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Report calls for possibly replacing juvenile justice center
Standing in the shadow of the Tennessee Titans home turf at LP Field, the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center on Woodland Street has been viewed as an inadequate facility by many court officials since it was built in 1994.
Now, a Davidson County grand jury is officially agreeing with that sentiment, saying a new facility may be needed at taxpayers’ expense.
“[The detention center] was not well thought out when it was built and that’s nobody’s fault now,” said Juvenile Court Judge Betty Adams Green. “But, we are still dealing with a number of issues.”
Those issues include not having enough shower stalls for the number of residents in the facility, smaller than normal classrooms that are too few in number, an uncovered courtyard serving as the only place for juveniles to play sports or exercise and the location of cells housing female inmates.
These issues recently caught the attention of the Davidson County grand jury, which filed a report last week emphasizing the need for an upgraded facility, or a new one completely.
The grand jury, as part of its service to the city, is asked to report on other areas of Metro government that have a hand in the administering of justice in Nashville.
“We are concerned that the design flaws may even contribute to unsafe situations and we strongly recommend either an upgrade or a new facility,” the reports states.
“It was clear to us that the services are being provided in a facility that has outgrown its usefulness for the population it serves.”
Currently, about 36 juveniles reside in the facility, two of which are female, with charges ranging from armed robbery to attempted burglary, according to Tim Adgent, Judicial Court Administrator.
They are required to complete 6.5 hours of school a day, including a break for physical education, which is conducted in the open courtyard that has become the focus of much of the staff’s aggravation.
“That’s probably the biggest single thing,” Green said.
The courtyard cannot be used in extreme weather, including rain or snow and extreme heat. Juveniles are forced to then return to their pods, or groups of cells, to take a kind of study hall period, according to Adgent.
The spring weather yesterday was the perfect setting for a pick-up game of basketball, but Adgent said the addition of a roof over the courtyard would allow the juveniles many more days like that.
“As far as utilization of that, today is a wonderful day for them to be out there when school is over with, but if it was like last week, when we had rain and it was 30 degrees — forget about it,” he said yesterday morning.
Just as students in Metro schools around the city are required to attend classes, so are the inmates at the detention center.
Only, many of them must attend classes in the cafeteria, because there aren’t enough classrooms in the facility and the ones available are small.
They also lack some basic supplies, according to the grand jury, such as copy paper, finger paints, color pencils, computer equipment and library books.
“We just have to do the best we can,” said Patrick Curran, superintendent of the detention center.
Curran works for a private company, Group 4 Securicor, that contracts with the detention center to provide security.
He said many aspects of the facility, including not having enough shower stalls, insufficient cell size and the uncovered courtyard, cause the center to lose points during the accreditation process.
Currently, the Davidson County detention center is the only accredited juvenile jail by the American Correctional Association in the state, and has been since 2000, according to Curran.
Green said even some storage space in the facility had to be converted into housing.
Now, those two rooms, on either side of a hallway that leads to the courthouse attached to the center, house the female pods.
Because of the location of those rooms in relation to the courthouse door, guards are required to announce when all inmates are being transported, or taking a circuitous route, as to not compromise the privacy of the female inmates.
Adgent said it’s a hassle.
The facility can hold up to 48 inmates, and on average have around 40 at any given time. The average length of time a juvenile spends in the facility is around six to seven days, according to Adgent.
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With the rate juvenile crime is increasing they would need to move into the stadium as no facility will ever be large enough to house the growing number of juveniles.As far as the little thugs comfort, there play ground facilities, the weather etc should not be our concern. Weather didn't seem to stop them before while committing the crimes, they didn't care about outside activities while committing the crimes.Our system is back to rewarding criminals no matter the age for bad behavior. Are the little thugs also watching cable t.v.? Of course they are. No wonder the crime increases. When does the punishment begin?
Couple early morning thoughts...1) Why are stocks considered 'cruel and unusual punishment'? In this day of myspace and facebook etc., it would seem some time spent in stocks in a public space would humiliate some teen spirit. And possibly change minds about stupid stuff like grabbing gramma's purse in a WalMart parking lot or spray painting symbols on stop signs. At least while these thugs and thugesses were in stocks gramma could walk up and give 'em a lesson in proper morality and etiquette without worrying about being shot or stabbed.and, 2) Why is that American flag on the wall equipped with a yellow stripe? Democrats haven't take charge of the country. Yet.
Amen serr8D amen.
A covered facility to play in??? What about the kids who have not committed a crime and who are in school during the day as they are supposed to be. If it rains, they just stay in . Why should these juvenile delinquents have it any better than anyone else?
I believe the yellow stripe is in honor of you Serr.
8it would turn an article about cat food into a criticism of anyone to the left of Rush.Remember this building is the legacy of good ol' boy politics. Legend has it that Bill Boner selected that location to 'get even' with the Metro councilperson-and Boner critic-who was in office in that district at the time. Obviously there is now no room to expand.I could care less if the little thugs have a covered playground or finger paints. We have kids in schools that need things too. But I will agree with 8it that the building will soon be much too small.
TFT, why don't you pull GD aside and teach him some more better troll twittery? He's getting a bit more stuporific every time I see him.I recall this facility was offered to Bud Adams for the Titan's use, but Bud wisely declined the offer. Probably because of the small size.And the East German-style architecture.But when that thing was built, it was considered state-of-the-art. For Boner, quite an accomplishment. And then, there was plenty of room to expand, given the neighborhood wasn't exactly the same as we see now.
"some more better..."Someone could use some grammar lessons, among other things.
When it was built you had JV court judge Andy Shookoff who very rarely if ever saw a criminal that was not just a mistreated child. He was very very very soft, so the detention didnt need to be very big.
No wonder the county is always broke if a facillity can't be used after only fourteen years. A few hardships won't hurt these little darlings. They probably have it better there than at home.
and, 2) Why is that American flag on the wall equipped with a yellow stripe? Democrats haven't take charge of the country. The "yellow stripe" is gold fringe doofus. Have you never looked at the flag while saying the pledge? I am sure you have seen it before. Or maybe you're a commie pinko who does not revere the flag? (Are there any commie pinkos any more?)
That's a slipper slope howelln...lol. But I agree that he's a doofus.
Building a new detention could be very profitable. A number of the surrounding counties do not have juvenile detentions, and if they do they are very small. So Davidson can then sell beds to these counties and rediculous rates. Also a larger facility would mean Davidson is not placed in that situation where we are buying bed space. I'm sure there is some abandoned facility down in metro center that could be converted to a spacious jv detention.
Building a new detention could be very profitable. A number of the surrounding counties do not have juvenile detentions, and if they do they are very small. So Davidson can then sell beds to these counties and rediculous rates. Also a larger facility would mean Davidson is not placed in that situation where we are buying bed space. I'm sure there is some abandoned facility down in metro center that could be converted to a spacious jv detention.
I can't believe we're listening to people whine about building a brand new, taxpayer-funded building for juvenile delinquents in this budget year.Dean has planned cuts to General Hospital and nearly every single Metro department. This WILL have a direct impact on services we receive.Want that pothole fixed on your street? Is your mother or grandmother receiving home care or getting meals on wheels? Are you a developer who relies on the Codes or Planning Departments to get fast, accurate information so you can keep your business moving efficiently? Do you want the flooding problems in your neighborhood taken care of? Do you want to see talented and experienced city employees - about 200 of them - in the unemployment line living off of your tax dollars instead contributing to the economy and providing for their own families?Thanks to Republican economics and Bush's war, the American economy is crippled and it will get better before it gets worse. Talking about replacing a perfectly acceptable building that is only about 25 years old - for troublemakers, nonetheless - is one of the most amazing examples of chutzpah I've seen out of local officials not named Lineweaver, Crafton, Gotto, or Garcia.Ridiculous.
Howelln, why don't you take GD's 'slipper' and 'slope' yourself to some nice slurpage?I swear, some of the simple-minded posters here on NCP aren't understanding of any rhetoricalness with the King's English.And, yes, yellow, fringe, but there again I used a flair to make changeyness. Just consider my posts beyond your ken, and don't bother to respond, birdbrains that your are.
LOL you have to explain your own perceived intelligence. LOL You're an idiot serr. Don't go away mad, just go away.
It's amazing how morpheous managed to link an article about the need for a new jv detention facility in little ol davidson co. back to g. bush.
Not really papa, what is amazing is that you or Frank haven't linked it to ice hockey.
I can't help but wonder if someone wants that property anhd that is why the big push is on.Remember the garbage burner that cost us a ton of money because the Sounds wanted it.
At least the money given to the Preds is local, relating a juvenile detention center to the Iraq war... that's a stretch
I will say that, while it is ridiculous to have to replace a 14-year-old building, all it would take would be a class-action lawsuit by some parents of juveniles due to the inadequate number of shower stalls (or being housed in a storage unit), and then instead of spending millions on a new facility, the city will spend millions and get nothing in return except more Bart Durham soap opera commercials.And, yes, idgaf, once again this is all a vast conspiracy to get your money.
It's stories like this that confirms my decision to move from the United States. To think I work everyday and pay all these taxes that the U.S. government(s) impose on us, and the money goes to covered basket ball courts for bad @$$ kids. I'd rather see my money be used to force these kids to have vasectomies and hysterectomies so that this gutter trash can't reproduce.
You're a piece of work NY1. Why don't you stop threatening us and just leave already.
Can I be your piece of work gdiafante? Can I Daddy?
* moronWouldn't be surprised if you're a registered sex offender.
Trust me when I tell you, I am leaving the U.S. As soon as my business can run without me here, then I'm OUT. Dubai is looking very promising and I'm starting to make a few connections there both professionally and socially.
Good, all I can say is...bye.
No, baby. Trust me when I tell you, you have to have EXCEPTIONAL CREDENTIALS to even make me remotely attracted to you. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
Did you say something? I didn't think so.
My father is a surgeon and my mother owns her on company in Manhattan. So, I don't think you and I would run in the same crowd of people.
You're right, I run with humans.
Well, while you're running with humans, I'll be running with my parents in June on a 15 day Trans-Atlantic cruise. I believe where going to a few spots in Africa and then up the coast and stopping in Europe. My mother called me Sunday morning and said everything was booked and start preparing for the trip.Thanks Dad.
Thanks for the most useless information I've ever read. I know you're a legend in your tiny little mind, but just go away. You bore me.
Is this a BroMance between you two?
I'm going to be nice because I look, feel, and dressed wonderful today. Mohair boots by Kenneth Cole $600.00, Armani pants and shirt, Wittnauer watch, and Hugo Boss belt.
I had to laugh on that one. Good come back.
Have any of you guys shopped at Bergdorf's lately to see their spring and summer collections? I'm just trying to decide if I need to make a special trip home or wait until my cruise in June.
"I'd rather see my money be used to force these kids to have vasectomies and hysterectomies so that this gutter trash can't reproduce."That makes two of us.