GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A massive metro Atlanta county approaching a million residents has gone 10 years without a youth detention facility.
Now, leaders are looking to tackle youth crime as Gwinnett County enters the beginning stages for a brand-new youth detention center. Law enforcement has been relying on other centers across the state to house juveniles who are in custody.
"Gwinnett County has the largest at-risk population in the entire state," said Nhan-ai Simms, a county juvenile court judge. "It's difficult to watch."
The Georgia House of Representatives has allocated $3.8 million to construct the new center.
State Rep. Chuck Efstration, a House majority leader, said the last time the county had a youth detention center, it closed due to issues with the building.
"When a juvenile is detained – taking that juvenile to a secure facility needs to be as expeditious as possible to get that officer back on the street," said Rep. Efstration.
Gwinnett County Sheriff Keybo Taylor said the facility will have 56 beds, offer mental health services and have translators.
"I truly believe by bringing back the YDC back to Gwinnett County, it gives us greater control over what we do. It gives us greater control as a sheriff's office of how we're interacting with them and how they get to court," said Sheriff Taylor.
The sheriff added that while he believes this detention center is a step in the right direction, his office is looking to tackle the deeper issues plaguing the county's youth.
"The bigger picture is that we interact with juveniles and their families before they get here," said Taylor.
While leaders haven't provided a clear completion timeline for the center, it will be done in a three-part process.
Stage one will involve site preparation and surveying, stage two will involve building the center, and the last stage will involve furnishing the facility for use.