Juvenile Detention Center
Contact
Phone: 651-266-5255
Contact form
The Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center is a secure 24-hour detention facility for juvenile male and female offenders up to the age of 18 who have been arrested and are waiting for an initial hearing, trial, court disposition or placement.
The facility has a capacity of 44 beds with an approximate length of stay of eight days. There are five living units (called Pods), which have individual rooms for residents. A Special Housing Unit has an additional four rooms.
Each year the Juvenile Detention Center temporarily houses approximately 1,000 juveniles admitted from surrounding counties and law enforcement departments. Residents are provided with basic needs and assurance of their legal rights.
The mission of the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center is to help protect the community and improve the lives of our residents by treating them with dignity and respect while providing quality programs within a culturally sensitive, safe, secure and structured environment.
Admissions
The Juvenile Detention Center provides secure detention for juveniles accused of violating the law and who are at risk to re-offend before their next court date and/or fail to appear in court.
If you are the parent or legal guardian of a juvenile who has been arrested and brought to the Juvenile Detention Center, you will receive a telephone call from our admissions staff.
Typical day
A typical day at the Juvenile Detention Center includes the activities listed below. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks are offered each day.
- Breakfast
- Pod and room cleaning
- School
- Lunch
- School
- Rest time
- Programming and pod time (see below)
- Dinner
- Rest time
- Religious services
- Gym
- Showers
- Pod time
- Rest and bed time
Programming
Residents participate in a variety of programing during their stay at the Juvenile Detention Center, including staff-facilitated discussions, physical exercise opportunities, leisure opportunities, and reading time.
- Staff-facilitated discussions: Each day staff members discuss educational topics to address the needs of individual residents, introduce new information and perspectives, and nurture relationship-based authority to provide a sense of safety and security at the detention center.
- Religious programs: Chaplain services are offered twice a week. There is also a Sunday morning church service. Faith-based material is available for all residents.
- School: While residing at the Juvenile Detention Center, students ages 18 and under are enrolled in Saint Paul Public Schools. Fully licensed teachers teach general education and special education classes to residents. A school social worker, guidance counselor and transition coordinator provide additional support for residents. Residents attend a full day of school and earn credits toward a high school diploma.
- Health services: The Ramsey County Public Health Department provides health services at the Juvenile Detention Center. Each resident receives a health assessment when they are admitted. During their stay, residents have access to medical and mental health screenings, acute and chronic care, and pharmacy services. Staff collect DNA samples from juveniles adjudicated on felony level offenses, as ordered by Ramsey County judges. Additionally, staff collect urine samples to determine the presence of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine. The results are reported to juvenile probation officers or the courts.
- Mental health services: All residents have access to mental health services, including crisis intervention services (CIS) check-ins and further evaluation from a therapist if needed. Additionally, the Juvenile Detention Center provides psychological evaluations, certification studies, psychosexual and diagnostic assessments.
Community partners
- Parent Further: Offers meaningful activities that focuses on strengthening family relationships and developing attitudes and skills that young people need to overcome challenges and thrive in life.
- Wilder Foundation: Operates dozens of programs that help children succeed in school, older adults remain independent, troubled youth create healthy futures, and individuals and families maintain long-term housing.
- Volunteers in Corrections: Provides opportunities for volunteers to be a mentor, facilitate arts and crafts, and lead religious programs at the center.
- Community-based programs: Programming is offered by Family Tree, Breaking Free, Model Cities, Mad Dad’s, Minnesota Teen and Adult Challenge, Streetworks, Saint Paul Domestic Abuse Prevention Project, Face to Face, 180 Degrees, Twin Cities Rise, Save Our Sons, and the Saint Paul Police Department.