Detention
The mission of the Mahoning County Juvenile Detention Center (MCJDC) is:
- Provide for the care, protection and development of the youth who are detained
- Hold youth accountable
- Protect our youth and staff at all times in a safe, secure and caring environment
2The vision of the MCJJC is to support youth and families in building caring and safe communities.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction extends to Mahoning County youth 17 and under. If the delinquent act was committed prior to the age of 18, jurisdiction may be extended to age 21. Youth from outside Mahoning County who are accused of an offense in Mahoning County, runaways, or those under court order, may also be detained in the MCJJC.
Overview
The Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center (MCJJC), located in Youngstown, Ohio, was established in 1979, as a 24-hour, 20-bed coed detention facility. The primary purpose of the MCJJC is to provide a secure and safe environment for youth during the Court hearing process on a delinquency charge or while awaiting placement or commitment to another facility.
Ron Chambers, Justice Center Administrator, oversees the daily operations of the MCJJC.
Potential employees must complete a background investigation, psychological evaluation, a physical, and a drug screen to be eligible for employment at the MCJJC.
Students placed in the Justice Center will have an arraignment hearing within seventy-two hours upon admission.
Current News and Future Projects
The MCJJC follows the guidelines and requirements set forth by the Ohio Department of Youth Services.
On July 15, 2015 the MCJJC implemented the R.A.I. Assessment, which gives the Justice Center and the Intake Department a releasing authority.
The MCJJC and other facilities assisted the Northeast Ohio Juvenile Detention Professional Development Project, and the Global Issues Resource Center at Cuyahoga Community College, in the development of a training curriculum for Juvenile Corrections Officers. The curriculum attempts to address deficiencies in staff training that can lead to turnover and increased operational costs. For more information on this curriculum, visit: http://www.creducation.org/cre/jdo/
Statistics
2020 Yearly Totals
- Gender:
- 97 Male
- 17 Female
- Race:
- 65 Black
- 35 Caucasian
- 2 Hispanic
- 0 Other
- Average Intake per Month:
- Average Daily Population: 14
- Average Length of Stay: 6.75 days
- Average Age: 15.5
- Recidivism Rate and Percentage
| Number of Admissions | Male | Female | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 prior admission | 18 | 4 | 22 | 19.00% |
| 2 prior admissions | 11 | 1 | 12 | 10.50% |
| 3 prior admissions | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4.50% |
| 4 prior admissions | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3.00% |
| 5-10 prior admissions | 16 | 2 | 16 | 14.00% |
| 11-15 prior admissions | 5 | 0 | 5 | 4.50% |
| 16-20 prior admissions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.00% |
| 20+ prior admissions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st time admission | 38 | 12 | 50 | 43.50% |
| Yearly Totals | 97 | 17 | 114 | 100.00% |
Housing Information
Each student in MCJJC has a private room on a unit composed of 10 rooms and a large common space. Students are assigned to a unit based on age, charge(s), physical size, and sex. Two Juvenile Corrections Officers Supervise each unit during the waking hours and one supervises during sleeping hours.
Placement
At times, the MCJJC place students in placement upon their release from the facility. Students may be released to the following placements:
- Home or foster placement
- Residential treatment programs
- Day treatment
- Group homes
- Children and youth services (including Department of Youth Services)
- Transferred to other jurisdictions
- Mental health/Mental retardation agencies
Volunteering
Organizations and/or individuals interested in volunteering at the MCJJC should contact Ron Chambers (330-740-2244 ext. 6446) for information. Those interested must submit a volunteer application to the Court.