staffing metrics, and a deeper look at placement delays for psychiatric residential treatment. The board subsequently voted to enter executive session for contract negotiations and later reconvened and adjourned their public meeting.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Dr. Abby Carba and Randy Wood to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, March 10, 2026 (public meeting transcript).