MEDIA, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Delaware County Council has unanimously voted to open a new regional juvenile detention center, which officials believe will fix several problems.
It was in 2021 when Delaware County’s juvenile detention center was closed after allegations, and later confirmation, of abusive conditions.
“[Over time], the mission of the juvenile justice system had generally changed from one primarily focused on punishment to one focused on rehabilitation,” said Chris Welsh, the county’s interim chief of social services.
“For the last five years, the Delaware County juvenile justice system has been operating without a detention center and a space to guarantee to bring a kid when a judge issues that order,” said Welsh.
He said operating without its own facility costs Delaware County about $4.8 million a year and puts it at the mercy of other counties having space in their juvenile centers. The lack of a dedicated county facility also takes away Delaware County’s ability to directly work with kids in their system and oftentimes makes travel difficult for families.
“This is not just a problem that Delaware county has,” said Welsh. “This is a problem across Pennsylvania and the solution to that problem is for counties to come together.”
To that end, the social services chief said Delaware County would operate a regional juvenile detention center in partnership with other counties.
Welsh expects the facility to open in 2027 and cost about $3.5 million a year to operate.
