Incentive Programs - Red Zone: Offered to the highest behavior level (Red Shirts) and includes time spent on a unit designated for this program. This unit includes Foosball, ping pong, basketball, air hockey, basketball and appropriate socialization with Red Shirts from other units. Star Depot: This program gives youth points that they earn for their positive behavior. Red Shirts may ‘cash in’ their points to purchase items such as, a movie night, additional time in the Red Zone, food items, etc.
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LawForKids.org staff were invited to tour the Maricopa County Durango Detention Center in order to show you what a day in the life is like for a juvenile in the detention facility. The tour shows photographs and explains our experiences.
This photo shows the Maricopa County Juvenile Court House. The advisory, adjudication and disposition hearings for many juveniles in Maricopa County take place at this Court House. An advisory hearing is a formal court process where the juvenile is told about the charges against him or her and can admit or deny them. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 28 (A). An adjudication hearing is a hearing in front of a judge only (not a jury), where the court determines whether the juvenile committed the alleged acts. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 29 (A). The court may make a finding that the juvenile is delinquent or incorrigible. A disposition is when the youth is told what consequences the court has decided. Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court, Rule 30.
Each youth is given a wellness check by a registered nurse within 48 hours of being admitted at the facility. After the initial exam, youth may send a confidential written request to see the nurse for their medical needs. Youth requiring daily medication receive their prescription from the nurse. While medications, medical exams and basic illnesses are cared for by the nurse, if an illness requires outside medical assistance, youth will be taken to the hospital under the supervision of a detention officer. Detention offers on-site counselors and psychologist to address youth's needs. Youth can request to speak to a counselor while in detention.
After being released into the detention facility's care, youth will wait in the intake area until a detention officer is ready to process him or her into the detention facility. For the safety of all the youth in the facility, each new juvenile is searched by an officer of the same gender to take any items that may be a danger to the youth or others. The officer will collect all of the juvenile’s personal belongings and store the items until the juvenile is released.
