There are 55 state-regulated juvenile facilities currently on probation. The Richmond Juvenile Detention Center in Virginia might  be the first one to be de-certified and shut down.Opened in 1996, the 60-bed center on Oliver Hill Way has been found to have a number of issues with it’s infrastructure. Considering the age of the building and the beating it received from Tropical Storm Gaston it is hardly surprising.
The State Board of Juvenile Justice made the decision last Tuesday, citing concerns about the physical state of the facility. Numerous upkeep and maintenance issues were mentioned.
This action comes in the wake of The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP bringing up concerns about the conditions and safety at the detention center. Worrisome claims about poor staff training and even more worrisome ones about possible forgery of staff certifications were brought to the table and are currently being investigated.
An audit of the facility by the Richmond City Auditor followed the NAACP complaint, an audit that verified that several of the claims about conditions there were accurate. From malfunctioning intercoms and security cameras to doors with broken locks the evidence was plainly visible.
Will Jones of the Richmond Times-Dispatch notes that some funds to fix the problems have been made available recently. A mere few weeks ago as a matter of fact.
Last month, Richmond awarded a $344,000 emergency contract to replace malfunctioning intercom systems, install new computer equipment and update video recording and monitoring systems. Officials said they’re also fixing door-security sensors and making operational changes to address state requirements for training and other issues.
While the mayor’s office assures the press that this is prioritized, only time will tell. Crumbling infrastructure is a chronic problem in older facilities. It remains to be seem whether it will mean the end of this one.
Image Source: Richard Winchell on Flickr, used under it’s Creative Commons license
