GET INVOLVED!

Mail-

Youth are provided time on their unit once a week to write letters to family and friends. Mail can be received any day of the week. All letters received are checked for contraband (but not read) in the presence of the youth before being delivered.  Youth may not write to or receive letters from anyone on probation or parole.

Phone-

Youth who achieve the 2 highest behavior levels through good behavior, receive either a 10 minute or a 5 minute phone call once a week.  Youth are allowed to call their legal guardians, parents, grandparents, or other persons approved by their Juvenile Probation Officer.

Just like public schools, youth at the Maricopa County Detention Facility are required to attend school every weekday, including during the summer. School is taught by certified teachers. Students attend school for 6 hours and 15 minutes each week day and are placed into their classroom based on testing. Youth remain in their assigned classroom throughout their school day.  Youth may receive school work from their regularly attended public school if their parents choose to take it to the facility.

 

Youth also have access to a facility library.  They may check out books to use on their living unit and return when finished.

GED Program: This program allows interested youth the ability to prepare for and take the GED test.  With parent permission, students take the GED test at no cost to them or their family.  Once students pass their test, the detention staff hosts a graduation ceremony complete with commencement procedures and graduation photos.  Families are encouraged to attend. Pictured at the above left is a wall in the detention school dedicated to the successful GED graduates.

Arizona Young Arts Program: This program allows detainees to nurture their artistic talent. Every 6 months a non profit organization will select pieces of art created by the youth and display the work in various court buildings within Maricopa County.

Character Counts: This program encourages youth to exhibit the following characters: Responsibility, Caring, Citizenship, Trustworthiness, Respect and Fairness.  In addition to providing lessons for each pillar, each July a Character Counts Carnival is held at the facility that will allow the youth to participate in games designed to promote each pillar.

We the People:  The goal of this civic education program is to promote civic awareness and responsibility in students. By emphasizing student involvement and encouraging students to relate important concepts and principles to historical and contemporary situations, it strengthens students’ critical thinking and public speaking skills.

 

Star Depot: This program is both an incentive program and an educational program.  Red Shirts participate in this program by interviewing for job positions.  These positions can include the Star Depot sales clerk, banker, etc.  Students receive interview skills, appropriate job behavior, and skills related to their specific job position.

Food Handlers Program: Students voluntarily take an additional class and test provided by the detention school.  Detention staff complete all paperwork to enable students to receive their Food Handler cards (at no cost to the detainee) which will expand their career possibilities.

Talent Shows: These shows allow students to showcase their talents before their peers in a non competitive environment.  By participating, students learn to focus their energy on positive activities and overcome fears of performing in public settings. Youth are rewarded for their efforts with positive reinforcement by staff and peers.

Education Projects: Detention staff  engage youth in important educational contests that will increase their knowledge and give students a chance to showcase their talents.  Topics include, but are not limited to, poetry, earth day, and civil rights.

Friendly Competition: During school breaks, detention staff team up with the recreation coordinators (physical education teachers) to engage the students in healthy competition between units.  Students participate in fun activities to stay active and learn the appropriate behavior for competition.