NEW JUVENILE FACILITY MAY BE BUILT IN AREA

The Missouri Division of Youth Services has initiated a site-selection process for a 30-bed juvenile residential facility in Southeast Missouri.

DYS, a division of the Department of Social Services, plans to build the home in the 28-county area that represents its southeast region. Cities with populations of 2,000 or greater have been notified of the project.

The home was approved as part of the 1994 Juvenile Crime Bill; however, the General Assembly must appropriate funds for the project. Pat Doyen, DYS assistant director, expects legislative approval.

The facility will have a capital cost of about $3.5 million with additional start-up costs of $300,000. Annual operating costs will be between $250,000 and $300,000. The facility will provide 50 jobs with a payroll of $1 million.

There are currently only two DYS residential facilities in the southeast region: the Girardeau Center in Cape Girardeau and the W.E. Sears Youth Center in Poplar Bluff. The new facility will differ from those two in that it will be a secure facility.

"It would be a secure facility and be for higher-risk, more serious offenders," said Bill Vaughn, DYS administrator for the southeast region.

The need for the facility was heightened by an increase in the number of juveniles with which DYS works.

"The Division of Youth Services has had a tremendous increase in commitments in the last three to five years," Vaughn said. "In this region, normally 18 to 27 kids who have been committed to us by the juvenile court system are in limbo waiting for an opening."

Existing facilities are already operating at between 110 and 120 percent of capacity, Vaughn said.

Often the excess youths must be assigned to facilities in other regions. Doyen said that is not the ideal option.

"Philosophically, I think you get further with youths if you treat them close to home," Doyen said. "That way you can treat their family too."

Interested communities must submit their application by March 1. A review committee will make a choice by April.

"If a site can be determined by April, there is a possibility to begin construction this year," Doyen said. If all goes well, the facility should be in operation by the end of 1997.

Criteria for selecting a site include access to medical, police and fire protection services. Proximity to a community college or university is also favored.

"Our staff needs to continue to pursue their certification, and usually it is much more convenient to have some sort of college within driving distance of that location," Vaughn said.

Community support and incentives, such as providing land at little or no cost, will also be considered.

Considering the vastness of the region, DYS would like to put the facility in an area from which it receives a high number of commitments. The fact that Cape Girardeau and Poplar Bluff are already home to DYS facilities may work against them in landing the new facility.

"I don't think that, because either of those places already has a facility, will be negative to either of those two locations," Doyen said. "But we will look at other options."

Doyen said most of the towns which meet the population requirement have expressed at least initial interest. Informational hearings throughout the region will be held during February and March to gauge support and air concerns.

Counties in the division's southeast region: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Scott, Shannon, Stoddard, Texas, Washington and Wayne.