By By ANNA M. LEE Assistant Editor
Escambia County recently renewed an annual contract that provides the opportunity to detain juvenile offenders, protecting both the youths and the community.
Because there is no juvenile detention center in Escambia County, the county has a contract with the Baldwin County Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Bay Minette to provide space for juvenile offenders from this area.
The Alabama Department of Youth Services funds the contract to pay for one bed space per day in Baldwin County's detention center, which serves Escambia, Baldwin, Clarke and Covington Counties.
Offenses that can warrant detention include assault, crimes involving weapons and criminal mischief with excessive property damage, Lancaster said. Also, children who have been habitually in the care of the juvenile probation office with crimes increasing in seriousness may be detained. At most, a juvenile can be detained in the center for 72 hours before a hearing is required, at which time detention may be ordered for a longer period.
One goal of the Department of Youth services is to protect public safety while providing a positive living environment for juvenile offenders.