Detention Services

A detention hearing is a short hearing before the Associate Judge to rule on two basic things:

1. Whether the police report gives sufficient reason to believe that your child has committed an offense (probable cause).
2. Whether the child will remain in detention for 7 to 10 days and if so, set a date to reconsider the child’s release/detention within 10 days.

**Note: Detention Hearings are NOT to discuss or decide about the offense itself, the hearing is to determine where the child will be kept while pending court.

Each day, there are three types of Detention Hearings. Each type of hearing is heard together and youth are called in alphabetical order by their last name.

• An Initial Hearing is the first hearing that must be held within 48 hours of a youth being brought to Detention.
• Walk-up Hearings are for youth usually from the outside or non-secure facilities, that are requested by the assigned probation officer. These hearings are heard to allow the court to consider additional information, to reconsider detention or release.
• Ten Day Hearings are for those youth who have been detained at an Initial Hearing, Walk-up Hearing and for whom the Judge will reconsider their detention or release. The child will have a Ten Day Hearing every ten working days or less while in detention, unless a disposition has been ordered on the case(s) that initially brought the child to detention.

Present at the hearing:

• Public Defender or Private Attorney: Will represent the child for the Detention Hearing
• District Attorney: Represents the Prosecutor’s Office/State and will make a recommendation to the court.
• Probation Officer: Represents the Juvenile Department and will make a recommendation to the court.
• Parents/ Guardians: Will be asked questions by the Public Defender/ Defense Attorney, District Attorney, and Judge in regard to the child’s behavior, school, etc. and may ask for the parent’s recommendation.

At the conclusion of the hearing the Judge will decide whether your child:

1. Can go home pending further court action.
2. Can go home pending further court action and with court ordered conditions, electronic monitoring and or additional programs while the child is at home.
3. Will remain in detention (detained) for 7 to 10 working days, at which time the child’s release or detainment will be reconsidered.

Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center Visitation Schedule

Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center Visitation Rules

In order to provide a socially distant and safe environment, visitation is limited to 5 residents at a time in the visitation area. Approved visitors will be signed-in by Detention Center staff on a first come, first serve basis and be grouped in order by the sign-in sheet. 

• Sign-in for the designated visitation day begins no earlier than 30 minutes before the start of visitation hours and ends no later than 30 minutes and the end of visitation hours. (i.e. visit begins at 5:45pm/sign-in begins at 5:15pm; visit ends at 7:45pm/sign-in ends at 7:15pm)
• Parents/guardians will be verified by the Department’s case management system and must provide valid picture identification.
• Parents/guardians must submit to COVID screening and temperature checks.
• Parents/guardians must wear masks at all times when in the visitation area per Amended: Order of County Judge Clay Jenkins on Required Use of a Face Mask in Certain Public Space February 25, 2022.
• Parents/guardians are limited to two (2) persons per visit.
• No other persons or children are allowed in the building during visitation.
• Each youth may have up to two (2) visits per week.

Other Visitation Guidelines

• No personal belongings, including purses, bags, and electronic devices are allowed in the building during visitation.
• Residents cannot receive any items from visitors. Visitors bringing any contraband into the facility is strictly forbidden. If contraband is attempted to or brought into the facility, it may result in modification of visitation privileges. Contraband includes, but is not limited to the following:
  • Food, snacks, drinks, chewing gum;
  • Clothing or shoes of any kind;
  • Books, magazines, publications of any kind;
  • Money;
  • Stamps, letters, envelopes, or paper writing materials of any kind;
  • Pencils, pens, writing utensils, school supplies of any kind;
  • Hygiene items of any kind;
  • Medication of any kind; and
  • Drugs and/or alcohol.
• Visitors shall remain calm and not attempt to discipline, scold, or threaten a resident in any manner. Yelling and offensive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated.
• Visitation may be canceled for any inappropriate behavior by a resident or visitor.
• The dress code for visitors are as follows:

Males: No baseball caps or headgear (headbands, bandanas, scarves, etc.) will be allowed. No sagging pants or shorts, or clothing displaying drugs, sex, gang culture, obscene language or disrespect of other people will be permitted. Tank tops and/or “muscle” shirts are not permitted.

Females: No hats, headgear (scarves, bandanas, etc.), see-through or inappropriate clothing will be allowed. Tank tops and/or sleeveless tops should be covered at all times. Clothing that exposes midriff, stomach, or the upper leg area (revealing shorts or skirts) will not be permitted.