Juvenile Detention Center

Mission Statement

To create and maintain a safe and secure atmosphere in which to provide a program that is healthy for the body, mind and spirit of each child in our care.

Core Values

The Detention Center promotes a professional work ethic founded upon:

  • Knowledge
  • Integrity
  • Maturity
  • Compassion

Summary

  • The Detention Center at 600 Mission Rd. has a rated capacity of 278
  • Education services are provided by San Antonio Independent School District
  • University Health System - Detention Health Care Services provides all medical, dental, and mental health services
  • The Medical Section has individual rooms for physical exams, suicide prevention observation, medical observation, respiratory isolation and a dental lab with around the clock availability

Visitation Schedule & Rules

Visitation hours are 3:30PM to 8:00PM (Monday through Saturday) based on the last name of the child.

  • Mondays & Thursdays: Last name begins with letters A - F
  • Tuesdays & Fridays: Last name begins with letters G - M
  • Wednesdays & Saturdays: Last name begins with letters N - Z
  • Sundays: No scheduled visitations

Schedules are established for regular visitation as well as procedures for emergency visitation. Parents or guardians shall be provided a visitation schedule. A registry shall be provided to document name, address and relation to the resident of all visitors. Attorneys and their representatives and caseworkers with the Department of Family and Protective Services may visit their clients who are residents at any time other than during a population count or an emergency. Parents may have private, in-person visitation.

  1. Approved visitors must have current, authorized identification (excluding juveniles who are 10 years of age and under). Authorized visitors must be listed in the resident's file. Individuals authorized to visit include:
    1. Parents, legal guardians, custodians and step-parents
    2. Grandparents
    3. Siblings who are 21 years of age or older
    4. Siblings who are 9 years of age and under (must visit with parent(s) present)
    5. Husband or wife (with valid marriage license and probation officer's approval)
    6. Attorney of record and/or representatives, Department of Family and Protective Services caseworkers, contract professionals, law enforcement/District Attorney investigators
  2. Visitation by individuals other than those listed above must be requested by the resident's probation officer. The request is made to an Administrator. An Administrator must notify Center Main Control personnel prior to the visitation. The Administrator authorizing the visit will contact Main Control and have the entry placed in the Probation Officer's Instruction Log Book. Criteria to be considered by Administration when authorizing a visit are:
    1. Is the juvenile receiving regular visits by family members?
    2. Is the visitor between ages of 10 and 21?
    3. Does the probation officer consider the visitor to be a positive, stabilizing influence on the resident?
    4. Is the probation officer requesting a one-time visit or continued visitation for the remainder of the resident's stay?
    5. Is the Center's population near or over capacity?
  3. Reasons for Refusing a Visit: A resident has the right to refuse a visit with any individual. Visitation is voluntary. If a resident or his/her visitor(s) demonstrate inappropriate behavior during visitation, visitation can be limited, modified, or suspended depending on the situation. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, introduction of contraband to the Center, disruptive behavior, use of profanity, threatening staff, other visitors or residents, property damage or any behavior that poses a potential threat to safety or security. Should visitation be suspended, Administrators can reinstate visitation by the individual(s). If a resident displays inappropriate behavior immediately prior to a visit, the visit can be delayed until the resident is able to demonstrate appropriate behavior. The visitor will be notified and may wait in the lobby or return at a later time. In the event of a facility emergency, visits can be denied or suspended pending resolution of the situation.
  4. Attorney Visits: Residents will not be denied access to his or her attorney of record or designated representatives (paralegals, investigators, etc.) employed by the attorney of record. Attorneys must provide valid identification and his/her bar number. Attorneys and/or representatives of the attorney who arrive for a visit during a population count will be required to wait for the completion of the count. There is no time limit for visits with attorney or their designated representatives.
  5. Department of Family & Protective Services Caseworker Visitation: Caseworkers with the Department of Family and Protective Services are allowed to visit residents on their respective caseloads. The caseworker must provide valid agency identification to Main Control personnel at the time of visit. Caseworkers assigned to a resident will have access to visit at any time other than population counts. There is no time limit for visitation by caseworkers.
  6. Contractors: The Department contracts with various professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, psychometrists, etc.) who provide various services to residents. These individuals are allowed to visit, interview and/or test residents as part of services contracted.
  7. Law Enforcement Officers/District Attorney Investigators: Law enforcement officers or District Attorney investigators are allowed access to residents. Residents have the right to refuse a visit with investigators or to have their attorney present during questioning. Law enforcement and District Attorney personnel conducting investigations have the responsibility to ensure residents interviewed are informed of their rights prior to interview.
  8. Registration of Visitors: Each visitor will be registered by the Main Control Officer. Information documented includes date, resident's name, visitor's name, relationship, identification, time the visit began and ended, and Main Control Officer's initials.
  9. Supervision of Visitation Area: Supervisors are responsible for ensuring staff supervision is provided during visitation. A juvenile-to-staff ratio of 12 to 1 will be maintained or exceeded. If there is reason to believe a situation or circumstances may develop that would require additional security measures, the Supervisor will determine the appropriate action.
  10. Emergency Visitation: Administration may approve an emergency visit based on circumstances surrounding the need to visit outside the regular schedule or by a person other than those authorized. The Supervisor or his/her designee may approve an emergency visit in the absence of an Administrator, but must document the specific reason. Supervisors or designees may only approve a one-time visit.
  11. Judge Approved visits: On occasion, a Judge will authorize visitation by individuals not listed above. It is the responsibility of the probation officer to enter the instructions of the Judge or Associate Judge in the Probation Officer Instruction Log Book in Main Control. The probation officer must indicate which Judge or Associate Judge is issuing the order.
  12. (Detention Only) Residents Committed to Texas Youth Commission: Residents committed to the Texas Youth Commission will be subject to the rules of visitation applicable to all residents. Once a resident is committed, the probation officer is responsible for notifying parents that the resident may be transported on any day after commitment. Commitment to TYC is not considered a reason for an emergency visit.
  13. (Detention Only) Initial Visits: Residents that have been detained are allowed to receive an initial visit from parents and/or guardians. The initial visit (first visit after being detained) may take place on any day. Initial visits are for 30 minutes in duration and take place between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00pm. No initial visits will be conducted between the hours of 10:00pm and 7:00am. Initial visits may not take place during Detention hearing or population counts. Once the initial visit has taken place, parents/guardians shall visit on regularly scheduled visitation days and times.
  14. (Detention Only) Visit by Probation Officers: Probation Officers are allowed to visit residents in the Detention Center who are on their caseload at any time other than during population counts. A probation officer may visit with a resident in an individual interview room, in program areas, in the dorm or in a hallway. The probation officer must ensure that Detention Officers are aware of their presence and that they can see the probation officer and the resident. Should the probation officer choose to utilize an interview room, he/she will position himself/herself closest to the door of the interview room as a security measure. The door to the interview room may be closed, but must remain unlocked.
  15. Visitation Dress Code: All visitors must dress appropriately. Visitors must realize that the Center houses children ages 10 years of age to 17 years of age. Adults, including staff and visitors, have an obligation to demonstrate appropriate conduct. The following is prohibited:
    1. Clothing depicting drugs, alcohol, gang or obscene material
    2. Bags, backpacks, cellular telephones, lighters, cigarettes, food, or letters
    3. Halter tops or other revealing clothing
    4. Arriving for visitation under the influence of alcohol or other substances
    5. Violation of these rules will result in denial of visitation.

APPLICABLE STANDARDS: Texas Administrative Code 343.11 (a); 343.12c

REVISION DATE: September 1, 2003