Apr 21, 2024 By Mark Hofmann 2 min read

The Fayette County commissioners hope to transform the annex of the former county lockup into a juvenile detention center.

During Thursday’s meeting, the commissioners unanimously voted to advertise for a request for qualifications (RFQ), seeking a third-party to operate a center for 12 to 15 boys.

“There’s not a lot of juvenile detention beds in Southwestern Pennsylvania, so this will help solve that need,” Commissioner Scott Dunn said.

He said details of the RFQ have been approved by the county’s juvenile probation office, and have been submitted to the state Department of Human Services, which will pay half of the costs to renovate the facility with the county paying the other half.

Dunn said the preliminary projected cost for the renovations could total $800,000.

Commissioner Vince Vicites said the annex, located at Rear 61 E. Main Street in Uniontown, was built in the early 2000s and is “still in pretty good shape.”

The proposed detention center would be operated by a third party, not the county.

The RFQ requests a number of details, including proposed provisions for sleeping, dining, education and medical care in the detention center. Organizations also have to include plans for hiring, recruitment, retention and training of staff, including security, counselors, educators, medical personnel and administrators.

Additionally, interested organizations must explain past experience and expertise in designing and running a juvenile detention center.

The county’s former juvenile detention center on Cleveland Street closed in 2022, prompting the need to lease bed space for juveniles who are in custody.

Dunn said having a detention facility in Uniontown will save the county a substantial amount of money.

The juveniles from Fayette County have to be housed in out-of-county facilities, which include ones in Reading, Johnstown and some in Ohio.

On Friday, Dunn said he was uncertain of the running to the county for housing juveniles; however, he said the total includes both accommodations and transportation.

When a detainee is transferred, Dunn said, two deputies must go. With some facilities three hours away, he said the county loses personnel during that time, and incurs fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

Any applicant who runs the detention center will be required to meet requirements and regulations set by the Department of Human Services to provide a safe and secure and rehabilitative environment for juvenile offenders.

The deadline to submit an RFQ is May 13.