Court Cafe Juvenile Matters
What are Detention Centers
If a child or youth is arrested and the charges include a serious juvenile offense and the police believe that the welfare of the child or the safety of the community requires that the juvenile be confined before the initial court hearing, the police may transport the juvenile to a juvenile detention center operated by the Judicial Branch.
In Connecticut, a child or youth cannot be admitted to a detention center unless the juvenile has been:
- charged with a serious juvenile offense
- subject to an outstanding arrest warrant or court order to take into custody
- ordered by the court to be held
- transferred from another detention center to await a court appearance
- A juvenile, who does not meet any of the above criteria, but whose parents cannot be located or refuse to have the juvenile in the home and for whom the Department of Children and Families is unable to provide shelter, can be admitted by order of a Judge upon application by the police to the court.
Juvenile Detention Centers
- Bridgeport: 790 Fairfield Avenue, 06604. Supervisor, Peter Dobson, 203-579-6548
- Hartford: 920 Broad Street, 06106. Supervisor, David May, 860-566-8280
- New Haven: 239 Whalley Avenue, 06511. Supervisor, Leonard G. Barbieri, 203-786-0344
Detaining Juveniles: Is There a Better Way?
These articles and research materials are presented as information and food-for-thought.
Alternatives to Detention: "Although incarceration is intended only for juvenile offenders who are a threat to themselves or others, the majority of incarcerated youth are held for non-violent offenses that could successfully be addressed through community-based services. Indiscriminately incarcerating youth tends to increase their health risks and make them more likely to commit future crimes." [Complete article]
cite: physiciansforhumanrights.org, Health and Justice for Youth Campaign
