Editorial: Juvenile detention is not a 1-time, quick fix

The picture of juvenile detention in Western Pennsylvania is changing.

Allegheny County’s Shuman Juvenile Detention Center closed in September 2021 when the state pulled its license after a series of problems including a heroin overdose and other issues with unattended children. The state called out the facility for “gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct.”

The Regional Youth Services Center in Westmoreland County shut down in June 2023 amid its own problems, including a near riot, an attempted suicide and staffing shortages.

That left the area’s two most populous counties without their own juvenile detention options.

It didn’t change the need for juvenile detention. Some were sent to facilities in other counties. Allegheny County Jail housed a number of juveniles. Two charged teens being held in the shelter portion of the Westmoreland County facility — a portion not shuttered by state inspection issues — escaped in December.

But in March, the Westmoreland facility reopened for four residents. That number is being bumped to eight now as full-time staffing has been resolved. It could double to 16 by the end of the year.

Shuman will be reopening shortly under the operation of Adelphoi. The Latrobe-based nonprofit has programs across Pennsylvania. It was awarded a $73 million, five-year contract.

It is great to see a needed service to the community return to both counties.

Now let’s keep it.

Many of the problems with both facilities and both counties can be boiled down to one issue: lack of supervision. But some was also due to inattention to the issues facing two facilities with multiple state inspection problems. Shuman, for instance, struggled with maintaining its license for six years.

Fixing the deficiencies was only the start of correcting the problem. With the facilities reopening, it is now time for the counties to make sure the second part is done. The facilities have to be supervised and supported.

This isn’t something that gets a one-time fix. As is always the case with kids and anyone in detention, keeping a watchful eye has to be a sustained, continuous priority.