History

The Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention Center is a 32 bed secure detention center serving the City of Winchester and Clarke, Frederick , Page, Shenandoah, and Warren Counties . The City of Winchester acts as the Center’s fiscal agent. The facility is divided into four, 8 bed pods. 8 beds are designated as post dispositional. The code of VA allows for juveniles to be sentenced up to 6 months in detention. The remaining beds are designated as pre dispositional (waiting trial).

It is the mission of the Northwestern Regional Juvenile Detention Center to provide, a safe and secure setting that offers opportunities for success and personal growth. The NRJDC provides the temporary secure care and custody of children and adolescents who cannot be served in an open setting and are referred to the NRJDC by the appropriate authorities pending juvenile court disposition or placement. Specifically the NRJDC shall:

• Provide for the juvenile’s basic needs: shelter, food, clothing and medical care.
• Assurance of the juvenile’s legal rights during his detainment at the facility.
• Provide for physical, emotional religious, educational and social needs of juveniles during detainment.
• House the juvenile in a safe, humane environment, maintaining the level of security necessary to prevent escape and assure that juveniles live free of fear of assault or intimidation by staff or other juveniles.

While in detention, residents will be enrolled in the Detention Center School . Three Frederick County Special Education School Teachers are assigned to this program. GED and art programs are also available. In addition to their normal duties, Detention Specialists act as teacher’s assistants during the day shift and provide additional education support. The education program is emphasized with all of our residents regardless of their present status. Residents not presently in school will hopefully have a positive experience in our program, which may re-interest them in getting back into school. Residents that are older and returning to school would be inappropriate will be encouraged to pursue their GED. Students currently enrolled in school are able to keep up with their education program so they will not fall behind while placed in detention.

During the evening shift, Detention Specialist will facilitate group and supervise recreational activities. Groups are planned that address the issues juveniles face growing up, self-esteem, anger management, values, team building, use of leisure time, etc. The Post Dispositional Program’s Groups are designed to be more intensive and will address the specific behaviors that were catalyst to the individual getting incarcerated. Post-D residents have an individual service plan customized to meet their needs.

Detention Specialists are responsible for the day to day supervision of the residents and are paramount to the program’s success