Juvenile detention passes inspection

SANDPOINT — Security remains an issue at Bonner County’s juvenile detention center, but the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections is certifying the facility for another year.

“Our concerns are security,” Karen Skow, a compliance inspector for the department, told Bonner County commissioners on Tuesday.

Inspectors noted the lack of locks on dorm rooms within the facility, windows which could be breached without too much trouble, an open command area and a narrow hallway.

However, the staffing and programming at the facility won universal praise among the inspectors, which mitigated the safety and security issues.

“If they didn’t do well with their kids, there would be a problem,” said Shelly Smith, an Ada County detention manager who was part of the inspection team.

Inspectors also expressed amazement with the county’s ability to make do with the facility’s shortcomings yet still provide a clean, orderly and secure detention center.

The facility’s deficiencies are hardly revelations, even to the youthful offenders who are being detained there, another inspector said.

Jim Crowley, a corrections department liaison for northern Idaho, said staff members do not have to rely on use of force and have a good rapport with inmates.

“That says a lot about the facility,” said Crowley.

Commissioners have been pushing a plan to replace the detention center with an upgraded and expanded facility for more than a year.

The county unsuccessfully sought judicial approval last to construct a new juvenile lockup through a lease-to-purchase agreement with Rocky Mountain Corrections.

Judge Charles Hosack concluded the funding mechanism was unconstitutional without voter approval. County commissioners have discussed holding such a vote, but have yet to finally decide the matter.

The county has also put in for $5.8 million in federal economic stimulus funding to build a new juvenile lockup, although Commission Chairman Joe Young is hearing that the request is likely to be denied.

Commissioners Lewis Rich and Cornel Rasor pointed out that other jurisdictions in Idaho have state-of-art facilities, but comparatively weaker staffing.

“If we had the choice between state of the art or staff, we’d pick staff,” Rasor said.