By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County opened its new $16 million state-of-the-art jail for juveniles Tuesday.
The Youth Detention Center on East Ferry boasts brightly colored walls, soaring skylights, recreational and athletic areas. There are separate sleeping rooms, each with its own window and comfortable bed. There's a kitchen to provide warm meals. Eighth District Administrative Judge Sharon Townsend says they are welcome changes from the old, decrepit facility it replaces.
"It is bright, it is big, it is colorful. There are pinks, and greens and blues. There are open spaces, there are green spaces. It is secure, but yet there is an atmosphere of warmth and professionalism, and it feels like a campus," said Townsend. "This is a facility for our most troubled youth. However this facility is finally going to treat them with dignity and respect."
But the fortified building, which will house up to 64 criminal youths, also features the latest in high tech security. Dozens of cameras, monitored from a central control room, will keep constant surveillance on the inmates. Officials point out the kids who come here are criminals. County Executive Joel Giambra says they will be reminded -- firmly -- that this is not a country club.
"We're going to give them the benefit of a wholesome, healthy environment and they're going to be expected to be respective of this facility," said Gimabra. "If they are not , there will be issues that the probation department and the officials know how to deal with. And I expect that it will be a little bit more severe than time out."
Still, the impressive 64,000 square foot structure bears no resemblance to the former, facility next door. The dilapidated and overcrowded facility temporarily lost accreditation in 2000, partly because it was housing criminal and non-criminal youths. It forced the county to make changes. So, a new detention center was built to more humanely house criminal youth.
But the county opted for more than just a new facility. County Legislative Chairman Chuck Swanick says the facility and staff will now be able to provide comprehensive rehabilitation, including educational and psychiatric services.
"We have children who are introuble - in distress. And it was clear from the beginning that the old facility would not meet any of those standards tyo try to turn that corner for them," said Swanick. "The fact is that the facility did not provide the ample education and training and caring, and basic necessities that these kids would need if they were ever going to leave here and join the rest of us in America."
And officials say high rates of juvenile recidivism is a disturbing trend. Now, they say Erie County has a system in place to combat it. It is being touted as a model for other detention facilities across the country. In the meantime, other communities have expressed interest in using Erie County's. Officials say fees collected for providing those services could eventually pay off the $16 million dollar debt incurred to build the new facility.