GCSO
Mar 7, 2024
Press Release
(Gwinnett County, Ga., March 7, 2024) – The establishment of a Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gwinnett County is crucial for alleviating the strain on law enforcement officials, court representatives, and key stakeholders within the juvenile system. With one of the largest populations in Georgia, implementing a new RYDC will play a pivotal role in enhancing agency manpower and providing substantial support to troubled adolescents.
Today, House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor, and Juvenile Court Judge Robert Waller applauded the inclusion of $3.8 million in the state’s FY 25 budget to begin development of an RYDC. HB 916, the FY 25 budget, passed the house today in a bipartisan vote. Currently, Gwinnett does not have its own RYDC, forcing juvenile intake officers to utilize RYDCs in neighboring jurisdictions such as Hall or Cobb counties.
"I want to thank Governor Kemp for including these important funds in his FY 25 budget proposal and House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett for keeping those funds in the House version," said Majority Leader Efstration. "Funding for a long-deserved RYDC in Gwinnett County represents a major step towards keeping our communities safer and ensuring our law enforcement officers have the tools necessary for success."
“The introduction of a RYDC will yield a multitude of advantages for our community,” said Sheriff Keybo Taylor. “Gwinnett law enforcement will be accommodated by eliminating the requirement to transport juveniles across counties. This initiative is especially significant for single-parent, minority, and at-risk households, offering local resources, reducing the risk of behavioral issues, and fostering family reunification.”
“The Juvenile Court enthusiastically supports the development of the proposed Gwinnett RYDC. Having children housed near their homes, the court and treatment providers will make for better outcomes for them, their families, and the community,” said Juvenile Court Judge Robert Waller. “The new facility affords a unique opportunity for Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia to build a secure and humane detention center that will be a model for the entire country. We support the concurrent development of community-based treatment and supervision programs that will reduce the number of children detained and the length of stay for those who must be held.”
Governor Kemp is to be commended on the inclusion of funds to address this matter. Gwinnett County has an obligation to provide juvenile offenders with county-funded programming and assessments to rehabilitate through the development of educational, vocational, social, emotional, and basic life skills. HB 916, the FY 25 budget, will now go to the Senate for further deliberation. More information about the budget can be found at legis.ga.gov.
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