Figure 2. Types of juvenile justice residential facilities
Prior to Adjudication*
Detention Center. Sometimes referred to as a "youth jail." A short-term secure facility where a youth may be placed at any time during the processing of his or her case, for the purposes of evaluation, or placement if a secure environment is deemed necessary. These are predominantly public facilities.
Shelter. A short-term community-based facility, similar to a detention center, but in a less secure environment. Generally, status offenders** are placed here. There may also be youth here who can't go home because of problems with their parents or who are homeless; therefore, offenders and nonoffenders are housed together in some facilities. These are predominantly private facilities.
Postadjudication
Reception or Diagnostic Center. A short-term facility that screens youth who have been judged delinquent*** if they are in need of further evaluation to help in the assignment of a residential placement. These are predominantly public facilities.
Community-Based Placement
Halfway House or Group Home. A long-term, less secure, community-based facility where youth are allowed access to community resources such as school, jobs, and health care. Youth may be either in transition from more secure environments or placed here as their original placement. Status offenders may be housed here. Offenders and nonoffenders are housed together in some facilities. These are largely private facilities.
Institutional Placements
Ranch, Forestry Camp, or Farm. A long-term placement for youth whose behavior does not merit the more prison-like environment of a training school. These are generally in counties, not local communities. Status offenders are unlikely to be in these facilities. Half of these facilities are public and half are private.
Residential Treatment Facility. A long-term secure residence where treatment is the basis for placement. Offenders and nonoffenders are housed together in some facilities. These are largely private facilities.
Training School. A long-term secure environment for offenders, similar to a prison. These are largely public facilities.
* Judgment.
** Status offense is a law violation only for young people, such as running away from home, truancy, ungovernability, curfew violation, and underage drinking.
*** Delinquent offense is an act committed by a young person for which an adult could be prosecuted in criminal court, such as robbery.