Advisory board forms emergency work group after sudden Hillsborough juvenile detention closure

The Circuit 13 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board voted to convene an emergency Detention Closure Work Group after officials confirmed the Hillsborough County juvenile detention center is closing and some youth have already been moved to other circuits.

Board members described the closure as sudden for local stakeholders and urged DJJ to provide clear, daily information on which youth have been moved and where. A motion to form the work group was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; volunteers were solicited to serve and members recommended weekly meetings until operational details are resolved.

Several members raised specific concerns about the consequences of relocating youth to other counties: family visitation logistics, attorney access, transportation burdens for public defenders and parents, risks to continuity of education and clinical services, and trauma from being moved away from home. Rob Parkinson and other members urged the group to prepare a short list of stop-gap options — including reusing local vacant properties or adult-jail pods used previously for reentry — and to estimate fiscal impacts on stakeholders.

A DJJ representative told the board that construction at the previously announced site had "ceased due to some kind of suitability issue" and that DJJ had reached out to county real estate staff for help locating an alternative property. DJJ repeatedly described the situation as "working" toward solutions and committed to providing updates as they become available. The advisory board emphasized its statutory advisory role and said it would produce recommendations and logistical questions for DJJ and Tallahassee.

Next steps: the board will staff the Detention Closure Work Group, aim to meet weekly, and press DJJ for daily census and placement information for youth moved out of county.