Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Placements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff: Madison will no longer accept Buncombe youth; cases routed to Alexander
Summary
Sylvia reported that Madison (a juvenile placement referenced in the meeting) will no longer take Buncombe County youth, meaning juveniles will be sent to Alexander, increasing travel time and complicating courtroom and staffing logistics.
Sylvia told the council that Madison will no longer accept Buncombe County youth; as a result, juveniles from Buncombe will be routed to Alexander, which she said is about a three‑hour drive for staff. Council members raised immediate concerns about increased staff travel time, court scheduling and the strain on transportation and staffing resources.
Members discussed whether Alexander can offer remote secured custody appearances; Sylvia said Webex has been used in the past but defended in‑person secured custody for some hearings. The council noted the added burden for both staff and families and said they would pursue conversations with facility operators and court partners to explore alternatives and mitigate impacts.
Sylvia also updated members on program activities, including Camp Greer summer activities and a new book club for diversion participants, and said she has new hires in the pipeline to address staffing shortfalls.
