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The Facility
Secure Detention
Community
Alternatives to Secure Detention Program
Kitsap
County Secure Crisis Residential Center (S-CRC)
Medical Program
Mental Health
Food Services
The
Juvenile Detention Facility, which includes one living unit dedicated to
the Secure Crisis Residential Center (S-CRC), is a 103 bed operation, with
a total of 8 living units (“pods”), with additional beds in the
intake/booking and medical areas. Physically, the facility is separate
from the court building. It operates 7 days per week, 24 hours per day,
and is equipped to operate for several days on its own should a
catastrophic event occur. There are a total of 46 staff who are employed
in this division of the Juvenile Department. Its operating budget totals
$3,120,928. Programs and services within the Juvenile Detention Facility
are summarized in this report.
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Youth who are booked for criminal
offenses by law enforcement, or who are ordered to be held by a judge for
pre-trial or post-trial reasons, will serve time in secure detention.
During the course of his/her stay, s/he will lead a very structured and
regimented lifestyle. Detainees are responsible for daily attendance at
school, and for cleaning and laundry duties as necessary.
There are no television or radio amenities
within the living units (“pods”), and consequently, the detainees’
sources of structured activity revolve around such things as pod
educational counseling sessions, drug and alcohol counseling, Alateen
meetings, Life Skills Building, religious fellowship meetings, as well as
exercising, playing volley ball, and basketball. Detainees are afforded
the opportunity for sick and well-care medical services, as well as
therapeutic counseling and interventions through the local mental health
center and private therapists.
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Originally funded for three
years (1996-1999) by the state Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory
Committee, the goal of this program has been to move lower risk offenders
out of secure detention into less expensive community based alternatives.
These alternatives have included supervised community service work crews,
electronic home monitoring, and house arrest. The program, now funded
through County General Fund monies, has an impressive record of reducing
the amount of secure detention bed days by over 20,000, with a total of
more than 2,000 participants during the program’s lifetime. A total of
over 32,000 hours of community service work has been performed at local
private/non-profit, public, or governmental agencies. It has been
recognized by the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners as one that excels
in the areas cost effectiveness and performance.
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The Kitsap County S-CRC is a 9-bed unit
that provides safety and security to runaway youth. Our goal is to provide
each youth with quality services, assessments and recommendations to
achieve family reconciliation. The S-CRC staff work very closely with the
Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and law enforcement
agencies. A Family Reconciliation Services (FRS) Social Worker is assigned
to each youth.
Law
enforcement has the sole authority to place youth in the S-CRC. These
runaway youth have experienced family conflict, dangerous situations, lack
of parent availability to assume custody, and such issues as child
abuse/neglect, mental health problems, and/or drug and alcohol abuse. S-CRC
youth are discharged to a variety of placements including to their
parents/relatives, foster care, group homes, drug/alcohol treatment
centers, Adolescent Treatment Unit, Fairfax Hospital, detention and
semi-secure CRC’s. The average stay in the S-CRC is 3 days.
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The
Juvenile Department contracts with the Bremerton-Kitsap County Health
District to render its medical services to detainees and the residents in
S-CRC. The medical staff are a composite of registered nurses, a
physicians assistant, and a registered nurse practitioner. Detainees are
seen for a variety of common medical maladies, such as colds and flu, as
well as being treated for issues ranging from sprains and broken bones to
sexually transmitted diseases. The Health District also provides
in-service trainings to the detention officers and residential counselors
on a host of topics, such as how to treat youth whose health is
compromised due to diabetes or respiratory ailments.
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The county's comprehensive mental health center, Kitsap
Mental Health Services (KMHS) provides evaluations of detainees and S-CRC
residents through their County Designated Mental Health Professionals (CDMHP)
for the purpose of involuntary or voluntary commitment to one of several
psychiatric facilities. The local facility, the Adolescent Treatment Unit
of KMHS is a 10-bed facility, accredited by the Joint Commission On
Accreditation For Hospitals, whose mission is to treat youth who are
demonstrating behaviors which pose a threat to themselves or others.
Additionally, members of the Care Coordination Team of KMHS provide counseling to detainees and residents as the need arises,
initiated either by staff or youth.
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In 2002, the Food Services
staff including extra help totaled 15. Every staff member participated in
a joint effort to produce and serve a total of 17,466 breakfasts, 20, 310
lunches, and 19, 395 dinners. The
57,171 total meals were guided by the Federal USDA regulations, although
considerations were given to additional increases in portion sizes and “detainee
friendly” menus.
One of the highlights for the year was having the
opportunity to be a part of the celebration of volunteers, at the
volunteer dinner. With the assistance of Michael Braunz and the
Alternatives to Detention crew, the dinner was a great success for 100
guests, from beginning to end.
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