Franklin County Juvenile Detention
Center
Herb Henderson
Superintendent for Detention Services
(614) 462-4291
Herb Henderson @fccourts.org

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF
JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) is a maximum-security facility designed to house up to 132 juveniles who are in need of being detained in a restrictive environment. These youth are either alleged to be delinquent or have been adjudicated delinquent. The Superintendent and two Assistant Superintendents manage the staff, services and programming of the Detention Center. The Detention Center operates within the guidelines and requirements as established by the Ohio Department of Youth Services (ODYS) and American Correctional Association (ACA)..

Programs are scheduled for all youth in the Detention Center and consist of education, tutorial services in Reading and Math, recreation activities, religious services, crisis counseling and structured presentations from community agencies.

Columbus Public Schools provides education for the Detention Center. Seven full time teachers provide instruction in Math, Science, Social Studies, English and Special Education. Title 1 funding provides for additional tutorial services in Math and Reading. A Summer School program provides continued educational services throughout the summer months.

The Recreation program provides opportunity for large muscle and leisure recreation activities daily. The objective of the recreation program is to provide a variety of activities, which promote health and fitness while educating youth on the importance of regular exercise.

Religious services are provided to youth on a voluntary basis. Youth are provided the opportunity to attend chapel weekly and request individual counseling sessions with the chaplain.

The Activity Coordinator invites representatives from community agencies to present structured information sessions related to health, life skills, life choices, career and education planing and to promote self-awareness and self-esteem. This program connects youth to various community agencies and provides the youth the opportunity for additional support services following release from detention.

In addition to youth admitted to the JDC, 1152 were electronically monitored at home during 2006. The Electronic Monitoring Unit allows for juveniles who pose minimal risk of harm to themselves, their families, or to the community or those who pose no flight risk to be monitored 24 hours a day utilizing a leg transmitter and monitor in the home. The monitor reports out of ranges to a computer center who then reports the out of ranges to the assigned officer. The assigned officer then responds as needed. Seventy-four (74%) percent of youth who were on electronic monitoring successfully completed the program during 2006.

The Court Assessment Program (CAP) operates in the Juvenile Detention Center. CAP combines the services of professionals from the Juvenile Court, Franklin County Children Services and the ADAMH Board (Netcare). CAP provides a diagnostic assessment of youth new in the justice system to determine appropriate service needs in the community. Since 1991, CAP has assessed and assisted 1,600 youth:

CAP staff along with the youth and family develop a comprehensive intervention plan that includes strong community-based supports for youth as well as their families. This plan focuses on the prevention of further involvement with the Juvenile Justice System.

Notice To Juvenile Detention Center Visitors

  1. Only parents or legal guardians are permitted to visit. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to visitation to complete check-in process.

  2. All visitors will clear the metal detector. All articles identified as not permitted within the institution must be secured by the visitors in a locker or their vehicles. Visitors are not permitted to pass items to their sons or daughters.

  3. Visitors are NOT permitted to visit in shorts, tank tops and/or similar inappropriate clothing.

  4. Visitors will report to the Control Center for approval verification.

  5. Visitors must be 21 years of age and prove their identity by showing the Control Center Operator proper picture ID (examples of personal identification are driver’s license, state ID card, or school picture ID). Visiting privilege WILL BE DENIED if visitor cannot produce proper identification.

  6. Visitors will sign in on the visitor registration log.

  7. If a visitor is visibly intoxicated you will not be granted access to visit.

  8. Separated parents are permitted to visit the youth during the scheduled visitation time, parents are not permitted to receive two separate visits unless authorized by the Superintendent or designee.

  9. Visitors are prohibited from leaving youth under the age of 18 unattended in the lobby.

  10. Once a visitor has left the visiting area, the visitor WILL NOT be permitted to return to the visiting area for that visiting period.

  11. Legal documents can be brought in for the youth to sign. The Control Center Operator must be told that the papers are present and need to be signed. All paperwork brought in must be taken out at the end of the visit.

  12. No personal clothing items, personal hygiene items or food products are permitted to be brought in during visits.

  13. Approved visitors attempting to violate the FCJDC visitation policy in any way may have their visiting privileges suspended indefinitely by the Superintendent.

 

Visiting hours for parent or legal guardian are:

Wednesday
Evening
Saturdayday
Evening
Sunday
Afternoon
Juvenile’s last name
Beginning:

A-M   6:30PM-7:15 PM

N-Z   7:30PM-8:15 PM
Juvenile’s last name
Beginning:

A-M   6:30PM-7:15 PM

N-Z   7:30PM-8:15 PM
Juvenile’s last name
Beginning:

A-M   2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

N-Z   3:15 PM- 4:00 PM

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF
JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS