The visit to the Juvenile Detention Center was a good learning experience. The first big thing I learned is that the employees who work here do not treat the kids as inmates. As a matter of fact, they actually treat the kids with a lot of respect and love, not only to get them out of the juvenile justice system, but to promote healthy growth and a positive environment for the kids to be around. A second big thing I learned is that rehabilitation is a major focus at this type of facility. In adult prisons, the main focus is incarceration, as adults are seen as not needing rehab due to their age. However, this is the main focus at a juvenile detention center due to the kids being so young that rehab could actually make a big positive change in their lives and turn them into new, good people. A third thing I learned is if any of the kids being held here feel they have been sexually assaulted, disrespected, etc. they have the option to report this and have action taken. The same also goes for employees as far as seeing something and reporting it. I just find it interesting that the kids have this option, as in a regular adult prison, this ability may be present, but it is not as focused on as it is in the juvenile justice system. This can also be seen as being connected to the main focus of rehab and respect. By allowing these kids to have the ability to report anything that they feel caused them to be mistreated is showing the kids how they get opportunities and respect just like everyone else does. The fourth thing I learned is that the kids currently being held here are still required to go through an educational program. Despite being incarcerated, these kids are still able to further their education. This is a huge positive when it comes to the juvenile justice system. In an adult prison, those who are incarcerated may be able to get some education, but nothing compared to the JDC. Also, all of the kids are in the same class. This is interesting because one kid would be in the eighth grade while another kid in the same class would be a senior in high school. Age does not matter when it comes to education in juvenile centers, all of the kids are put into the same classroom and they learn the same concepts all at the same time. A fifth thing I learned is at the JDC, a licensed mental health therapist is available for mental health needs 24 hours a day. This is a big deal. In class, we have discussed how a large majority of people locked up suffer from some form of mental illness. As time has moved on, we have begun to see just how important mental health can really be. By having this mental health professional present always, consistently checking up on the kids, they have a much better chance at changing their ways and forming new strategies to help them become better people overall. Overall, I thought the tour of the JDC was a great experience where everyone learned something new about how the juvenile detention system works. -Fozz007
This was my second tour of the Juvenile Delinquency Center, however, I learned things I did not learn on the first tour. This juvenile system has so many small details that can easily be over looked. So, the second tour was defiantly beneficial for my personal benefit. Over the weekend, their numbers had increased to 48 juveniles within the center, but since then the facility has dropped their numbers to 42 juveniles within their care. The females and males are separated, but while in the class room the males sit in front while the females sit in the back. With this arrangement there seems to less fights and drama between the juveniles. The delinquency center has mostly males’ juveniles within their care. The facility actually had to move the females over to the next pod due to the male population being more extreme than the females. The facility does usually experience more males than females on average, however, they are encountering more than is accustom. The staff are unarmed, they lack a side arm and baton. They rely on their communication skills to keep a fight from occurring. The staff have a hand-held radio to call for back up if there was ever a fight between the juveniles. Within a week, they usually will have one to two fights. But between 42 juveniles, I think about two fights a week is a good ratio comparatively. The staff has a casual approach, as they do not wear uniforms. Instead they simply wear sweatshirts or really whatever. I think this is pretty neat, since it gives the impression of laid-back atmosphere. It makes the staff feel more approachable to the juveniles. Which then could lead into stronger relationships down the road. I think by wearing relaxed clothes there is less separation between members of the staff and the juveniles. It almost makes the staff feel more of a big brother or sister verses a scary stuffy authority figure who is less likely to be on the same level. I greatly admire this approach as I think it benefits the juvenile’s relationship with the staff. I believe all Juvenile delinquency facilities should consider the benefits of their own staff having a more casual approach in their attire. The staff are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in any field before thy can apply for a position at the facility. I think this is wise as it limits the people applying for the job, but yet it is still a manageable endeavor. During a shift, the staff are required to be diverse which means they need to have both male and female staff on each shift. I find that wise as it prevents possible issues down the road. The staff are not qualified to give the juveniles any kind of medications. They have a nurse in the facility, and is the one only allowed to give medication when and if medication is needed. Every week a doctor comes to the facility, or if needed, sooner. I felt this Juvenile Delinquency Center is highly professional and care deeply for the well being for each of the juveniles within the facility. -CoalRoller711
Overall, I liked the Juvenile Detention Center Tour better than the Jail. I feel like there was some important information that we missed out on because the tour was so quick. For example, when I went to the Juvenile Detention Center back in the spring, if they have a resident that is on a suicide watch they have to check on them every four minutes. Whereas the jail they don’t check on them as frequent. The Juvenile Detention Center is also a lot nicer and cleaner than the jail is. It looks more like a school and more colorful to make it look more homey. Having the environment of school is such a good idea to keep their education flowing and steady. Most of the kids probably don’t even go to school when they are living at home. All they know is what they remember from elementary school and what they have learned out on the streets and what their friends and family have taught them. What I also thought was interesting was the residents were very obnoxious and tried very hard to get our attention and to get us to interact with them. I expected this to happen more at the jail than it would at the Juvenile Detention Center. Another thing I believed to be interesting is that we were told some kids like being there, they want to reoffend because they know they have food, or a shelter, and safety. So therefore, they may commit a crime to get locked up. It is more of a strict environment where they have to go to school. Where at their house, they don’t have to go, or their parents can’t afford to send them. The parents expect them to stay home and watch their younger siblings or even start to make money to help put food on the table or to get basic necessities. I also liked the idea that visitors, like their parents, are allowed to come every day for visitation hours. This allows them to still have a relationship with their family even though they made a mistake and are locked up. But sadly enough most parents don’t go and see their kids. Either they dont have the money to go see them or don’t have the time because they are too busy taking care of their other children and making money to care for them. Their cells aren’t very clean and they have very strict rules to follow. The discussion groups that they have every day is also a good way to relieve stress and be comfortable with expressing your feelings and open up to others. This can also help build relationships and trust with one another throughout the jail. Many of them do hold grudges on one another because maybe they belong to different gangs, or live on the opposite side of the south end and aren’t allowed to interact. But the more they break that ground and bearer the more they are to behave and help one another as they are locked up. ProbdrinkingStar$’s711
I visited the juvenile detention center for the first time on Monday and it was a very interesting experience. I visited the jail with my juvenile class earlier in the semester and it was very different. In the jail, their focus is more on keeping the inmates controlled and behaved rather than trying to be nice to them and rehabilitating them. Rehabilitating is the still one of the main focuses of the jail, but it felt more like a prison than a rehabilitation program. The juvenile detention center on the other hand felt a lot more like a rehabilitation program. The inmates were still held in cells, but all the staff looked like they weren’t scary, they were nice, and they were pretty calm with their routines. At the prison all of the workers there were wearing police uniforms and looked like they weren’t going to take anything for anyone. That’s understandable because the people in there are serving years so they might feel as if they have nothing to lose. There was also a lot of grade school like decorations all throughout the detention center which made it feel more like a really secure school rather than a prison. There were a lot of motivational sayings all around the cells and lunchrooms. As far as the food goes, they are exactly the same because they get the same meals as the jail does. According to the juvenile detention workers the food is really bad but the inmates have a chance to earn better food if they earn coupons. They know that the food is bad, so they do everything they can to get the coupons so that they can have a better second meal. The juvenile detention center was a lot more sad then the prison. I didn’t fear the kids but instead felt sorry for them because they wound up in this situation. We saw parents in the greeting center and it was really sad to see. One of the cool things about the juvenile detention center is that the parents can visit their kids every day if they wanted to. They can see them for 30 minutes, and if they live over an hour away then they can spend an hour with their kids a day. I think that’s really important when dealing with kids, because some might want to see their parents on a more frequent basis then others. Seeing your parents when you’re in a juvenile detention center can only help the child, because it shows them how different their life is when they’re locked up in here. I know that if I ever had to go to one of these, the jail or the juvenile detention center, I would want to go to the juvenile detention center. I feel like they are just treated in a more encouraging way than the jail inmates because they have their entire life ahead of them. This is what we should focus on more in the criminal justice system. The juvenile detention centers should have bigger budgets so they can better fix our broken children and turn them into productive members of society.-BuffaloChickenDip007
The visit to the Juvenile Detention Center was very interesting. I learned some things from that tour that I had never known before. For example, at the Juvenile Detention Center, they provide education for whoever is there. Education is very important, and since these kids are in there instead of in school, the Juvenile Detention Center has to provide the education. Also, I learned that they have a gym which every day they get an hour of recreation time. Another thing that I learned from the Juvenile Detention Center is that like the jail, they get visitors, but at the Juvenile Detention Center they can have visitors more often. I think that this is a good idea because they are just kids and they need to see people that they know, and not just the people at the Detention Center. What I found most interesting, and disturbing at the same time, is that once the kid gets there they get a medical examination. For almost all of these kids this is the first time that they have ever seen a doctor, because at home they don’t have any insurance to see one. At the Juvenile Detention Center, they take good care for the kids there. Also, like at the jail, they do not treat the kids like inmates. They treat them as human beings. Also, at the Juvenile Detention Center, they have a mental health therapist who is available 24 hours a day. This is very important because in class we discussed how a large majority of inmates in jails suffer from some form of mental illness. As time has passed, we as a society have begun to see how important seeing the warning signs of mental health problems is. Having a mental health therapist always present, and checking up on the kids on a regular bases, can be helpful to both the person with the problem and the community. It can be helpful to the person with the problem because if someone were to catch the signs on their illness early, they could get the treatment that they need. This also could be helpful to the community because if the person gets the treatment that they need, than they are less likely to reoffend. Also, if the kid is suicidal, then they put that person in a cell by themselves, and check on them on every few minutes. At the Juvenile Detention Center, like the jail, they split them up by the gender that they identify as. Also, they have a cell by themselves. Even though the tour was short, I learned a lot about the Juvenile Detention Center. I learned about what they do, how everything works there, and what the kids do while in the Detention Center. They treat the people there like how kids should be treated, ever though they are in a Detention Center for something bad. I enjoyed the tour and hope they keep doing what they are doing and also keeping up the good work. –Adventurefight711
The Juvenile Detention center was an extremely new and cool experience to me. I didn’t really have any questions regarding the detention except for one thing in the intake area. When I first walked in we actually had to tell them our reason for being there before we could get in. That was the complete opposite of the jail where we just sat in a waiting room upstairs and were simply guided in. We were split into two groups. I was a part of group two that was led by the floor supervisor. I thought it was cool that we were assigned to him because we got a different perspective than we got from the JDC visit in class. First we went to the control center. There he told us that if you want that job you’ll need really good training because it’s all paperwork while also controlling cameras and directing officers where they need to go in emergencies. All of the cameras can be viewed from that room. After that we had an entire tour. The intake area was a pretty small size in my opinion but to go with that there were also a lot of holding cells in that area. I asked him what the third computer was for and he informed us that that the third computer was for the intake that comes in so that they can take the “entry test” The other two were for them to work. That was extremely interesting to me because I thought they filled out the score sheet on paper, I was not aware that it was all electronically based. After that we headed out to see what a cell inside of a pod would look like. The structure is simple but only one intake to a room. I think that is a good idea because they are kids but it’s also a bad idea because if they are there for a long period of time they might get anxious or some kind of “irritation” would form without that social interaction. To more comforting news the juveniles also take part in youth groups/ social circles for parts of the day so they can have that interaction as well as have important lessons taught to them. To continue, the intakes also have visits they can have with their parents and other family. If the caretaker lives nearby the visit will be up to thirty minutes, if they have to go even farther, they have about an hour or more of a visit. The appearance of the gyms were extremely astonishing to me as well because there was a mural on one that the kids got to help paint. On a completely different note, the supervisor talked to us about how when these kids come in, this might be their first time ever seeing a doctor or therapy. When they leave they may never see it again because of what their family can afford. There are two nurses on shift at different times. Another really interesting thing that he told us as that by law, in the JDC they have to respect what the inmates tell them. If they want female undergarments and they are male, but need them for transgender dysphoria, they need to tend to that child’s needs. If they want to go by he/him pronouns instead of she/they or even they/them instead of he/him they have to abide by that and do their best to keep up with that. Even more interesting? They do not have to do that in the jail. In the jail they call you whatever they feel like referring to you as and your opinion does not matter otherwise. An officer does not have to choose to listen to that person. To connect with that, He also told us the same thing that the Sheriff had told us as well. They use to have a blanket strip search policy but no longer have that and it is not required at all. We also went over how some kids end up there but do not have to stay long and the public gets all in a jittery uproar. They assume that just because a child that they do not know did something bad, the child should go to JDC. They do not realize that they are just kids and just because they stole something from a store or is doing drugs we do not know their life and usually they are just kids that need guidance, not a jail sentence. I learned a lot more here than I thought I would and this whole entire visit was incredibly interesting. -Tanlion_nala711
When we visited the juvenile detention center, I was truly impressed with how clean they kept it and how orderly it was. There is always the perception that places as such will have particular smells or we bargain for the same image we form in our brain from the movies as to what it will look and be like. I thought it was interesting in how the guards/officers wear normal clothes. I feel like that is really neat because it makes the kids feel more comfortable with their surroundings and the officers in general. I thought the set up was cool because in the pods, it was almost like classrooms outside of their cells and an open environment feeling. There were pictures, drawings, writings on the walls and the guards were not hovering over the kids. I also saw the interaction between the guards and kids and how they talked with each other. They were professional but did not refer to them as inmates or make them feel inferior. They simply talked to them like adults but let them know the way they were acting was inappropriate. I also liked how the kids got ample time with their families and family can pretty much come whenever but I thought it was disheartening that the kids do not seem to get a lot of visitors among each other. I like how they went out of their way to get the kids a garden and add to it because the kids fell in love with it and building it. They paint murals in there, the kids do, they have classes and gym time and are treated fairly. The difference between JDC and the jail is more so that JDC can be directed to rehabilitating the kids and although they are incarcerated, they are treated differently and not as much like criminals. Kids do not need to be treated like adults due to the mind development. Children do not have the mental capacity like we do, regarding conversations and managing our thoughts. Children also do not always realize that what they are committing is a crime. They cannot necessarily comprehend that. If children were treated like adults are incarcerated, there would be uproar because children would come out so incredibly different. And the temperament would be drastically different as well. I thought JDC was a really interesting and informative experience. I like the ways everyone is treated in the facility. I think none of them have an easy job and all of them seem to be there for their heart not for the paycheck. I think what is really cool is in the gym, they had hired a professional to come in and help the kids paint a mural and it was centered around education and what they can do from here, this point in their lives. The kids are given this hope and reminders that this does not have to dictate their future and they can only go up from where they are. -notacop007&711
The juvenile detention center, which is located on the same property, as the adult detention center, a.k.a. county jail. Walking through the juvenile detention center, did not feel in a sense, instutionalized. Even though it was a juvenile detention facility, it did not feel like we were in one. In a way, that is what those who work there are trying to do. They are trying to make the stay for those juveniles who end up in their care and supervision not a negative one, but in fact the exact opposite. Right when the juveniles go through the intake process, they are given the care and attention that they need, and have been lacking in their lives at that point in time.
The name of the game, in the grand scheme of it all is rehabilitation. Rehabiliation comes in many different forms through the juvenile detention facility. From medical care, both physical, and mental, to kids still attending the schools they were going, before they ended up at the juvenile detention center. I remember hearing that juveniles who come through the juvenile detention center, are treated better than they are at home. That is very important, in terms of the creation of the overall environment of the juvenile detention center. To put it in a different way, those at the juvenile detention center, strive to make the juveniles they come across and deal with be better people. There is nothing wrong with that, kids need positive reinforcement, and encouragement.
While, walking through the juvenile detention center, I noticed the overall cleanliness, and proper upkeep of the facility was something that was being taken very seriously. This is important from a tax payer standpoint. Those who pay taxes in this county, should feel confident that their money is being used to help rehabilitate troubled juveniles. It is important that our society, keeps doing what it can to help kids who need direction, guidance, etc.
I felt that those in the juvenile detention facility had more freedoms, if not privileges, than the adult inmates located across the way. In a way, that makes a lot of sense. Due to the fact that kids are much more perceptive, and susceptible to the use of positive reinforcement. Using that sense of positive reinforcement, coupled with going to school, and learning how to resolves conflicts/issues in a way that does not lead to being sent down to the juvenile detention center is the overall goal.
Overall, the juvenile detention center, is doing what it can, with what it can to help kids that walk through its doors. In a sense, the juvenile detention center, is a perfect example of how rehabilitation should occur. There is much more to life than dollars and cents, what is most important is the overall quality of life. Kids make mistakes, but giving them the tools that they need to make better decisions in the future is what is key. The end goal is to put them on the right track, so that they will not come through the doors again. ---YouMustAcquit007---
Going into the Peoria county juvenile detention center was an extremely exciting event. there was definitely a huge almost night and day difference between the adult jail and the detention center. First thing I saw that was different was that the employees or “child development specialist” did not wear any uniform. Instead they wore regular clothing so that it’s not intimidating for the juveniles as opposed to regular guard uniforms. The second major thing I noticed was that there were encouraging signs and posters on the wall that made it look more like a school then a detention center. It just gave a more happy and hopeful feeling to the building. Also in the day rooms there is more for the juveniles to do such as TV and a ping pong tables that way they are not just sitting in the room. Another major thing I noticed as we were walking through the tour was that the classrooms were just like in a classroom I have ever been in. I think it is great that they make them go to school for normal primary and high school hours. It was really good to see that they put such an emphasis on rehabilitating these kids and even helping them succeed more than they would have the chance to on the outside. One of the biggest story is that stuck with me on this tour was that there was a young girl over the summer that was thought to keep doing crimes in order for the police to take her back to the juvenile detention center because her like on the outside was so bad. She was happy to have the structure, 3 meals a day, and to not be abused. Over all I really enjoyed this tour and my heart really went out to the kids in their and that would definitely be something i would even love to do after I get a bachelor's degree. -RHB007
Going to the Juvenile Detention Center has been a good learning experience. Even though in a previous presentation we had with two of the workers, in person walking around has help understand what kids go through. Kids there have a good opportunity to grow in there talking skills, mature with behavior, and learn what good choices to make. There is a lot of time given to juveniles while being there, that a lot of them rather be in the center than be at home. Even though they are tightly secure and have many rules, a lot of them have learn to adjust yet sometimes go through struggles. They have have different levels once entering the center, first there is a low level color but once having good behavior they go up in levels. When in different levels they have different privileges than others. For example, the food is the main reason juveniles want to behave because it isn’t the best. It comes from the County Jail next to them. That helps other juveniles to mature that not everything in life is given but earned. I think the most interesting thing about The JDC is the scoring system in order to be accepted into the center. There are points given for any crime committed and if it isn't enough you’re not let in, but if it have anything to do with domestic battery to a parent they are automatically let in. Another thing that caught my attention was the security that these juveniles have. The doors to enter the center by the control room can not be open at the same time, it’s one then the other. There is no sharing cells between juveniles. If they are a high risk, they are place in the two front cells where they are registered. I think that having a system that Peoria’s JDC has is something all should have because they have helped many and there is a trust between the workers and juveniles. There are a lot that reoffend to go back somewhere the feel safe. The point is to give these juveniles something they don't get a home, that is the skills to be able to be part of the community. So they can be able to earn the benefits that everyone else have no matter the circumstances. taco007
Walking through the Juvenile Detention Center was much different than the Jail itself. It did not have that uncomfortable feeling like jail did. When you were in the jail it had a sense of a coldness and people were just there to be held for their crimes. There was a much different ora walking into JDC. Obviously it still had that sense of security and order but there was also a sense “happiness” (however you would like to define that for a detention center). There was paintings and positive writing all over the walls throughout the entire Center. It made it feel a little bit more homey. One thing I do need to take into account is that it is very secure still. They have to buzz in and out of every door so if a child were somehow to take over they wouldn't get very far. But other than that the children seem pretty safe and secure in the center. You can tell that they really cared for the children and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible but still instilling order because they are there to technically be “punished”. One of the saddest things they mentioned was that to some children it is the best place for them to stay. Meaning that their own homes are not a safe place so children get in trouble so they can stay at JDC. They will routinely do this until the consequences are becoming more severe or if they find a safer place to stay when they leave. One of the interesting things was that the employees don't even wear uniforms so the children don't feel as scared or pressured walking around. They definitely want a sense of regularity in the center on a day to day basis. Another thing was that they have group daily and learn something that they can instill in their own selves such as attitude or how to react to certain situations you may not like. Which is something that would be very helpful for anyone. The best thing that I heard throughout the night was that they have points throughout the week and if they are able to keep all there points by being good all week long they are able to have pizza parties every friday. Which I believe is a great idea because it gives them something they look forward to and try to achieve that goal of making it to friday. They give them this types of incentives everyday also by giving them coupons which they can spend at commissary where they can but candy or other foods for their enjoyment. By walking through the JDC there are a lot of differences by the way they are housed to how they are secured. There housing is a little different such as they all get there own room to give them their own privacy and security. Also, the last time I visited they stated that the children can keep a few things in there room but as they stated this time around they were not allowed anything in there room besides one book. Everything else was considered contraband which was very interesting. This tour was very interesting and different than the actually jail. I loved learning about the differences and the similarities between the two. This is definitely something that I would possibly want to do after I get my degree. hollywood007
I’ve gone to the juvenile detention center 3 times now, and it is probably one of my favorite parts of the CRJ classes. Every time I go, I still manage to learn different things. I think when some people first hear detention center/jail, the first thing they think is gangs, hygiene issues, fights, smelly, etc., but walking into the juvenile detention center, you see it’s completely clean. I don’t even think I saw one piece of paper even on the floor, which shows they take care of the building. Not only the building, but they show us the classrooms the children work in, and the groups they participate in to improve their behavior as well. The officers wear normal, nice clothing, there’s pictures on the walls, and even a mural the children helped paint. There’s a more comfortable, rehabilitating feel to the building and the staff, rather than screaming and cursing at the children. They speak to them as human beings, not just some horrible prisoner. Another thing mentioned that I noticed changed since before was that now they have a mental health therapist on call, 24 hours a day. Mental health being a huge problem in our country, including our prisons and detention centers, and they showed they’re improving on helping the kids with mental problems, whenever they need it. One of my favorite things about these tours, is that it’s a firsthand experience that you get to see. You get to see how the children act, the staff, how their system works for them, and I think it’s absolutely amazing that we are given the opportunity to see what we may be doing for the rest of our lives, up close and personal. No matter how many times you visit, you always learn something different, and get to see the ways they try to improve the ways they do things for the kids kept there, and I think it’s just a great experience overrall. Stlblues007
Visiting the Juvenile Detention Center was an amazing experience. Looking and learning at all that is offered to the juveniles was very interesting. First of all, I was very impressed by the schooling that is offered to the inmates. The curriculum that they are taught is the same that is taught in high schools around the state of Illinois. Classes are offered by teachers that work at Limestone. The kids are placed into classes not based on age, but based upon their academic level. I thought that that was important because there is no point in attempting to teach material to students that don’t understand the material. Allowing for the kids to accomplish education checkpoints, regardless of age helps them and they can possible further their education when they are released. Meal time was also something that I learned a lot about. All the meals are the same that are given to the inmates at the jail. A dietician reviews the meals often for calories and nutrients that are needed for the kids. Kids also can receive extra food for being good and such. They can earn a type of currency that they can spend on things like extra food, like candy and sweets, and even burgers. The workout areas were amazing! Filled with machines to help build or tone muscle, there were also areas to play basketball. Kids that have better behavior often were allowed more time to spend in the gym area. There were courts both inside and outside, allowing for the kids to go outside and experience the nice weather when there are nice days. The kids are able to see doctors very often if they feel the need to, and there is also a Mental Health specialist working around the clock at the center for the kids incase one is needed. Kids placed on suicide watch are kept a close eye on, placed in their own cell, and getting visits from the guards every couple of minutes. Kids are given visits, both from parents and siblings, as well as grandparents. This allows for more social stimulation for the kids. This also helps so that the kids aren’t nearly pushed out of the family, they can still talk with the family and listen to new things that are happening outside of the walls of the Juvenile Detention Center. Other things that caught my eyes were that the over watchers of the kids wore street clothing. This was made to allow for the guards to not look superior to the kids, but to make them look as if they are friends. The guards hold groups in the evenings to where the kids can talk and share different things about them and topics presented. This allows for the kids to make friends, learn, and find reasons to not commit again. Learning about Juvenile Delinquency in the classroom is interesting. But learning about it and seeing it with your own eyes, seeing kids in cells, seeing kids visiting with their parents behind locked doors, is completely different. -Jar007
The visit to the Juvenile Detention Center was a good learning experience. The first big thing I learned is that the employees who work here do not treat the kids as inmates. As a matter of fact, they actually treat the kids with a lot of respect and love, not only to get them out of the juvenile justice system, but to promote healthy growth and a positive environment for the kids to be around. A second big thing I learned is that rehabilitation is a major focus at this type of facility. In adult prisons, the main focus is incarceration, as adults are seen as not needing rehab due to their age. However, this is the main focus at a juvenile detention center due to the kids being so young that rehab could actually make a big positive change in their lives and turn them into new, good people. A third thing I learned is if any of the kids being held here feel they have been sexually assaulted, disrespected, etc. they have the option to report this and have action taken. The same also goes for employees as far as seeing something and reporting it. I just find it interesting that the kids have this option, as in a regular adult prison, this ability may be present, but it is not as focused on as it is in the juvenile justice system. This can also be seen as being connected to the main focus of rehab and respect. By allowing these kids to have the ability to report anything that they feel caused them to be mistreated is showing the kids how they get opportunities and respect just like everyone else does. The fourth thing I learned is that the kids currently being held here are still required to go through an educational program. Despite being incarcerated, these kids are still able to further their education. This is a huge positive when it comes to the juvenile justice system. In an adult prison, those who are incarcerated may be able to get some education, but nothing compared to the JDC. Also, all of the kids are in the same class. This is interesting because one kid would be in the eighth grade while another kid in the same class would be a senior in high school. Age does not matter when it comes to education in juvenile centers, all of the kids are put into the same classroom and they learn the same concepts all at the same time. A fifth thing I learned is at the JDC, a licensed mental health therapist is available for mental health needs 24 hours a day. This is a big deal. In class, we have discussed how a large majority of people locked up suffer from some form of mental illness. As time has moved on, we have begun to see just how important mental health can really be. By having this mental health professional present always, consistently checking up on the kids, they have a much better chance at changing their ways and forming new strategies to help them become better people overall. Overall, I thought the tour of the JDC was a great experience where everyone learned something new about how the juvenile detention system works.
ReplyDelete-Fozz007
This was my second tour of the Juvenile Delinquency Center, however, I learned things I did not learn on the first tour. This juvenile system has so many small details that can easily be over looked. So, the second tour was defiantly beneficial for my personal benefit. Over the weekend, their numbers had increased to 48 juveniles within the center, but since then the facility has dropped their numbers to 42 juveniles within their care. The females and males are separated, but while in the class room the males sit in front while the females sit in the back. With this arrangement there seems to less fights and drama between the juveniles. The delinquency center has mostly males’ juveniles within their care. The facility actually had to move the females over to the next pod due to the male population being more extreme than the females. The facility does usually experience more males than females on average, however, they are encountering more than is accustom. The staff are unarmed, they lack a side arm and baton. They rely on their communication skills to keep a fight from occurring. The staff have a hand-held radio to call for back up if there was ever a fight between the juveniles. Within a week, they usually will have one to two fights. But between 42 juveniles, I think about two fights a week is a good ratio comparatively. The staff has a casual approach, as they do not wear uniforms. Instead they simply wear sweatshirts or really whatever. I think this is pretty neat, since it gives the impression of laid-back atmosphere. It makes the staff feel more approachable to the juveniles. Which then could lead into stronger relationships down the road. I think by wearing relaxed clothes there is less separation between members of the staff and the juveniles. It almost makes the staff feel more of a big brother or sister verses a scary stuffy authority figure who is less likely to be on the same level. I greatly admire this approach as I think it benefits the juvenile’s relationship with the staff. I believe all Juvenile delinquency facilities should consider the benefits of their own staff having a more casual approach in their attire. The staff are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in any field before thy can apply for a position at the facility. I think this is wise as it limits the people applying for the job, but yet it is still a manageable endeavor. During a shift, the staff are required to be diverse which means they need to have both male and female staff on each shift. I find that wise as it prevents possible issues down the road. The staff are not qualified to give the juveniles any kind of medications. They have a nurse in the facility, and is the one only allowed to give medication when and if medication is needed. Every week a doctor comes to the facility, or if needed, sooner. I felt this Juvenile Delinquency Center is highly professional and care deeply for the well being for each of the juveniles within the facility. -CoalRoller711
ReplyDeleteOverall, I liked the Juvenile Detention Center Tour better than the Jail. I feel like there was some important information that we missed out on because the tour was so quick. For example, when I went to the Juvenile Detention Center back in the spring, if they have a resident that is on a suicide watch they have to check on them every four minutes. Whereas the jail they don’t check on them as frequent. The Juvenile Detention Center is also a lot nicer and cleaner than the jail is. It looks more like a school and more colorful to make it look more homey. Having the environment of school is such a good idea to keep their education flowing and steady. Most of the kids probably don’t even go to school when they are living at home. All they know is what they remember from elementary school and what they have learned out on the streets and what their friends and family have taught them. What I also thought was interesting was the residents were very obnoxious and tried very hard to get our attention and to get us to interact with them. I expected this to happen more at the jail than it would at the Juvenile Detention Center. Another thing I believed to be interesting is that we were told some kids like being there, they want to reoffend because they know they have food, or a shelter, and safety. So therefore, they may commit a crime to get locked up. It is more of a strict environment where they have to go to school. Where at their house, they don’t have to go, or their parents can’t afford to send them. The parents expect them to stay home and watch their younger siblings or even start to make money to help put food on the table or to get basic necessities. I also liked the idea that visitors, like their parents, are allowed to come every day for visitation hours. This allows them to still have a relationship with their family even though they made a mistake and are locked up. But sadly enough most parents don’t go and see their kids. Either they dont have the money to go see them or don’t have the time because they are too busy taking care of their other children and making money to care for them. Their cells aren’t very clean and they have very strict rules to follow. The discussion groups that they have every day is also a good way to relieve stress and be comfortable with expressing your feelings and open up to others. This can also help build relationships and trust with one another throughout the jail. Many of them do hold grudges on one another because maybe they belong to different gangs, or live on the opposite side of the south end and aren’t allowed to interact. But the more they break that ground and bearer the more they are to behave and help one another as they are locked up. ProbdrinkingStar$’s711
ReplyDeleteI visited the juvenile detention center for the first time on Monday and it was a very interesting experience. I visited the jail with my juvenile class earlier in the semester and it was very different. In the jail, their focus is more on keeping the inmates controlled and behaved rather than trying to be nice to them and rehabilitating them. Rehabilitating is the still one of the main focuses of the jail, but it felt more like a prison than a rehabilitation program. The juvenile detention center on the other hand felt a lot more like a rehabilitation program. The inmates were still held in cells, but all the staff looked like they weren’t scary, they were nice, and they were pretty calm with their routines. At the prison all of the workers there were wearing police uniforms and looked like they weren’t going to take anything for anyone. That’s understandable because the people in there are serving years so they might feel as if they have nothing to lose. There was also a lot of grade school like decorations all throughout the detention center which made it feel more like a really secure school rather than a prison. There were a lot of motivational sayings all around the cells and lunchrooms. As far as the food goes, they are exactly the same because they get the same meals as the jail does. According to the juvenile detention workers the food is really bad but the inmates have a chance to earn better food if they earn coupons. They know that the food is bad, so they do everything they can to get the coupons so that they can have a better second meal. The juvenile detention center was a lot more sad then the prison. I didn’t fear the kids but instead felt sorry for them because they wound up in this situation. We saw parents in the greeting center and it was really sad to see. One of the cool things about the juvenile detention center is that the parents can visit their kids every day if they wanted to. They can see them for 30 minutes, and if they live over an hour away then they can spend an hour with their kids a day. I think that’s really important when dealing with kids, because some might want to see their parents on a more frequent basis then others. Seeing your parents when you’re in a juvenile detention center can only help the child, because it shows them how different their life is when they’re locked up in here. I know that if I ever had to go to one of these, the jail or the juvenile detention center, I would want to go to the juvenile detention center. I feel like they are just treated in a more encouraging way than the jail inmates because they have their entire life ahead of them. This is what we should focus on more in the criminal justice system. The juvenile detention centers should have bigger budgets so they can better fix our broken children and turn them into productive members of society.-BuffaloChickenDip007
ReplyDeleteThe visit to the Juvenile Detention Center was very interesting. I learned some things from that tour that I had never known before. For example, at the Juvenile Detention Center, they provide education for whoever is there. Education is very important, and since these kids are in there instead of in school, the Juvenile Detention Center has to provide the education. Also, I learned that they have a gym which every day they get an hour of recreation time. Another thing that I learned from the Juvenile Detention Center is that like the jail, they get visitors, but at the Juvenile Detention Center they can have visitors more often. I think that this is a good idea because they are just kids and they need to see people that they know, and not just the people at the Detention Center. What I found most interesting, and disturbing at the same time, is that once the kid gets there they get a medical examination. For almost all of these kids this is the first time that they have ever seen a doctor, because at home they don’t have any insurance to see one. At the Juvenile Detention Center, they take good care for the kids there. Also, like at the jail, they do not treat the kids like inmates. They treat them as human beings. Also, at the Juvenile Detention Center, they have a mental health therapist who is available 24 hours a day. This is very important because in class we discussed how a large majority of inmates in jails suffer from some form of mental illness. As time has passed, we as a society have begun to see how important seeing the warning signs of mental health problems is. Having a mental health therapist always present, and checking up on the kids on a regular bases, can be helpful to both the person with the problem and the community. It can be helpful to the person with the problem because if someone were to catch the signs on their illness early, they could get the treatment that they need. This also could be helpful to the community because if the person gets the treatment that they need, than they are less likely to reoffend. Also, if the kid is suicidal, then they put that person in a cell by themselves, and check on them on every few minutes. At the Juvenile Detention Center, like the jail, they split them up by the gender that they identify as. Also, they have a cell by themselves. Even though the tour was short, I learned a lot about the Juvenile Detention Center. I learned about what they do, how everything works there, and what the kids do while in the Detention Center. They treat the people there like how kids should be treated, ever though they are in a Detention Center for something bad. I enjoyed the tour and hope they keep doing what they are doing and also keeping up the good work. –Adventurefight711
ReplyDeleteThe Juvenile Detention center was an extremely new and cool experience to me. I didn’t really have any questions regarding the detention except for one thing in the intake area. When I first walked in we actually had to tell them our reason for being there before we could get in. That was the complete opposite of the jail where we just sat in a waiting room upstairs and were simply guided in. We were split into two groups. I was a part of group two that was led by the floor supervisor. I thought it was cool that we were assigned to him because we got a different perspective than we got from the JDC visit in class. First we went to the control center. There he told us that if you want that job you’ll need really good training because it’s all paperwork while also controlling cameras and directing officers where they need to go in emergencies. All of the cameras can be viewed from that room. After that we had an entire tour. The intake area was a pretty small size in my opinion but to go with that there were also a lot of holding cells in that area. I asked him what the third computer was for and he informed us that that the third computer was for the intake that comes in so that they can take the “entry test” The other two were for them to work. That was extremely interesting to me because I thought they filled out the score sheet on paper, I was not aware that it was all electronically based. After that we headed out to see what a cell inside of a pod would look like. The structure is simple but only one intake to a room. I think that is a good idea because they are kids but it’s also a bad idea because if they are there for a long period of time they might get anxious or some kind of “irritation” would form without that social interaction. To more comforting news the juveniles also take part in youth groups/ social circles for parts of the day so they can have that interaction as well as have important lessons taught to them. To continue, the intakes also have visits they can have with their parents and other family. If the caretaker lives nearby the visit will be up to thirty minutes, if they have to go even farther, they have about an hour or more of a visit. The appearance of the gyms were extremely astonishing to me as well because there was a mural on one that the kids got to help paint. On a completely different note, the supervisor talked to us about how when these kids come in, this might be their first time ever seeing a doctor or therapy. When they leave they may never see it again because of what their family can afford. There are two nurses on shift at different times. Another really interesting thing that he told us as that by law, in the JDC they have to respect what the inmates tell them. If they want female undergarments and they are male, but need them for transgender dysphoria, they need to tend to that child’s needs. If they want to go by he/him pronouns instead of she/they or even they/them instead of he/him they have to abide by that and do their best to keep up with that. Even more interesting? They do not have to do that in the jail. In the jail they call you whatever they feel like referring to you as and your opinion does not matter otherwise. An officer does not have to choose to listen to that person. To connect with that, He also told us the same thing that the Sheriff had told us as well. They use to have a blanket strip search policy but no longer have that and it is not required at all. We also went over how some kids end up there but do not have to stay long and the public gets all in a jittery uproar. They assume that just because a child that they do not know did something bad, the child should go to JDC. They do not realize that they are just kids and just because they stole something from a store or is doing drugs we do not know their life and usually they are just kids that need guidance, not a jail sentence. I learned a lot more here than I thought I would and this whole entire visit was incredibly interesting. -Tanlion_nala711
ReplyDeleteWhen we visited the juvenile detention center, I was truly impressed with how clean they kept it and how orderly it was. There is always the perception that places as such will have particular smells or we bargain for the same image we form in our brain from the movies as to what it will look and be like. I thought it was interesting in how the guards/officers wear normal clothes. I feel like that is really neat because it makes the kids feel more comfortable with their surroundings and the officers in general. I thought the set up was cool because in the pods, it was almost like classrooms outside of their cells and an open environment feeling. There were pictures, drawings, writings on the walls and the guards were not hovering over the kids. I also saw the interaction between the guards and kids and how they talked with each other. They were professional but did not refer to them as inmates or make them feel inferior. They simply talked to them like adults but let them know the way they were acting was inappropriate. I also liked how the kids got ample time with their families and family can pretty much come whenever but I thought it was disheartening that the kids do not seem to get a lot of visitors among each other. I like how they went out of their way to get the kids a garden and add to it because the kids fell in love with it and building it. They paint murals in there, the kids do, they have classes and gym time and are treated fairly. The difference between JDC and the jail is more so that JDC can be directed to rehabilitating the kids and although they are incarcerated, they are treated differently and not as much like criminals. Kids do not need to be treated like adults due to the mind development. Children do not have the mental capacity like we do, regarding conversations and managing our thoughts. Children also do not always realize that what they are committing is a crime. They cannot necessarily comprehend that. If children were treated like adults are incarcerated, there would be uproar because children would come out so incredibly different. And the temperament would be drastically different as well. I thought JDC was a really interesting and informative experience. I like the ways everyone is treated in the facility. I think none of them have an easy job and all of them seem to be there for their heart not for the paycheck. I think what is really cool is in the gym, they had hired a professional to come in and help the kids paint a mural and it was centered around education and what they can do from here, this point in their lives. The kids are given this hope and reminders that this does not have to dictate their future and they can only go up from where they are. -notacop007&711
ReplyDeleteThe juvenile detention center, which is located on the same property, as the adult detention center, a.k.a. county jail. Walking through the juvenile detention center, did not feel in a sense, instutionalized. Even though it was a juvenile detention facility, it did not feel like we were in one. In a way, that is what those who work there are trying to do. They are trying to make the stay for those juveniles who end up in their care and supervision not a negative one, but in fact the exact opposite. Right when the juveniles go through the intake process, they are given the care and attention that they need, and have been lacking in their lives at that point in time.
ReplyDeleteThe name of the game, in the grand scheme of it all is rehabilitation. Rehabiliation comes in many different forms through the juvenile detention facility. From medical care, both physical, and mental, to kids still attending the schools they were going, before they ended up at the juvenile detention center. I remember hearing that juveniles who come through the juvenile detention center, are treated better than they are at home. That is very important, in terms of the creation of the overall environment of the juvenile detention center. To put it in a different way, those at the juvenile detention center, strive to make the juveniles they come across and deal with be better people. There is nothing wrong with that, kids need positive reinforcement, and encouragement.
While, walking through the juvenile detention center, I noticed the overall cleanliness, and proper upkeep of the facility was something that was being taken very seriously. This is important from a tax payer standpoint. Those who pay taxes in this county, should feel confident that their money is being used to help rehabilitate troubled juveniles. It is important that our society, keeps doing what it can to help kids who need direction, guidance, etc.
I felt that those in the juvenile detention facility had more freedoms, if not privileges, than the adult inmates located across the way. In a way, that makes a lot of sense. Due to the fact that kids are much more perceptive, and susceptible to the use of positive reinforcement. Using that sense of positive reinforcement, coupled with going to school, and learning how to resolves conflicts/issues in a way that does not lead to being sent down to the juvenile detention center is the overall goal.
Overall, the juvenile detention center, is doing what it can, with what it can to help kids that walk through its doors. In a sense, the juvenile detention center, is a perfect example of how rehabilitation should occur. There is much more to life than dollars and cents, what is most important is the overall quality of life. Kids make mistakes, but giving them the tools that they need to make better decisions in the future is what is key. The end goal is to put them on the right track, so that they will not come through the doors again. ---YouMustAcquit007---
Going into the Peoria county juvenile detention center was an extremely exciting event. there was definitely a huge almost night and day difference between the adult jail and the detention center. First thing I saw that was different was that the employees or “child development specialist” did not wear any uniform. Instead they wore regular clothing so that it’s not intimidating for the juveniles as opposed to regular guard uniforms. The second major thing I noticed was that there were encouraging signs and posters on the wall that made it look more like a school then a detention center. It just gave a more happy and hopeful feeling to the building. Also in the day rooms there is more for the juveniles to do such as TV and a ping pong tables that way they are not just sitting in the room. Another major thing I noticed as we were walking through the tour was that the classrooms were just like in a classroom I have ever been in. I think it is great that they make them go to school for normal primary and high school hours. It was really good to see that they put such an emphasis on rehabilitating these kids and even helping them succeed more than they would have the chance to on the outside. One of the biggest story is that stuck with me on this tour was that there was a young girl over the summer that was thought to keep doing crimes in order for the police to take her back to the juvenile detention center because her like on the outside was so bad. She was happy to have the structure, 3 meals a day, and to not be abused. Over all I really enjoyed this tour and my heart really went out to the kids in their and that would definitely be something i would even love to do after I get a bachelor's degree.
ReplyDelete-RHB007
Going to the Juvenile Detention Center has been a good learning experience. Even though in a previous presentation we had with two of the workers, in person walking around has help understand what kids go through. Kids there have a good opportunity to grow in there talking skills, mature with behavior, and learn what good choices to make. There is a lot of time given to juveniles while being there, that a lot of them rather be in the center than be at home. Even though they are tightly secure and have many rules, a lot of them have learn to adjust yet sometimes go through struggles. They have have different levels once entering the center, first there is a low level color but once having good behavior they go up in levels. When in different levels they have different privileges than others. For example, the food is the main reason juveniles want to behave because it isn’t the best. It comes from the County Jail next to them. That helps other juveniles to mature that not everything in life is given but earned. I think the most interesting thing about The JDC is the scoring system in order to be accepted into the center. There are points given for any crime committed and if it isn't enough you’re not let in, but if it have anything to do with domestic battery to a parent they are automatically let in. Another thing that caught my attention was the security that these juveniles have. The doors to enter the center by the control room can not be open at the same time, it’s one then the other. There is no sharing cells between juveniles. If they are a high risk, they are place in the two front cells where they are registered. I think that having a system that Peoria’s JDC has is something all should have because they have helped many and there is a trust between the workers and juveniles. There are a lot that reoffend to go back somewhere the feel safe. The point is to give these juveniles something they don't get a home, that is the skills to be able to be part of the community. So they can be able to earn the benefits that everyone else have no matter the circumstances. taco007
ReplyDeleteWalking through the Juvenile Detention Center was much different than the Jail itself. It did not have that uncomfortable feeling like jail did. When you were in the jail it had a sense of a coldness and people were just there to be held for their crimes. There was a much different ora walking into JDC. Obviously it still had that sense of security and order but there was also a sense “happiness” (however you would like to define that for a detention center). There was paintings and positive writing all over the walls throughout the entire Center. It made it feel a little bit more homey. One thing I do need to take into account is that it is very secure still. They have to buzz in and out of every door so if a child were somehow to take over they wouldn't get very far. But other than that the children seem pretty safe and secure in the center. You can tell that they really cared for the children and try to make them feel as comfortable as possible but still instilling order because they are there to technically be “punished”. One of the saddest things they mentioned was that to some children it is the best place for them to stay. Meaning that their own homes are not a safe place so children get in trouble so they can stay at JDC. They will routinely do this until the consequences are becoming more severe or if they find a safer place to stay when they leave. One of the interesting things was that the employees don't even wear uniforms so the children don't feel as scared or pressured walking around. They definitely want a sense of regularity in the center on a day to day basis. Another thing was that they have group daily and learn something that they can instill in their own selves such as attitude or how to react to certain situations you may not like. Which is something that would be very helpful for anyone. The best thing that I heard throughout the night was that they have points throughout the week and if they are able to keep all there points by being good all week long they are able to have pizza parties every friday. Which I believe is a great idea because it gives them something they look forward to and try to achieve that goal of making it to friday. They give them this types of incentives everyday also by giving them coupons which they can spend at commissary where they can but candy or other foods for their enjoyment. By walking through the JDC there are a lot of differences by the way they are housed to how they are secured. There housing is a little different such as they all get there own room to give them their own privacy and security. Also, the last time I visited they stated that the children can keep a few things in there room but as they stated this time around they were not allowed anything in there room besides one book. Everything else was considered contraband which was very interesting. This tour was very interesting and different than the actually jail. I loved learning about the differences and the similarities between the two. This is definitely something that I would possibly want to do after I get my degree.
ReplyDeletehollywood007
I’ve gone to the juvenile detention center 3 times now, and it is probably one of my favorite parts of the CRJ classes. Every time I go, I still manage to learn different things. I think when some people first hear detention center/jail, the first thing they think is gangs, hygiene issues, fights, smelly, etc., but walking into the juvenile detention center, you see it’s completely clean. I don’t even think I saw one piece of paper even on the floor, which shows they take care of the building. Not only the building, but they show us the classrooms the children work in, and the groups they participate in to improve their behavior as well. The officers wear normal, nice clothing, there’s pictures on the walls, and even a mural the children helped paint. There’s a more comfortable, rehabilitating feel to the building and the staff, rather than screaming and cursing at the children. They speak to them as human beings, not just some horrible prisoner. Another thing mentioned that I noticed changed since before was that now they have a mental health therapist on call, 24 hours a day. Mental health being a huge problem in our country, including our prisons and detention centers, and they showed they’re improving on helping the kids with mental problems, whenever they need it.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite things about these tours, is that it’s a firsthand experience that you get to see. You get to see how the children act, the staff, how their system works for them, and I think it’s absolutely amazing that we are given the opportunity to see what we may be doing for the rest of our lives, up close and personal.
No matter how many times you visit, you always learn something different, and get to see the ways they try to improve the ways they do things for the kids kept there, and I think it’s just a great experience overrall. Stlblues007
Visiting the Juvenile Detention Center was an amazing experience. Looking and learning at all that is offered to the juveniles was very interesting. First of all, I was very impressed by the schooling that is offered to the inmates. The curriculum that they are taught is the same that is taught in high schools around the state of Illinois. Classes are offered by teachers that work at Limestone. The kids are placed into classes not based on age, but based upon their academic level. I thought that that was important because there is no point in attempting to teach material to students that don’t understand the material. Allowing for the kids to accomplish education checkpoints, regardless of age helps them and they can possible further their education when they are released. Meal time was also something that I learned a lot about. All the meals are the same that are given to the inmates at the jail. A dietician reviews the meals often for calories and nutrients that are needed for the kids. Kids also can receive extra food for being good and such. They can earn a type of currency that they can spend on things like extra food, like candy and sweets, and even burgers. The workout areas were amazing! Filled with machines to help build or tone muscle, there were also areas to play basketball. Kids that have better behavior often were allowed more time to spend in the gym area. There were courts both inside and outside, allowing for the kids to go outside and experience the nice weather when there are nice days. The kids are able to see doctors very often if they feel the need to, and there is also a Mental Health specialist working around the clock at the center for the kids incase one is needed. Kids placed on suicide watch are kept a close eye on, placed in their own cell, and getting visits from the guards every couple of minutes. Kids are given visits, both from parents and siblings, as well as grandparents. This allows for more social stimulation for the kids. This also helps so that the kids aren’t nearly pushed out of the family, they can still talk with the family and listen to new things that are happening outside of the walls of the Juvenile Detention Center. Other things that caught my eyes were that the over watchers of the kids wore street clothing. This was made to allow for the guards to not look superior to the kids, but to make them look as if they are friends. The guards hold groups in the evenings to where the kids can talk and share different things about them and topics presented. This allows for the kids to make friends, learn, and find reasons to not commit again. Learning about Juvenile Delinquency in the classroom is interesting. But learning about it and seeing it with your own eyes, seeing kids in cells, seeing kids visiting with their parents behind locked doors, is completely different. -Jar007
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