Douglas County Youth Center officials to keep close eye on Nebraska special session

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Officials released the latest detention numbers for the Douglas County Youth Center.

“We’ve been anywhere in the mid-70s to the mid-90s in recent history.” said commissioner Roger Garcia.

The average population for the last six months is about 90 youths, according to the latest report. The average for last month was 84 youths. On July 1st there were 92

This number exceeds the capacity of a new youth center, which opened downtown with 64-beds. The hope was to see the detention numbers averaging the low 50s to transition from the current facility to the new one.

“A full transition to the new facility would not be possible due to the numbers we’re at right now,” said Garcia.

The facility still sits vacant. The Douglas County Commissioners passed a resolution to look into using both the current and new facility for juvenile justice, but that conversation is on hold. That’s because they’re closely watching the legislature for Governor Jim Pillen’s special session on property taxes.

It could impact their budget and juvenile justice. The services the board oversees relies heavily on property tax revenue.

“We are looking at the legislature might do to county level funding and local funding,” said Garcia. “That may inhibit some of the things we can do at the local level such as launching a second facility in the near future which definitely cost a fair amount of money to do so.”

Garcia said they may have to seek out other partnerships to make using the new facility economical.

“(We’re) cautiously waiting to see what happens in the legislature before making any big moves.”

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