Separation of Juveniles and Adults in Secure Facilities

Adult Jails and Lockups

Separation must be achieved in all secure areas of the facility. Accused or adjudicated delinquent offenders, status offenders, and non-offenders cannot have contact with adult inmates, including inmate trustees. Contact is defined to include any physical or sustained sight and sound contact. Sight contact is defined as clear visual contact between incarcerated adults and juveniles within close proximity to each other. Sound contact is defined as direct oral communication between incarcerated adults and juvenile offenders.

In accordance with OJJDP policy and proposed regulation, the state must assure that no juvenile offender shall enter under public authority, for any amount of time, into a secure setting or secure section of an adult jail, lockup, or correctional facility as a disposition of an offense or as a means of modifying their behavior (e.g., Shock Incarceration or Scared Straight Programs).