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Chief Juvenile Probation Officer De Vere Karlson hopes the 2007 Nevada Legislature approves funding for a new juvenile justice center to address the shortage of space facing Churchill County.
Two Senate bills are before lawmakers that would appropriate money to build a detention center in Silver Springs and fund its operation.
Karlson said another facility for juvenile offenders is desperately needed to house delinquents who are a danger to themselves or the community.
SB406 would allocate $4.6 million to build a detention center that could be used by Churchill and Lyon counties. The bill is exempt from Tuesday's Legislative deadline. It has not yet been heard by the Senate Finance Committee.
SB146 would provide $1 million a year to operate the facility. That measure passed the Senate by a slim margin, 11-10, said Karlson. It will next go to the taxation committee before a floor vote and the governor's desk.
An 8-cent property tax levy would provide money to operate the facility. (See related story)
Karlson said the need for a locked juvenile detention facility to house dangerous youth is critical. Last year, there were 33 instances when Churchill County tried to find an empty bed for a juvenile who needed to be detained but was denied because no space was available.
"These were kids who were at risk to themselves or the community. We had to put youth who are at risk back into the community," said Karlson.
Between 2001 and 2006, the number of youth who need a secure detention facility has doubled.
Karlson said in 2001, Churchill County utilized detention beds about 400 times. Last year, the need jumped to 835.
There is a limited number of detention centers for juveniles in the area. Fallon attempts to house juvenile offenders in Douglas County or Carson City if space is available.
With the current lack of bed space, Churchill and Lyon counties often compete with each other when a juvenile must be incarcerated, Karlson said.
She has implemented a GPS monitoring system for youth who need close supervision when beds are full at detention centers.
The "real-time" system costs $10 a day and allows juvenile probation officers to keep track of offenders 24 hours a day.
"We know where he is but do not know what he is doing," Karlson said about the limitations of GPS monitoring.
A part-time surveillance officer has been hired to conduct home visits on evenings and on weekends for higher-risk juveniles.
Those who work with youth offenders are seeing more serious crime and increased drug use.
"We're seeing different kids than we did 10 years ago," Karlson said. "Ten years ago it was petty larceny and truancy. Now, they are committing more violent offenses, and drugs is a very serious issue. Kids are involved in delinquency earlier and are committing more offenses. In the past four or five years that's what we're seeing."
Two Senate bills are before lawmakers that would appropriate money to build a detention center in Silver Springs and fund its operation.
Karlson said another facility for juvenile offenders is desperately needed to house delinquents who are a danger to themselves or the community.
SB406 would allocate $4.6 million to build a detention center that could be used by Churchill and Lyon counties. The bill is exempt from Tuesday's Legislative deadline. It has not yet been heard by the Senate Finance Committee.
SB146 would provide $1 million a year to operate the facility. That measure passed the Senate by a slim margin, 11-10, said Karlson. It will next go to the taxation committee before a floor vote and the governor's desk.
An 8-cent property tax levy would provide money to operate the facility. (See related story)
Karlson said the need for a locked juvenile detention facility to house dangerous youth is critical. Last year, there were 33 instances when Churchill County tried to find an empty bed for a juvenile who needed to be detained but was denied because no space was available.
"These were kids who were at risk to themselves or the community. We had to put youth who are at risk back into the community," said Karlson.
Between 2001 and 2006, the number of youth who need a secure detention facility has doubled.
Karlson said in 2001, Churchill County utilized detention beds about 400 times. Last year, the need jumped to 835.
There is a limited number of detention centers for juveniles in the area. Fallon attempts to house juvenile offenders in Douglas County or Carson City if space is available.
With the current lack of bed space, Churchill and Lyon counties often compete with each other when a juvenile must be incarcerated, Karlson said.
She has implemented a GPS monitoring system for youth who need close supervision when beds are full at detention centers.
The "real-time" system costs $10 a day and allows juvenile probation officers to keep track of offenders 24 hours a day.
"We know where he is but do not know what he is doing," Karlson said about the limitations of GPS monitoring.
A part-time surveillance officer has been hired to conduct home visits on evenings and on weekends for higher-risk juveniles.
Those who work with youth offenders are seeing more serious crime and increased drug use.
"We're seeing different kids than we did 10 years ago," Karlson said. "Ten years ago it was petty larceny and truancy. Now, they are committing more violent offenses, and drugs is a very serious issue. Kids are involved in delinquency earlier and are committing more offenses. In the past four or five years that's what we're seeing."
