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Juvenile Detention Center
Contact
Phone: 651-266-5255
Contact form
The Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center is a secure 24-hour detention facility for juvenile male and female clients up to the age of 18 who have been arrested and are waiting for an initial hearing, trial, court disposition or placement.
The facility has a capacity of 44 beds with an approximate length of stay of 16 days. There are five living units (called pods), which have individual rooms for residents. A Special Housing Unit has an additional four rooms.
Each year the Juvenile Detention Center temporarily houses approximately 1,000 juveniles admitted from surrounding counties and law enforcement departments. Residents are provided with basic needs and assurance of their legal rights.
The mission of the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center is to help protect the community and improve the lives of our residents by treating them with dignity and respect while providing quality programs within a culturally sensitive, safe, secure and structured environment.
Admissions
The Juvenile Detention Center provides secure detention for juveniles accused of violating the law and who are at risk to re-offend before their next court date and/or fail to appear in court.
If you are the parent or legal guardian of a juvenile who has been arrested and brought to the Juvenile Detention Center, you will receive a telephone call from our admissions staff.
Typical day
A typical day at the Juvenile Detention Center includes the activities listed below. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks are offered each day.
- Breakfast.
- Pod and room cleaning.
- Lunch.
- School.
- Programming and pod time (see below).
- Dinner.
- Religious services.
- Gym.
- Showers.
- Pod time.
- Bed time.
Programming
Residents participate in a variety of programing during their stay at the Juvenile Detention Center, including staff-facilitated discussions, physical exercise opportunities, leisure opportunities, and reading time.
- Staff-facilitated discussions: Each day staff members discuss educational topics to address the needs of individual residents, introduce new information and perspectives, and nurture relationship-based authority to provide a sense of safety and security at the detention center.
- Religious programs: Chaplain services are offered twice a week. There is also a Sunday morning church service. Faith-based material is available for all residents.
- School: While residing at the Juvenile Detention Center, students ages 18 and under are enrolled in Saint Paul Public Schools. Fully licensed teachers teach general education and special education classes to residents. A school social worker, guidance counselor and transition coordinator provide additional support for residents. Residents attend a full day of school and earn credits toward a high school diploma.
- Health services: The Ramsey County Public Health Department provides health services at the Juvenile Detention Center. Each resident receives a health assessment when they are admitted. During their stay, residents have access to medical and mental health screenings, acute and chronic care, and pharmacy services. Staff collect DNA samples from juveniles adjudicated on felony level offenses, as ordered by Ramsey County judges. Additionally, staff collect urine samples to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. The results are reported to juvenile probation officers or the courts.
- Mental health services: All residents have access to mental health services, including crisis intervention services (CIS) check-ins and further evaluation from a therapist if needed. Additionally, the Juvenile Detention Center provides psychological evaluations, certification studies, psychosexual and diagnostic assessments.
Partnerships
Cognitive Based Programming
- Decision Points is a cognitive based group that is built on the principle of “strategy of choices” and equips participants with alternative ways to examine their thinking and the related actions that lead them to trouble.
- Emotional Regulation is facilitated mental health staff that teaches youth different ways to address issues. This is a cognitive based program that can be used for our younger residents as well.
- MN Doula facilitates HEAT (Habilitation Empowerment Accountability Therapy) is a program for African American males. HEAT is a strength-based program that focuses on validating the client’s life experiences and helping them address emotional and psychological issues.
- Not a Number is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum designed to provide youth with information and skills in a manner that inspires them to make safe choices.
Community partnerships
- Healing Streets: healing based approach to violence prevention, intervention, and healing group/gun violence.
- Ramsey County Attorney’s Office Navigators: mentoring youth who are involved in auto thefts.
- Truce Center: provides mentorship and large group conversations.
- Nabors Cuts: community barber.
- Canine Inspired Change: therapy dogs.
- Karuna: mindfulness and meditation.
- Generation2Generation: female-centered group focused on empowerment.
- YMCA
- Chemical Health and Education: teach youth about the dangers of chemical use, chemical abuse, and chemical dependency.