The Hillsborough Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Tampa, Florida, is set to close at the end of August, according to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. This decision affects nearly 40 young people currently housed at the facility, who will be placed at existing detention centers in surrounding counties.

Closure Details

The department has not yet identified which facilities will receive the young people or how far those facilities could be from Hillsborough County. There is also no timeline for when a new Hillsborough juvenile detention center could be completed.

Attorney Anthony Rickman expressed concerns about the potential challenges this move could create for families, attorneys, the Public Defender’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office. He questioned how young defendants would be transported to court and how their basic needs would be handled if they are moved farther away.

Freddy Barton, Executive Director of Safe and Sound Hillsborough, also voiced concerns about the impact of the closure on the young people and their families. He emphasized the importance of in-person interaction and the need to find ways to maintain connectivity between the young people and their families and legal representation.

Reasons Behind the Closure

The closure is part of a long-planned transition to a new juvenile detention center and is connected to the future use of the property where the current facility is located. The property has been identified as a potential site for a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium.

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is working with stakeholders to minimize the impact on the young people and maintain continuity of detention services. The department is committed to ensuring that the young people will continue to receive appropriate care, supervision, and services.

Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.