ELIZABETHTOWN — More juveniles and more federal prisoners are expected to soon be among the population of the Bladen County Detention Center.

Commissioners for Bladen County on Monday night approved an agreement to house inmates from the Federal Inmate Housing Program. Mike East, a U.S. marshal, and Nate Mason, a deputy marshal, appeared before the panel to answer any questions.

East told commissioners “you’ve been approved, according to Washington, D.C.”

At February’s retreat by commissioners at Jones Lake State Park, Sheriff Jim McVicker explained to the board the program was something his department would pursue. He shared from a proposal that at 20 inmates, the program could generate about $277,000. He said his goal was about 35 inmates. He also said the program could be stopped or increased at any point.

The board passed the action unanimously and without much discussion.

Commissioners were not asked for action, but did give consent to move forward with a program in conjunction with the N.C. Juvenile Justice System. Jim Speight, the state director, and Annie Harvey, a deputy director, were with McVicker to share insight for the board.

The catalyst for this move is a Dec. 1 change in the law, commonly referred to as the “raise the age initiative.” No longer will 16- and 17-year-olds committing crimes be automatically charged in the adult criminal justice system; juvenile jurisdiction for nonviolent crimes will be age 18.

Speight said Juvenile Justice is seeking partners for housing the juveniles. Its facilities are in need of significant renovations.

“This would expedite the housing of the kids,” Speight said. “There are restrictions, like sight and sound, and education. We’ve taken a tour of the jail, and it meets the standard.

“For a juvenile to be housed, without raising the age, if taken to New Hanover or Cumberland counties, the county is responsible for $122 a day,” Speight said. “The state also pays $122. That’s $244 a day. The sheriff, if he can house our juveniles, the state will pay $244 for any outside of this county. You’d bill the state $244, and for those from Bladen, you’d bill us $122.”

Responding to a question from Dr. Ophelia Munn-Goins, McVicker said the female pod in the jail would undergo some changes to make it happen. A question from Michael Cogdell about liabilities was answered by Speight, explaining that juveniles are different and under the supervision of a court counselor. Parents are also usually involved.

Speight said those staying in Bladen County would be temporary, not long term. The average length of stay is about 17 days, but could be as short as overnight.

Programs are already in the works in Mecklenburg and Moore counties, Speight said.

Cogdell also asked about the law, and its intent to remove juveniles from the jails yet this move “puts them back.”

“There’s sight and sound separation,” Speight said. “The push is so the kids don’t have a record following them for the rest of their life. The direct supervision is different. They have to have a right to education, and to programming. It’s still in the jail, but it’s a separate part of the jail.”

Harvey added that the management of the juveniles also differs from how detention officers typically handle adult prisoners. Juvenile Justice picks up the tab for that four-week training as well.

The education component would be in conjunction with either the Bladen County school board or Bladen Community College. If the college were utilized, class time would generate more fiscal gain in the form of full-time equivalencies, or FTEs. That’s a measuring component that is part of the equation determining the college’s annual share of budget money among other state community colleges.

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Alan Wooten

Bladen Journal

Alan Wooten can be reached at 910-247-9132 or awooten@bladenjournal.com.