Site search
sponsored by
News
Churchill County commissioners approved a $3,335,000 bid from K7 Construction to build the Churchill County Juvenile Probation Detention Facility despite previous budgetary concerns.
After the federal government stripped the counties' geothermal rents and royalties, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer De Vere Karlson was concerned the project would be delayed.
However, County Manager Brad Goetsch said the rents and royalties are important for running a juvenile facility but not for constructing it. Karlson said the project will be budgeted out of the building reserve fund.
Karlson said the need for detaining youth have significantly increased over the last 20 years. Karlson said she has gone from working with truant youth, alcohol abuse and those committing minor offenses to youth abusing illegal substances, suffering in dysfunctional families and those committing violent crimes.
“Although the severity of offenses has grown, our ability to hold an offender accountable has weakened,” Karlson said.
Churchill County Juvenile Probation Department's Advisory Committee member Linda Bowmer said Churchill County juveniles are either driven about two hours to another county's facility, which has the right to refuse an individual if crowding occurs, or youth are released back into the community.
“We are unable to protect the community from high risk youth that have the potential to victimize this community,” Bowmer said. “It is fortunate we have not had more incidences of harm to the community and that staff and youth have not been more seriously injured.”
Bowmer said there have been many incidents demonstrating how lack of local bed space leads to dangerous situations. For example, Bowmer said one boy needed secure detention but without availability had to be placed in a staff secure facility in Hawthorn. He escaped and stole a staff member's car.
“Law enforcement were involved in a high speed chase that started in Mineral County, went through Churchill County and ended in Lyon County where the youth was apprehended,” Bowmer said. “Several civilian vehicles were damaged and fortunately injuries were minimal.”
Karlson added another incident when a 17-year-old girl shot and killed her step-mother. Not only was Karlson unsure where she could place her if she were not immediately arrested, but she wondered whether the incident could have been avoided.
“There were times in this young lady's history where we had wanted to detain her because we felt she was a risk, but could not due to lack of bed space,” Karlson said. “Do I think that resulted in the death of her step-mother? We will never know.”
Karlson said releasing youth who need detention is a serious problem.
“The probation department is at times forced to release youth back in a home situation where we know they are not safe because we have not had the time to resolve issues or offer services,” Karlson said.
Additionally, Bowmer said if Churchill County officials arrest a runaway on probation or parole from another state, Interstate Compact for Juveniles requires the county to detain the individual until the state can transport the youth back.
“If secure detention is unavailable, and we are unable to detain a youth in secure detention, we will be in noncompliance with federal law,” Bowmer said.
Bowmer and the advisory committee chairman Sue Sevon also said the distance risks possible car accidents on route, inhibits the county from providing reform programs, makes it difficult for families to visit, and costs officers' time and the county travel expenses.
“The committee believes the time has come for Churchill County to take control of the health, education, welfare and safety of our youth and their families,” Sevon said.
After the federal government stripped the counties' geothermal rents and royalties, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer De Vere Karlson was concerned the project would be delayed.
However, County Manager Brad Goetsch said the rents and royalties are important for running a juvenile facility but not for constructing it. Karlson said the project will be budgeted out of the building reserve fund.
Karlson said the need for detaining youth have significantly increased over the last 20 years. Karlson said she has gone from working with truant youth, alcohol abuse and those committing minor offenses to youth abusing illegal substances, suffering in dysfunctional families and those committing violent crimes.
“Although the severity of offenses has grown, our ability to hold an offender accountable has weakened,” Karlson said.
Churchill County Juvenile Probation Department's Advisory Committee member Linda Bowmer said Churchill County juveniles are either driven about two hours to another county's facility, which has the right to refuse an individual if crowding occurs, or youth are released back into the community.
“We are unable to protect the community from high risk youth that have the potential to victimize this community,” Bowmer said. “It is fortunate we have not had more incidences of harm to the community and that staff and youth have not been more seriously injured.”
Bowmer said there have been many incidents demonstrating how lack of local bed space leads to dangerous situations. For example, Bowmer said one boy needed secure detention but without availability had to be placed in a staff secure facility in Hawthorn. He escaped and stole a staff member's car.
“Law enforcement were involved in a high speed chase that started in Mineral County, went through Churchill County and ended in Lyon County where the youth was apprehended,” Bowmer said. “Several civilian vehicles were damaged and fortunately injuries were minimal.”
Karlson added another incident when a 17-year-old girl shot and killed her step-mother. Not only was Karlson unsure where she could place her if she were not immediately arrested, but she wondered whether the incident could have been avoided.
“There were times in this young lady's history where we had wanted to detain her because we felt she was a risk, but could not due to lack of bed space,” Karlson said. “Do I think that resulted in the death of her step-mother? We will never know.”
Karlson said releasing youth who need detention is a serious problem.
“The probation department is at times forced to release youth back in a home situation where we know they are not safe because we have not had the time to resolve issues or offer services,” Karlson said.
Additionally, Bowmer said if Churchill County officials arrest a runaway on probation or parole from another state, Interstate Compact for Juveniles requires the county to detain the individual until the state can transport the youth back.
“If secure detention is unavailable, and we are unable to detain a youth in secure detention, we will be in noncompliance with federal law,” Bowmer said.
Bowmer and the advisory committee chairman Sue Sevon also said the distance risks possible car accidents on route, inhibits the county from providing reform programs, makes it difficult for families to visit, and costs officers' time and the county travel expenses.
“The committee believes the time has come for Churchill County to take control of the health, education, welfare and safety of our youth and their families,” Sevon said.
