Greenville County to Reopen Juvenile Detention Center After Two-Year Hiatus
Greenville is buzzing with exciting news! After being shut down for two long years, the juvenile detention center is set to make a comeback in the county. The Greenville County Council has given the green light for a lease agreement with the state, paving the way for the Department of Juvenile Justice to operate a brand new facility on McGee Street. This means that local kids in trouble will have a place to go right in their own backyard!
Why the Detention Center Closed in the First Place
Back in 2022, the juvenile detention center had to close its doors due to staffing shortages. This left the county with no other choice but to transport young offenders all the way to Columbia, adding unnecessary stress on everyone involved. The issues of staffing have been a continuous hiccup, but it looks like there’s finally some light at the end of this tunnel. The new lease kicks in this coming January 2025, and the state is ready to shell out $657,000 each year over five years to help make it happen. Sounds like a promising plan to us!
Benefits for Families and Youth
The return of the juvenile detention center is a *big win* for families in the Upstate. Councilman Ennis Fant put it just right when he said, “Well, it’s a win-win.” Having a detention center right in Greenville means that parents will now have easier access to their kids. Instead of driving two hours to Columbia, families will be able to visit their children more frequently and maintain that important bond. Imagine how much less stressful it will be for parents to see their children during such challenging times.
But that’s not all! The center, located at 108 McGee St. in the Greenville County Law Enforcement complex, will help ease some major concerns. The Columbia Juvenile Detention Center has been overcrowded for years, currently holding 138 juveniles despite only having a capacity for 72. Michelle Foster, a spokesperson for DJJ, emphasized that these overcrowding conditions are not just uncomfortable but a danger to both the youths and the staff working there.
What to Expect in the New Facility
Once it opens its doors again, the renewed juvenile detention center will be able to house up to 47 juveniles. Although the exact number of staff members that will be hired is still up in the air, DJJ officials are planning to have around 40 juveniles at the facility by 2025. And guess who’s responsible for hiring these staff members? That’s right! The DJJ is stepping in to make sure everything is set up correctly.
Moving Forward with Promising Changes
One of the main highlights of reopening the juvenile detention center is that when kids go to court, they won’t have to be handcuffed during the long drive from Columbia. Instead, they will simply be able to travel right up the street for their hearings. How reassuring is that? Councilman Fant summed it up well: “They’re still in their community and have access to friends, family, and particularly parents.” It just makes sense, don’t you think?
With these new improvements, it appears that things are looking up for Greenville County and its young residents. The community is eager for this positive change, and the excitement is palpable. Here’s hoping the reopening of the juvenile detention center brings the support and guidance these kids need to steer them back on the right track!
