Construction Nearing Completion for Department’s Replacement Facilities

The count down has begun!  With four replacement facilities nearing completion of construction, the State of North Carolina is about to open a new chapter on juvenile justice.  The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is carrying out numerous planning activities to prepare for openings, with the new facilities expected to begin operations in the next several months.
 
A 96-bed facility is under construction in Cabarrus County, and three 32-bed facilities are underway in Edgecombe, Lenoir and Chatham counties.  The Cabarrus County facility, located in Concord on the campus of the Stonewall Jackson Youth Development Center, was 74% complete as of January 16, with operations expected to begin the June 1.  The Chatham County facility, located in Siler City on Highway 64, was 94% complete as of January 25, with operations expected to begin the middle to end of April.  The Edgecombe County facility, located in Rocky Mount adjacent to the existing Fountain Correctional Center for Women on Tanner Road, 74% complete as of January 23, with operations expected to begin the middle of April. The Lenoir County facility, located in Kinston across the street from Dobbs Youth Development Center, was 85% complete as of January 23, with operations expected to begin the end of March. 

Construction of the replacement facilities will become the foundation of a more therapeutic approach to providing services to our youth and their families, with the intent of a community-oriented juvenile justice system.  By building smaller, community-based facilities throughout the State, the Department will be able to more effectively assist youth with the skills they need to become productive citizens in North Carolina’s communities.

Additionally, each of the replacement facilities will offer a positive economic impact for local communities.   The 32-bed facilities in Chatham, Lenoir, and Edgecombe counties will offer approximately 66 jobs, with each facility expected to have an estimated annual operating budget of $3.2 million.  The 96-bed facility, planned for Cabarrus County, will offer approximately 198 jobs, with an estimated $9.1 million annual operating budget.

With construction of all four replacement facilities scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2008, the Department looks forward to the opportunity to better serve our youth, their families and our communities.