NCJ Number
180836
Journal
American Jails Volume: 13 Issue: 5 Dated: November/December 1999 Pages: 33-38
Date Published
1999
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article describes the facility, operations, programming, and staffing of Orange County's (Florida) Juvenile Residential Secure School (JRSC).
Abstract
In August 1998 the Orange County Corrections Department in Orlando began an endeavor never before undertaken by any jail system in Florida. It began operating a moderate-risk juvenile program that houses 36 males ranging in ages from 14 to 18. The JRSC is operated in conjunction with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. A pre-existing, 30,000-square-foot metal frame warehouse was gutted and rebuilt to accommodate the program. The renovated facility contains four offices, three classrooms, a dining/visitation area, a food service space, a dormitory with bathroom facilities, and a laundry room. A small "time-out" room is used for residents' cooling-off period. The building is staffed with three certified corrections officers and one civilian detention service officer on each of four squads. Supervisory coverage is provided 7 days a week during peak operational times. The Orange County public school system provides three alternative education teachers who teach year round. The residents are in school from about 8:00 a.m. until 3:20 p.m. Treatment services are provided to the residents by an independent organization that contracts with the corrections department. They offer group and individual counseling to all residents. Family counseling is conducted with as many families as can be convinced to participate. Case management is included in the services provided by the three treatment staff assigned to the school. A program coordinator organizes programs to fill in downtime in the residents' daily schedule. Recidivism studies have not been completed, so the success rate of released residents is not yet known.