Juvenile report bothers county official

Cape Girardeau County could get sued over unsafe conditions at its 28-year-old juvenile detention center, a consultant has told county commissioners.

Chicago consultant Bobbie Huskey said county officials also risk being sued over unequal treatment of male and female offenders and "failure to protect youth, staff and the public."

The statements were met by surprise and displeasure from presiding county commissioner Gerald Jones, who voted in favor of hiring a consultant and paying for the study.

"Her first rattle out of the box has not been what we are looking for," he said.

"If all she is going to be is critical of the facility, then we have wasted our money," said Jones, as county officials, juvenile officers and circuit judges continue to wrestle over whether to build a new detention center.

Huskey's warning on possible lawsuits came in a preliminary report to county officials that says the center doesn't meet state standards. A final report is expected within a month. County officials began reviewing the preliminary report last week.

Huskey recommends the county build a new detention center rather than continue to "pour money" into operation of the aging, 10-cell detention center on Merriwether Street in Cape Girardeau.

County commissioners insist the center is safe. It has been upgraded over the past two years with electronic cell locks, a metal detector, fire-resistant mattresses, bolted metal tables and benches in visiting rooms and the day room, secure slots in cell doors for passing food and razor wire on the recreation yard fence.

Circuit judges and local juvenile officials want a new juvenile detention center, but county commissioners so far have refused to move ahead with the idea.

Commissioners Larry Bock and Joe Gambill aren't convinced that a new center is needed, and Jones has said the county can't afford to build a $4.3 million, 38-bed center proposed by juvenile detention officials and circuit judges.

Commissioners even question if a 20-bed center is needed. The existing center's average occupancy is six to eight offenders a day. Another 12 are on electronic shackles in their homes, said Randy Rhodes, chief juvenile officer. That doesn't include any detainees from the 32nd Judicial Circuit of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties who are being held in the Mississippi County detention center. Rhodes said he usually has "a couple" of detainees held in that center.

But the numbers fluctuate from day to day. On Friday afternoon, the cell block at the Cape Girardeau center was empty. Fewer juvenile offenders are taken into custody when schools are out for Christmas break, Rhodes said. "This is real typical for Christmas," he said.

Jones said commissioners want the consultant to advise them on alternatives to jailing juvenile offenders and develop a 10-year master plan on juvenile department needs.

The center, which cost $167,000 to build, opened in July 1974.

"It is old, and it is not today's shiny floors and high ceilings," Jones said, contrasting the building with newer juvenile detention facilities.

"We don't feel like it is unsafe," he said.

But the consultant said there is no secure area for police to bring offenders into the center, which poses a risk of escape and injury.

Gun grabbing

Rhodes said there have been two incidents within the last three months in which juvenile offenders tried to grab officers' guns as they were being booked into the center. In both cases, the juveniles were quickly restrained by staff before they could take the weapons.

The consultant said the center doesn't have separate detention areas for male and female offenders.

"Girls are not being held in the facility because of the conditions," said Huskey, who inspected the center in September.

Huskey said female offenders are being held in the Mississippi County juvenile detention center in Charleston, Mo.

As a result, the girls have less access to their attorneys and families. The girls also don't receive as much schooling and counseling in the Mississippi County center as is offered to boys held in Cape Girardeau, she said.

Other findings:

Some detention staff members have to stand on a milk crate to see into the cells because the small windows on the cell doors are too high.

There is no padded cell for a child who is suicidal or a "time-out" cell away from the other cells for seriously disruptive and violent youth.

There's risk of assaults among offenders and assaults on staff as well as possible escapes in the current center.

Offenders can escape over the recreational yard fence with a boost from other offenders

There are no holding rooms for youth to be safely held until they are released or booked.

There is no private area where staff can interview offenders and their families.

There is no separate shower area for girls and boys.

Cells aren't well lit. They have no storage bins for personal clothes and no writing surface to complete homework or write letters.

The day room is too small.

There is only one classroom and it's in the public access area, which increases the risk for contraband entering the center.

Chemicals and cleaning supplies are in the open where detainees and the public have access to them.

Circuit Judge John Grimm, the presiding judge of the 32nd Judicial Circuit, said the study shows the need for a new center.

Grimm said it's clear the current center doesn't meet standards, not just in terms of cells but also for the care and treatment of juvenile offenders.

He said he hopes the final report from the consultant will state how big the detention center should be.

A divided commission hired the consultant earlier this year on a 2-to-1 vote. Bock voted against it, saying it was a waste of money.

The study is costing $61,000 with half of that paid by a federal grant and the other half coming from the county.

Bock said the preliminary report hasn't convinced him a new center is needed. "I still feel we didn't need to have the study done."

Gambill refused to comment on the study.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123