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Motion of the Council of Allegheny County requesting the performance of a historical overview of the former Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, formation of a Juvenile Justice Study Group, and a full and transparent overview of the current needs of the County’s juvenile justice system within the context of a juvenile detention facility prior to any final determination regarding the use of the former Shuman Center site.
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WHEREAS, per the County’s organizational chart, Shuman Center, Allegheny County's juvenile detention facility, formerly operated under the direction and supervision of a Superintendent, who was in turn an at-will employee under the supervision and direction of the Allegheny County Manager and Chief Executive; and
WHEREAS, according to published reports, between 2008 and 2021, Shuman Center had experienced a variety of issues relating to resident safety, medical care, and building conditions, which led to the issuance of a series of provisional operating certifications by the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, these issues ultimately culminated in the revocation of Shuman Center’s operating license, and the County’s closure of the center in late 2021; and
WHEREAS, the closure of Shuman Center has rendered it difficult or impossible for the County’s juvenile courts to find appropriate placement for juvenile offenders in some cases; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Clark has noted that one of the most important issues facing the Court at this time is the inability to detain youth who commit serious offenses, which presents a “serious issue in terms of community safety and protection.” In 2021 alone, Allegheny County judges and hearing officers heard over 500 juvenile detention hearings; and
WHEREAS, since Shuman Center’s closure, judges and hearing officers have been forced to release some offenders, while others have been sent to facilities in other Counties within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and...
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